Ah summertime -- kick off the flip flogs, put your resume in the shelf until fall - NOT!

"The greatest revenge is to accomplish what others say you cannot do." - Unknown

This is the time of the year - late June and into July - when many check out from the job market and simply stop looking for jobs. Their perception (and in this case perception isn't reality), is that hiring slows in the summertime and fewer jobs are available.

Here's the truth: There is no piece of data or truth to that perception at all. In fact, this year, summer hiring should be a whole lot different.

Here's the facts:

* Economic forecasters are pointing to a much stronger second half of the year from hiring than the first, and early numbers are holding this to be true in our region as we have seen an increase in job activity after a flat and rather dismal spring. Job postings were up 34% a week back - after a huge 3-% drop back in April - it is looking like a positive trend is emerging.
* Specific employer and industry-specific surveys are also telling the story that they expect to hire more in the 2nd half of the year ... consistent with forecasts.
* Manpower - a leading forecaster of hiring activity in their third quarter forecast stated: Survey results suggest that employers expect a relatively stable hiring pace during Quarter 3 2011 compared to Quarter 2 2011. The July – September Outlook for the U.S. shows a slight increase compared to one year ago at this time. Read the report here: http://tinyurl.com/3m5db56

In the years I have been tracking trends of job activity, day-by-day, week-by week, month-by-month, year-by-year, there has been no significant drop in job market activity in the summer (or around the holidays in December - another untrue perception). Yes, around the 4th of July and Labr Day the market goes quiet for close to a week, but that is the only drop off.

So don't shelve the resume - keep up the activity and use the summer to your advantage ...

... as not matter what the number say, many will drop out of the market. Good news for you - it will be less competitive! WIN at their expense.

Use summer events to network - plant the seeds ...

There are so many opportunities to network with summer events - professional and personal - social gatherings and more. You this to your advantage; make new connections. Remember - 70-80% of jobs are the result of networking - why then do most not network?

Don't get sucked into the negative ...

You will meet people who will tell you the world is hell, the job market stinks and woe is me. Okay - the market has been off and is not as robust as 2010 - but it is so much better than 2009 for sure! Be with and align to positive people; let the naysayers wallow in and on their own.

Enjoy the summer - make it worthwhile and profitable for you. The rays of sun energize people - get that energy and push on to your dreams.

And thank you for reading this. - Dan