September has a funny way of exposing people. “Hey! How was your summer?” “Great! What’d you do?” “Oh, you know… worked, took a week off with the family, played a little golf, sat on a few patios… you?” “…Nothing.” Nothing? Nothing… nothing? Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m a huge believer in taking time off. I’ve earned it. Our team has earned it. You’ve earned it. Take the vacation. Sit on the beach. Go camping. Spoil the grandkids. Sleep in. Recharge. Life is too short not to enjoy summer.
But… Summer is three months. It’s not a lifestyle. After more than 30 years in staffing, interviewing tens of thousands of people, meeting with leaders across every industry, and helping thousands of companies hire, I think I’ve earned the right to say this. Get off your ass. (Yes… I said “ass.” I’ve earned that too.) Every August I hear the same things.
“We’ll look at resumes after the summer.”
“I’ll start looking for a job ion the fall, when things slow down.”
“We’re waiting for everyone to get back.”
“We’re just taking it easy.”
And every September I hear something different.
“We need someone yesterday.”
“I can’t believe they accepted another offer.”
“I’ve been applying everywhere.”
“The market is awful- there are no jobs.”
Funny how quickly things change once the calendar pages turn. The fourth quarter is when things get real. Budgets are being scrutinized. Every hire needs to make sense. Every investment needs a return. Projects need to be finished. Suddenly sales targets matter.
Leadership starts asking tougher questions. Who is carrying the team? Who has checked out? Who is seen as dependable? Who is becoming complacent? Who is being perceived as lazy—even if they don’t think they are? Who consistently steps up without being asked? Who actually deserves the promotion? Who are we replacing before next year? Are there roles we need to fill before year end?
If you’re an employee, this is your opportunity for some serious career development. Be the person who solved a problem while everyone else was still talking about summer. Put your hand up. Volunteer. Lead something, anything- a project, a team, an initiatvie. Finish something. Show up. Be memorable. Kick some serious ass (Yes, I said it again). Close some deals. Do anything to do more.
If you’re looking for work, or even just looking to advance your career don’t wait for everyone else to wake up. While they’re still cleaning out the camper, you could already be in the room having interviews. Starting conversations. Showing up. Momentum belongs to people who move.
This one’s for employers. If a candidate got off their ass… With an updated resume. Prepared for the interview. Showed up on time. Answered your questions. Met your team. Followed up professionally- Please don’t spend the next three weeks deciding whether to schedule another interview and who needs to be added to another meeting to discuss.
Respect the effort the candidate put in. Make the decision. No, you don’t have to hire everyone. But if you’ve found the right person, the person you know will be a great fit with your team just hire them already. Because while you’re scheduling another meeting, someone else is preparing to send them an offer. And trust me… The top candidates won’t wait around for you to make a decision.
One of my favourite conversations this fall is going to sound something like this…
“So… what’d you do all summer?”
“I worked hard, took a week off, hired a great employee, landed a contract, grew my business, and finished the year strong.”
“Nice.”
“You?”
“Well… I binge-watched three seasons of a show I can’t even remember.”
Ouch. A little harsh? Maybe. But after more than 30 years in this business, I’ve learned something. The market rewards people who move. Summer is for making memories. Fall is for making progress. Enjoy every hot day. Then get off your ass. Your future self will thank you. And if you’re an employer… Hire the people who already did.