Summer is heating up and hiring is cooling down, right?  Wrong. Many companies miss out on the opportunity to hire great talent during this time.

Here are four reasons why employers should double down on their summer hiring.

Easier for candidates to find time to interview:  If the candidate you are interested in is currently employed, seeking to hire them during the summer makes things a bit easier for them. Most companies have summer hours.  Some companies close at noon on Fridays, others are more open to telecommuting during this time, and many people are also on vacation.  It is easier for candidates to slip out or take a day off for an interview without raising suspicion. Taking “stay-cation” time to interview for a new job is very common during this time.

The Interview process can move faster:  With all the vacations happening during this time, you might be looking to take one too! Summer is a good time to expedite the hiring process for your personal benefit, but it doubles as a good opportunity to maximize the candidate’s time and make for a quick experience for them.  Once you have them in the office set up a panel interview with the decision makers. Candidates appreciate a fast hiring process. It could be a win-win situation!

Less corporate competition:   In this tight market, the best candidates usually have multiple offers. Most companies do not do a lot of hiring during this time.  Because you know that other companies are slowing down their efforts, this is a great time to get stay ahead of your competition and make sure that your offer is the one being accepted by the candidate. In this market, the tables have turned. Now companies have to market themselves to candidates. Take this opportunity to stand out.

Perks of easy onboarding:  You want to consider what will make summer onboarding attractive for the candidate. With most companies, business slows down in the summertime.  This allows new employees to ease into their role smoothly when things are slower and fewer people are in the office. Training can take place while business is a little bit slower. The candidate can have a little more space to learn the ropes before things pick up in the fall. And in the case that the candidate has relocated to the area to accept the job, summer onboarding would allow them to get settled more easily. It can be a selling point for you to offer the time for them to come in before the school year starts if the candidate has a family. It could be a great advantage to leverage.

Summer hiring is an opportunity for your company to stand out above the rest. It is a chance to show your candidate that you not only want to hire them but that you value their time and their personal concerns in accepting a job. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to make a great hire during the summer.  Top candidates are always looking and tenacious hiring managers should capitalize on this opportunity.