Hiring managers have disappeared into the beach, your inbox went radio silent, and job boards feel like ghost towns…
…And that’s how you know it’s summer.
If you’re job hunting right now, it might feel like the worst timing, no matter if you’re a recent grad, got caught in a round of layoffs, or just finally have time to focus on your next move.
The entire world seems to be out of office, but summer is secretly one of the best seasons to job search if you approach it strategically.
So if you’re not sure what to do right now, here are five things you can focus on to quietly get ahead, so when hiring picks back up in September, you’re already in motion.
🔵 Don’t assume hiring has stopped
Summer tends to be quieter. Key decision-makers take vacations. Teams hit “pause” on big hiring pushes. But companies don’t freeze all activity. In fact, my team at Big Interview grows every summer.
Jobs still get posted. Interviews still happen. Offers still go out.
The only difference is that things will move more slowly than usual.
And that’s good news for you. It means less competition (many people take the summer off from job searching altogether), and more time to prepare, follow up, and make an impact in interviews.
So if you see a job posted in July, apply. Don’t assume it’s on hold. Follow up thoughtfully after a week or so if you haven’t heard back, as people are more likely to miss things this time of year.
🔵 Use the slow season to get your act together
Use the slowness to your advantage. Summer is perfect for all the job-search housekeeping we tend to skip when things feel hectic.
Some things you can do:
- Update your resume
- Update your LinkedIn profile
- Create a brag sheet of wins and accomplishments
- Practice your interview answers
- Build a target list of companies you’d love to work for
- Write some cold outreach emails while the competition’s snoozing
The key here is momentum. You don’t need to do all of this at once. If you work through this list steadily over the summer, you’ll be miles ahead of everyone waking up in September, scrambling to update their resume.
Think of this season as prep time for your next opportunity. You’re building the foundation now, so you’ll be ready when the calls start coming in.
I know a place where you can start.
You can use Big Interview to build your resume using templates reviewed by career experts and hiring managers.
And if you want to practice for interviews, the interview simulator lets you do that with realistic questions so you can build confidence and improve your answers with targeted feedback.
🔵 Catch up on skill-building
I’m sure there are skills you keep seeing in job descriptions which you keep meaning to learn but haven’t had the time or energy for.
Summer is a great time to catch up. You can:
- Take a short course or certification
- Learn a tool that shows up often in job postings (something that’s trending in your industry)
- Watch free YouTube tutorials for the skills you need
- Read one career-related book (something to inspire or challenge your thinking)
- Subscribe to an industry newsletter or podcast
It’s best to pick one or two areas where a little growth will move you closer to your goals. This way, you’re building initiative and curiosity — two qualities every hiring manager appreciates.
🔵 Don’t skip networking events
This is prime networking season.
There are events, alumni meetups, coffee chats, happy hours, and barbecues where people are more relaxed and open to casual conversation. That makes it a great time to reconnect with former colleagues, reach out to new contacts, and expand your network without it feeling forced.
Not every conversation needs to start with “Do you know of any openings?” It’s better if it doesn’t.
Instead, ask:
- “I’ve been thinking about pivoting into [X] — mind if I pick your brain over coffee?”
- “Saw your post about [topic]. I’d love to hear more about your work.”
- “I’m mapping out my next steps after graduation. Any advice you wish you’d gotten early on?”
People love being asked for advice. And you’ll be surprised how many doors that could open.
🔵 Recharge (without guilt)
If you’ve been applying for months and need to rest — mentally, emotionally, or just in general — you’re not doing anything wrong.
Job searching takes a lot of energy, and sometimes the best thing you can do is pause and give yourself a bit of space to feel like yourself again.
- Take a short trip if you can
- Reconnect with friends (and sunlight)
- Catch up on books, projects, or hobbies you’ve neglected
Even if this summer doesn’t come with instant results or flashy wins, the effort you’re putting in now matters. It’s okay if you pick only one thing to work on.
