A New Job in Autumn Begins in Summer

When the days are long and bright, it is much more tempting to sit on a terrace with a drink in hand than to think about the next step in your career.

Many people postpone the idea of looking for a new job until autumn. “I’ll start in the autumn,” they think.

And that is completely natural. Summer is a time to rest.

However, there is one important nuance.

If you are not looking for just any job, but for a leadership position that truly matches your experience, competencies, and expectations, the search rarely takes only a month. When we are looking for a company CEO, the process usually takes around 2–4 months, with shareholders investing significant resources into finding the right candidates. For candidates themselves, the process can take even longer—up to six months or more, especially when their expertise is highly specialised or niche.

So, if you want to start a new role in autumn, summer is actually the right time to begin preparing. Competition is often lower during the summer, as many executives are not actively looking for new opportunities—they prefer not to focus on career moves during the holiday season and assume that the job market is quieter. But that is not the case. Shareholders look for executives when they need them, not when autumn arrives.

What is worth doing?

● Define what kind of role you are looking for. Not only what you no longer want (many people have a clear answer to that 🙂), but what you actually want next. What kind of culture do you want to work in? How important are autonomy, the team, and growth opportunities? Which industry interests you? At the moment, companies in the defence industry and manufacturing sector are among the most sought-after.

● Build relationships with executive search consultants. Sometimes a single email or conversation is enough for us to know about you before the right opportunity appears. We recommend being as specific as possible about the type of role, responsibilities, industry, and position you are looking for. It is difficult for us to understand your interests if your message simply says: “based on my experience.”

● Update your professional story. Not only your CV, but also your LinkedIn profile. Often, the first conversations begin there. And companies certainly do not stop executive searches during the summer.

And perhaps the most important point:

Job searching is also a job. I keep repeating this to executives.

Paradoxically, executives are often the ones who struggle with this process the most. Not because they are unable to do it, but because they simply have not needed to for a long time. Many last searched for a job five, ten, or even fifteen years ago. Since then, the market has changed, recruitment processes have evolved, and the way companies select executives has changed. An executive search process typically involves three or four interviews.

I often hear: “I have never had to look for a job—it always found me.”

But when the time comes to search actively, many executives lack the experience and skills to navigate the process effectively.

Finding the right opportunity may also require patience, because the executive market does not follow a predictable cycle. Companies hire leaders when they need them.

So, if this summer you find an hour or two not only for rest, but also for preparing for your next career step, you may enter autumn from a much stronger position. Perhaps even with a new offer already on the table.

And the terrace with a cold drink will still be waiting for you.