HERE TO HELP

ECU Career Services available online to help students land jobs, internships

Published Apr 01, 2020 by
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8 TIPS FOR SOON-TO-BE JOB HUNTERS

Lee Brown, the director of career services for the College of Business, offers eight tips for soon-to-be job hunters.

Now is the time to hone your virtual interviewing skills.

We all know virtual interviews are quite different from the typical face-to-face. There are many resources like Interviewstream that will allow a student to create their own virtual interview and review once they’re done. It’s challenging to engage with a computer monitor versus a person. However, times like these make it a necessity.

Maintain structure in your life.

Most will perform better when there is some form of structure and organization in their daily life. Students have had to move to an online lifestyle that creates more ambiguity in their life. Having some sort of daily routine will provide the necessary framework for the student to be successful.

Build a strong social media brand and network.

With face-to-face interaction all but ceasing, now is a time to build a strong social media presence. Spend time on LinkedIn and connect with professionals in your desired field. Use family, friends, professors, career services and any other network to build connections. Remember, if you are not networking, you’re not working.

Develop a strong mental and emotional mindset.

You will hear “no” a lot. The current job market is extremely challenging, and more candidates are vying for fewer jobs. We are in a survival of the fittest environment. However, there are many resources available to help you be successful. We live in an instantaneous society. We want results and want them quickly. However, we must be prepared to experience significant delays in communication from job applications.

Have realistic expectations.

Don’t expect to hear from employers for a while. They are busy taking care of their current employees and trying to keep their organization afloat amid these uncharted waters. It’s OK to follow up after an application submission, but please be reasonable regarding timing.

Learn new skills.

Many online resources will allow you to develop new skills such as software knowledge, social marketing, Excel — the list goes on. Take some time to expand the skills section of your resume. You and your future employer will be glad you did.

You might need to change your strategy.

Although the company you want to work for may not be hiring, some organizations/industries are ramping up their hiring numbers. Do some research and find other opportunities that might be out there.

Don’t give up.

Tough times create tough people. You will get through this. Someone once said, “your tomorrow will be determined by the decisions you make today.” Determine to work harder than ever during this new normal time. You should never make permanent decisions based on temporary circumstances. Employers will look for graduates who are flexible and adaptable, and this time is an excellent opportunity for you to demonstrate those skills. This, too, will pass.

With a record 3.3 million people filing unemployment claims last week, East Carolina University seniors are facing one of the most uncertain times in history to enter the job market.

Despite social distancing rules that are in place, ECU Career Services is still providing services that can help not only seniors, but all students.

Tom Halasz, director of ECU Career Services, said students can schedule appointments through Handshake to cover a variety of services, including reviews of resumes and cover letters, general career advice, job and internship searches, interview preparation and practice, exploration of careers and majors, and graduate school and personal statement reviews. All can be done remotely.

Though job fairs through ECU Career Services provide face-to-face job opportunities, the center is providing online options to help students during the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Rhett Butler)

“Staff have adjusted well to delivering services virtually to students,” Halasz said. “Career services has been developing resources and services to assist students virtually for several years.”

He said there’s not one main question that students are asking as they work virtually.

“The main concern we hear from students is that they are just overwhelmed,” Halasz said. “They are trying to sort through their emotions and refocus on their coursework and life in general. On top of all this, they don’t know what is going to happen to their families, their jobs or internships, and their careers.”

He said seniors are particularly concerned about job opportunities considering the economic climate created through the pandemic and suggests they be proactive.

“Follow up with employers on job and internship offers,” he said. “Work with your academic department. Utilize career services, especially the Handshake job posting and online scheduling tool.”

Halasz mentioned that despite the shift in the economy, Handshake listed more than 2,600 new jobs, internships, co-ops and fellowships across the country in March, including more than 400 new listings in North Carolina alone.

He said students should be taking steps right now to be in the best position to land jobs or internships, and that ECU Career Services can help.

Prepare job search materials such as resume, cover letter and list of references.

Know what resources are available, including Handshake as well as other database systems such as CareerShift, GoingGlobal, and InternshipsUSA, and use ECU Career Services to schedule one-on-one appointments to help with document preparation, job searches and general career advice.

6 TIPS FOR ONLINE INTERVIEWS

Take advantage of practice interviews and Career Services practice interviews.

Dress well for the interview.

Make sure your interview space is neat, well lit, comfortable and free of distractions (dog, dish washer running, loud music).

Conduct research on the company and the job/internship.

Check camera, audio and connectivity.

Be ready 15 minutes prior to your scheduled interview.

Halasz said students should consider targeting specific locations and employers.

“For some students that are job searching, using locations to target specific employers can help narrow down and focus a job seeker’s list as well as create potential leads by identifying alumni that already work at those companies who could help you get your foot in the door,” he said. “Today more than ever, using social networks and online resources like LinkedIn can help students identify alumni that could help them gain an inside edge when applying for positions.”

Online resources through ECU Career Services include: