Most people believe that summer is the worst time to conduct a job search. But in reality, summertime is just as good a time as any to job hunt. Here are some tips to make your summer job search more effective.

1. Spiff up your telephone skills.

The first thing you'll notice when trying to reach people is that you'll face more voicemail than usual, since people are often on summer vacations. Always have a notepad or organizer nearby when you're making a call to take note of when your contact will be back in the office. Then set up an e-mail to be delivered the day after your contact is to return, and leave yourself a reminder to make a follow-up phone call the day after your e-mail.

Make sure you leave a clear, informative voicemail message. During your message, state your name and your telephone number twice. Spelling your name is always a good idea, too. Give a good time for a call-back, or better yet, state exactly when you will call again.

Here's a general formula for an effective voice mail:

Always include your area code and time zone with your telephone number. Many times, people don't return calls because they aren't sure where the caller is calling from. Giving your time zone helps the message recipient know where you are located and helps them know exactly when to call you back.

2. Take advantage of summer social activities for your job search.

Summertime is chock-full of social activities from picnics to reunions to ball games. And, since most jobs are filled through word-of-mouth, the more people with whom you speak, the more effective your job search. So make the most of summer gatherings to gain information for your search and to extend your network toward your target companies.

3. Volunteer.

The summer months are packed with opportunities to volunteer. Volunteering not only has emotional rewards, but it's also a great way to gain additional network contacts for your search. Looking for a job, especially for those of you who have been engaged in long searches, can be emotionally exhausting. The warm fuzzies you receive from volunteering go a long way. At the very least, they'll boost your mental attitude.

4. Be persistent.

Since many job searchers slack off in the summer, there's less competition. Take advantage of this situation and redouble your search efforts!