Summer may be synonymous with vacations and time off from work. But if you’re job hunting, it may be the perfect time to make a move toward your dream job. Why? With jobs still available and many employees out of the office, employers are motivated to find top talent. Plus there’s less hiring pressure, so they’ll take more time to review your cover letter, resume, and portfolio. That gives you more time to prove your value when a hiring manager is reviewing your application.

Here are the hottest job search trends to keep your eye on in 2019:

1. Be Ready for Passive Hiring. Now more than ever, companies or recruiters reach out to potential recruits directly for a job, instead of waiting for you apply. With the rise of professional networking sites like LinkedIn, it’s important to keep your digital presence top-notch and up-to-date. Is your LinkedIn profile polished? Is it optimized for relevant search terms? If not, it’s time to update!

   And it doesn’t hurt to keep your resume up to date too – you’ll want to be ready if a recruiter calls!

2. Experience > Education. Having a degree helps open doors for you initially, but it’s often not enough to secure the job. Employers are more interested in what you can do, not necessarily where you earned your degree. If there’s a job you have your eye on, take the summer to gain any new skills or experience missing from your resume.

3. Keep an Eye on Unique Benefits. Unemployment rates are low, and for some positions, competition is fierce for hiring managers to land the best talent. That means you may have the upper hand when it comes to negotiation. Companies are getting creative with their benefits packages, offering more than the standard health insurance, PTO, and 401k. Some other benefits we’ve seen include returnships, childcare resources, gym memberships, and vacation stipends. Don’t be afraid to talk about these items when considering an offer package.

4. Don’t Underestimate Face-to-Face Connections. While using a computer may be the normal way to find and apply to jobs, many of our clients are most successful when they make their first impressions in person. Conferences provide a great opportunity to meet people in specific industries and many are hosted during the summer. Want to get involved? Research industry-specific conferences in your area and find a couple to you want to attend. Then network, network, network!

Don’t let summer fool you into thinking it’s the slow season. The job market is heating up! If you need guidance on striking your dream job while the iron is hot, we would love to hear from you.

At The Wilbanks Consulting Group, we help professionals achieve their career goals, whether it’s career exploration, resume writing, or offer negotiation.