CareerWomen.com Recommends Top Overlooked Summer Activities That Lead to New Jobs
PORTLAND, Ore. – August 4, 2005 – Most job seekers consider summer as the “off season” for job hunting and place their career aspirations on hold until the Fall. However, summer social gatherings, formal or casual, can provide the ultimate career boosting networking opportunities.
According to JillXan Donnelly, president of CareerWomen.com, 
“Summer events tend to be more casual so most job seekers don’t consider them appropriate venues for networking. The most important thing to remember is that the rules of engagement are slightly different during the summer, but the results can lead to great opportunities.”
How do you turn summer socials into career prospects? CareerWomen.com suggests the following tips for successful summer networking.
1. First impressions count
Be mindful of the image you are projecting. Make sure you are well
dressed, well groomed, and on your best behavior. Most importantly,
don’t forget your business cards.
2. Be interesting and inquisitive
Summer barbecues and weekends at the beach are great for casual
interactions. Remember to show a genuine interest in the person by
asking open-ended questions that can lead to a great conversation.
3. Be casual when following up
Summer is a great time to build your network, so follow up should be
casual, not forceful. One “thank you” email or phone call is sufficient
and can open the door to another point of contact at another time.
3. Have a strategy for success
Good negotiators always know how to meet the needs of the other side.
Be prepared to talk about how your contributions help make your boss
and your company successful and make you a vital part of the
organization.
Additional resources to enhance professional development and advance
women’s careers can be found at http://www.CareerWomen.com including
career development tools, career and employment news, professional
associations and employment opportunities across the US with some of the
best women-friendly companies.
Copyright© 2005
CareerWomen.com/The Career Exposure Network
