How to Land A Job In The Slow Season
At NRG, it’s hard to find a day in July and August where everyone on our 15 person team is around for a team call. With our clients, we’re even planning interviews two or three weeks out because leadership teams are on staggered vacations. In short, job searching during the summer is tough. Hiring slows down. Inboxes pile up. “Out of office” auto-replies start to feel like your most consistent contacts.
But here’s the thing: the slow season is actually a powerful time to build momentum and get yourself in position for what’s next. Here's how to lay the groundwork for a job search that thrives, even in the summer.
1) Remember The Basics
When hiring processes slow down, stick to the drill. Networking is still the most important tool in your search and there’s no shortcuts around it. In business school they say that 70% of people find jobs through networking, so you want to spend 70% of your time networking.
Set a clear, achievable goal for how many 1:1 calls you’ll have this summer. Maybe that’s five to seven 1:1 chats per week. That’s 30–42 conversations by Labor Day. Not sure where to start? Our NRG Networking Toolkit can help you set these goals and find the right people to talk to (get access by joining our Talent Network).
“Networking” can be a scary word, but really, it just means having 1:1s or virtual coffees with people who know and like you, or with friends of friends. That’s it. It’s more personal than transactional, and you’re probably already doing it without realizing. Your outreach can look like:
Reaching out to former colleagues
Sending warm intros through mutual friends
Checking in on your old interns or fellows
These emails don’t need to be fancy or intimidating. Just kind and simple. Most people want to help. Once you have a call set up, use these chats to learn what’s happening in the field, share what kind of role or impact you’re looking for, or ask who else you should talk to. My favorite question is, "I want to make a difference and I want to work with great people, who have you been impressed with lately?" Here’s a quick guide for your 1:1s.
In July and August, people are traveling, on retreat, deep in budget season, or just in need of a break. So if you sent a networking email and didn’t get a reply, follow up. It’s not annoying, it’s necessary. I like to follow up after a week or two with a polite nudge.
2) Expect It to Take Longer (and Plan Accordingly)
Hiring will move slower, but that doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. An organization may love your application, but not be ready to hire until fall. That’s not a reflection of you. People are on vacation and then slammed post-vacation. So be ready to wait. It’s the season! A little inside scoop: I’m working with a lot of orgs that are talking about hiring by the end of the year. For the jobs we’re posting this week, we’re looking at October start dates.
Instead of trying to speed it up, build yourself a flexible timeline and break your search into weekly goals (see above). Again, you know the drill. Treat it like training for a marathon, not a sprint. Consistency wins here.
3) Stay Open. This Might Be Your Pivot Moment.
Our career coach hears it a lot these days: people are craving a “palate cleanser.” Maybe you need a break from your last role. Maybe the recent ICE raids have you feeling pulled toward immigrant justice. Maybe you’re curious about a creative pivot or using a different skill set altogether.
If that’s you, give yourself permission to explore. Consider:
Taking a slightly more junior role to get into a new field or issue area
Accepting a short-term contract or fellowship to test a career change
Volunteering or consulting on a small project to build experience
Sometimes, your next step won’t look like your dream job on paper, but it might be exactly what you need to grow.
4) Be a Connector
One of the best ways to stay energized in your search is to do it in community. First, be a connector. If you’re on the job hunt, you probably know all the roles that are out there because you’re on LinkedIn and other job boards so often. So, share opportunities. Make intros. Lift up your people.
Second, seek support. You can start a weekly check-in with a friend who’s also job hunting. If your org is going through layoffs, create a job search group with your peers. Join a job search Slack or LinkedIn group (or check out Never Search Alone cohorts, which link you with small groups of jobseekers to hold each other accountable and stay encouraged).
You might also consider investing in career coaching. Many people find that paying for structured support helps them stay focused, motivated, and aligned with their goals.
Staying connected not only helps your people, but it keeps you plugged in. And that’s where the best connections and job leads often come from.
Overall, you can make headway on your job search, even in the slow season. Stay grounded, stay organized, and keep showing up. Want help refining your outreach message or finding your pivot? Hit reply. We’ve got your back.
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Major Gifts Officer @ UTEC; Lowell, MA; $96KThat’s not all! We’re hiring for additional jobs and you can see all of our openings on the NRG website.
UPCOMING EVENT
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Let’s move,
Naomi
P.S. If you’d like a partner to help you with your job search strategy, sign up right now for 15 minutes with Kristin to learn how NRG’s coaching programs can help you. If you find this newsletter helpful, forward it to your friends and help us build our network! If you received this from a friend, sign up here to receive future “Get Hired'' newsletters.