LOOKING FOR WORK IN THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER

For those who stay home this summer, this might be the time to look for a new job. Contrary to popular opinion, summer is an ideal time to seek a new position, gain experience, or explore a change of career, says David Adey, president of the Northeast Human Resources Association in Wellesley, Mass.

There are several reasons a job search can be productive in July and August, Mr. Adey says: There is less competition for positions as people focus on leisure activities; fewer help-wanted advertisements mean fewer responses; July starts a new fiscal year and new budget for many companies, releasing money to fund projects that call for additional employees.