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Career Services CornerQ.  How do I search for jobs with summer vacations coming up?

A.  Conducting a summer search can be a tricky thing! It is important to plan ahead and know exactly when you will be willing to start a position. It isn't a good idea to line up interviews before you leave for three months, but it is a good idea to get prepared!

If you're planning a longer vacation, focus on laying the groundwork for your job search before you leave. Get started by creating your résumé, writing cover letter templates, gathering letters of recommendation, and getting an idea of what you are looking for-and are qualified for. It is also a good idea to run general job searches in your area to see what is available and what the requirements are. Reading job descriptions is a good way to see what types of jobs interest you.

With all of these tasks accomplished, you'll be ready to jump into your job search as soon as your vacation is over!

Interviewing before a long trip is a great way to get interviewing experience; the more interviews you attend, the more comfortable you will be in that situation. However, when a company interviews you, they may be looking for someone to start within the next few weeks. They may have to pass on people who are not available during that time. Another disadvantage to interviewing right before a long vacation is you will not be available for the second interview. You also don't want to start a new job, then after a few weeks have to request vacation time off.

Short vacations are usually easier to work around. You'll have more time available to schedule interviews and attend networking events. Plus, recruiters expect most job seekers to give at least two weeks' notice before they can start a new job.

Whatever you decide, it is important to plan ahead and know when you will be able to make yourself available for second interviews—and when you can start that new job!

Betsy Balachandran is the Employment Advisor Coordinator for American InterContinental University Online.

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