Four Ways to Boost Your Job Search This Summer

Four Ways to Boost Your Job Search This SummerFour Ways to Boost Your Job Search This SummerKeep your job search on track and still have fun this summer.It can be difficult to keep your head in the job-search game when the weather is warm, and job applications are competing against barbecues and road trips for calendar space.If you can get past these distractions, summer can be a great time to kick your job search into high gear. While your competition is busy on playing on the beach, take advantage of this opportunity to move your job search efforts ahead.Follow the four strategies below to get a head start on your search before fall.Plan ahead to stay on trackBetween juggling vacation plans, your kids summer day camp and work, your schedule will be packed during the summer months.Take a look at your calendar now and prioritize your activities. When and where can you invest time in your job search?Set a few goals on a weekly or monthly basis to keep your search on track.Optimize you r summer readingWhether your goal is to get promoted or find a new job, the summer can be a great time to fill in a knowledge gap thats holding you back. Exchange your usual summer reading for a book that will help you get ahead in your career. Check out The Personal MBA, Eventual Millionaire, and 800 CEO Read for book recommendations on everything from the psychology of sales to running more effective meetings.Pitch while you playYou dont have to ditch your summer plans to stay on top of your job search. Use each baseball game, barbecue and beach party as an opportunity to network. Be sure to modify your elevator pitch to suit the situation and audience. Additionally, take advantage of lighter workloads and summer Fridays by scheduling informational interviews with valuable networking contacts.Mobilize your job searchIve said it once and Ill say it again the job search is a full-time job. Luckily, we live in a time where its possible to work from almost anywhere, at any time. If yo ure planning to be away from your home office more than usual this summer, mobilize your job search. Download apps that will help you manage your network, access your resume and vet potential opportunities while on-the-go. For example, Ladders app,allows you to identify job matches, uncover new opportunities and scout out the competition before you apply.