5 tips for college students job-hunting during a pandemic: How to do video interviews and more

For college seniors about to graduate and juniors hunting for internships, the coronavirus pandemic could mean more competition for fewer opportunities.

Experts in the field say students shouldn’t give up hope, but should be using time right now to get prepared and ask for help.

Here are some tips:

1. Be positive.

“The sky isn’t falling,” says Jennifer Neef, director of the Career Center at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Neef said she’s trying to remind her graduates to stay calm and focus.

The university is helping to prepare students with virtual chat sessions with advisors, available remotely at most colleges now that campuses have closed. Advisors can help students with where to apply and help them craft a resume that will help them “articulate their skills and qualifications in a way that makes them standout in an competitive college labor market.”

2. Be flexible

However, with some industries more adversely affected by the pandemic than others, Neef said it’s important for students to be flexible in their job search.

According to Neef, there are still plenty of industries that are hiring, even if the job isn’t “exactly what the student envisioned themselves doing,” Neef says.

Neef said career centers can help college students see where their skills and experience would be marketable in a wide range of fields.

3. Be prepared

Monica Cohen, success director at Bottom Line, a college-advising nonprofit for first-generation and low-income college students, says that students need to be ready for a longer search process.

“I think it’s important for us not to sugarcoat it,” Cohen said. “We talk to them about what the job market will look like and how to apply and how to follow up with places during a recession.”

Cohen said students shouldn’t be afraid to reach out to advisors to get more information on the search process, where to find jobs and when to follow up with companies they’ve applied to.

4. Be presentable

In today’s marketplace, where many companies are operating remotely, Cohen said it’s important for student to know how to conduct an interview over video conferencing apps, where “establishing a rapport and connection is more difficult.”

Cohen said students should consider how they will appear on-screen during a virtual interview, including cleaning up the space behind them, being properly dressed and also finding a quiet space in their homes where they won’t be disturbed by family members or pets.

5. Be willing to network

Kendal Parker, Director, UIC CHANCE, an organization dedicated to recruiting and retaining students from underrepresented groups at UIC, said students should know their network and tap into it.

“This can be professors, former employers, fellow classmates or connections on LinkedIn, Parker said. “Let them know what type of role you’re looking for and how they can help.”