Post-Tribune |

Bradshaw: COVID-19 had made the job search process challenging

Dear Mr. Bradshaw,

I graduated from college in 2020 – of all the years…

Needless to say, my job search is in jeopardy because of the COVID 19 crisis. During my senior year residential time — before classes and everything else went virtual — I had visited my school’s Career Development Center to familiarize myself with the job search process and hone my interviewing skills.

I have to admit that I am intimidated by the interview process, especially during the pandemic.

Many of my friends are in the same situation. How can we lessen the stress and adapt to what appears to have become the “new normal?”

Signed,

Frightened

Dear Frightened,

It is totally understandable that you and your friends are experiencing anxiety about your job searches. There is a great deal of uncertainty about how to approach the job market, but some basic search protocols remain the same.

You might find it surprising to hear that finding a job is a lifestyle issue — let’s take a look at your social media presence.

Why, you ask? The reason is because many students are careless about what they put on their Facebook or other popular social media sites. It may sound elementary to start here but many companies do Google searches about applicants. It is important to delete or clean up any comments or pictures that may be even remotely offensive. The goal is to build a social media presence and to project a mature, professional image that will attract recruiters.

Refine your resume, pay close attention to how you present yourself, make use of job search sites and network with alumni and connect with people from companies where you would like to work through social media. Do not appear desperate is the advice of job recruiters.

Searching for a job after college is never easy. In these times you can expect the hiring process to take longer and you will probably have to apply for twice the number of jobs that you would have before COVID-19. Do keep in touch with your school’s career center because they have access to a variety of tools to help you.

You are right in that the “how to” interview question is probably the biggest challenge — especially today. In-person interviews are rare, and this trend means that video and phone interviews have become the standard. While video interviews bear a close resemblance to an in-person meeting, you need to remember that this is not an online chat with friends and that you need to keep things professional.

To snag that interview, you will still need to have a brilliant cover letter. Think of this document as needing to have the same impact as the personal essay you sent with your college application. You can have a great resume, but if you write a boring cover letter not targeted to the position you are seeking, there is little chance you will get an interview. Your career objectives should be clearly stated in the same language as in the job description. Large human resources departments may use computer software to search for key words from their job postings to see if you are a fit.

If you get a positive response from your inquiry and a phone or online interview, you need to practice for it. Always make sure that you research the company and its culture so that you are knowledgeable about expectations.

Be prepared with answers and remember to have a few questions of your own for the interviewer. The idea is to turn a phone interview into a conversation.

I use Skype, Zoom and FaceTime to drill my clients on how to practice for their job interviews. It usually takes three tries before getting it just right. Practicing will increase your self-confidence like nothing else. An interview by webcam leads to the next question: How should you present yourself for the interview? Leave the Starbucks in the car, be clean-shaven, look squeaky clean and wear conservative clothes is the best suggestion. Choose a background that is neutral and professional.

A phone interview, on the other hand allows you to have notes in front of you while talking. You should still follow up an interview with a thank-you note and in it reiterate some of points made in your interview that indicate that you are the right person for the job.

Yes, times are difficult, but they will get better and you can adapt to the “new normal” for now.

Gerald Bradshaw is an international college admissions consultant with Bradshaw College Consulting in Crown Point.