Let the Competition Take the Summer Off

With the executive employment market currently in a period of prolonged growth, professionals planning to postpone their job search until after Labor Day could be making a costly mistake. While the pace of business in some industries may slowdown in July and August ñ the war for talent isn't going to be taking any time off.

According to a recent survey of 116 executive recruiters conducted by ExecuNet, the leading executive career, business and recruiting network, 68% are confident or very confident that the employment market will improve in the next three months (July ñSeptember).

Contrary to popular opinion, the summer months can be a great time to be proactively developing your career, says Dave Opton, CEO and founder of ExecuNet. Companies continue to hire and the competition among candidates is lighter, which helps to make these months particularly productive for those who remain active in the market.

To help executives take advantage of the employment market's growth in the months ahead, ExecuNet offers the following advice:

-Build Better Relationships With Recruiters ñ Don't assume that it's too hard to schedule meetings in July and August because of vacation schedules ñ very few executive recruiters take more than one week off during the summer.

Your best bet for getting on a recruiter's radar is to find a contact in your own network that already knows the search consultant and request an introduction.

-Don't Neglect Your Network ñ Approximately two-thirds of all executive-level job opportunities are found through a networking contact. If your personal or professional network could be stronger, summer is a great time to get started. In fact, it's often one of the best times of the year to find past and present colleagues and clients willing to take time out of their day for conversations and informational interviews

-Be Persistent ñ While recruiters and hiring managers are often more accessible in the summer than at any other time of the year and there's less competition among candidates for opportunities that arise, the relaxed atmosphere that exists during the summer season in some industries can prolong the decision-making process. It may take weeks or months before a conversation you had with a recruiter or former client turns into a lead.

Regular follow-up will help ensure you'll be remembered when this opportunity arises.

ExecuNet, the leading executive career, business and recruiting network, provides exclusive access to high-level business connections for professionals, confidential six-figure job listings, expert advice and proprietary research while helping corporate and search firm recruiters find qualified executive candidates. Founded in 1988, ExecuNet helped transform the executive recruiting industry by launching the first website designed to bring senior-level professionals and search firms together in a cooperative, confidential environment to understand how to meet their human capital needs.