Thursday, August 8 - "Why Is August So Slow?"

Good morning!

Here’s what’s on the JD today:

1. France’s biggest bank is hiring all over the world.

2. Amelia asks, “there have been fewer new jobs recently. Why is August so slow and what can I do about it?”

IN HIRING

BNP Paribas

• One of Europe’s biggest banks with locations all over the world, BNP Parabis offers quite a wide range of roles for each path.

• With huge offices in the world’s finance centers including New York, Hong Kong, and London, there are a wide variety of options when it comes to where and how you work.

• Here are a few of the most interesting roles available

  • Category Manager - Click here for full details

  • Performance Analyst - Click here for full details

  • Real Estate Investment Manager - Click here for full details

Click here for the company’s career page

TODAY’S QUESTION

Amelia asks, “there have been fewer new jobs recently. Why is August so slow and what can I do about it?”

Recommendation: August is a slow month as holidays extend processes and reduce the volume of new jobs. Here’s what I recommend:

• First off, don’t fully let off the gas. I’ve been surprised by the number of interviews my clients have been getting this month. There are less positions but companies continue to hire and it seems the number of applicants per role have dipped as many candidates take a break or travel as well.

• Second, as things slow for businesses and hiring weakens, use this time to build a network at the companies you’d love to work at. Pick 10 companies and try to have one or two good conversations in the next 3 weeks with each one. Hiring picks up dramatically in September and October so do what you can now to prepare for a big boost in the coming months.

• Finally, use the extra time and nice weather to read up on a few of the industries you’re focused on. I’ve seen more interviewers recently who either seek out industry knowledge or test it, to the great surprise of the interviewer, during the process.

  • Here are some places I would look to find resources

    • McKinsey Research

    • Independent Industry Research

    • Statistics and Visual Research

Conclusion:

Keep plugging away this August with applications but lean heavier on networking and learning to take advantage of any extra time. Also, feel free to relax a bit and enjoy the nice weather.

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