Is Summer Still a Slow Hiring Season in DC? What Job Seekers Need to Know
- amy Leighton
- Jul 14
- 2 min read
The impact of DOGE is having an interesting effect on the DC job market. According to Hiringlab.org, fewer applications are being submitted following the surge after DOGE. However, there is an increase in applications for knowledge-work jobs. And private sector companies that have significant government contracts have posted 15% fewer job postings since the beginning of the year. What should you do if you’re looking for a job in DC this summer? Here are a few ideas.
The effect of DOGE. Inc.com states that about a quarter million jobs were cut by DOGE. Because of these cuts, more people were frantically looking for a backup job if their position was cut by DOGE. Now that Elon Musk has stepped aside and the initial push for DOGE has faded, people are feeling more secure and applying less. While there still may be panic, this opens the door for new applicants to submit their information and perhaps be noticed.
White collar jobs. On the other hand, there is also research that indicates there are not enough white collar positions to offset the number of people who were let go through DOGE’s efforts. This is evidenced by the number of unemployment claims filed by those who were fired. In the aftermath, Virginia and Maryland are suggesting former federal employees think about pursuing a state job with Maryland specifically piloting a program to assist civil servants in using their skills for these positions. Other states across the US are also recruiting former federal workers.
Think about mindset. You may have heard about the importance of having a growth vs. fixed mindset, and this is true in a job search as well. It may not be easy to focus on growth when first laid off, but after a time of recovery, it’s important to make moving forward a priority. When you have a growth mindset, you believe hard work and dedication will pay off in the long run. It’s about not getting down when things aren’t going well and sticking to your plan and pushing yourself to grow. It’s the belief that improvement is possible.
If you’ve been laid off, one good thing about that is you’re forced to think about starting over. When you see your search for a new job as the opportunity to find your dream job or discover a position you didn’t know existed, you’ll start to see the possibilities for your future. It’s helpful to work on resilience for the inevitable times you’ll feel rejected as you send out multiple resumes. If you’re having any trouble finding a job in the summer after these efforts, think about who you can network with, and go into any networking meeting with an open mind to just meet a new friend. You never know where these connections might lead.
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