The world may be a bit scary and unpredictable right now, but St. Joseph’s College seniors can use this time to leverage unique skills, practice networking and expand connections.
The Office of Career Preparation and Professional Development at both SJC Brooklyn and SJC Long Island remains committed to supporting students during this challenging and uncertain time. The following are suggestions for those seeking employment or continuing with graduate education.
Tips to Jump-Start Your Job Search from Home
1. Stay healthy: Maintaining your health and well-being is critical to helping ensure a successful post-graduation outcome. Follow the Coronavirus Guidelines for America, tend to your mental health and ask for help if you are feeling overwhelmed.
2. Continue to do well academically: Communicate with faculty and staff regarding assignments, and maintain your GPA.
3. Update and prepare application materials: Prepare your resume and cover letter(s) for potential employment opportunities. Applying to graduate school? Maintain communications and submit or update application materials with graduate admissions offices.
4. Continue to research companies and available positions: As companies are still figuring out future needs, it is important to stay on their radar. Have an application in progress? Reach out and follow-up.
5. Practice interviewing, and prepare for virtual and remote modalities: Interviewing requires preparation and practice. Phone and virtual interviews are very different from face-to-face ones and will be the most popular methods in the weeks and months ahead. Big Interview and Candid Career are terrific resources.
6. Network: Connect with fellow classmates, supervisors, professors and alumni from SJC, and conduct informational interviews via phone, Zoom or Google Hangouts.
7. Review your online presence: Use this time to develop and update your profiles on LinkedIn and Handshake. According to Handshake data, “80% of students who share their interests on Handshake receive a message from a recruiter.”
8. Be flexible: Your ideal post-graduation goal may or may not happen, so be open to all possibilities. Your first job is a starting point for your career, and can result in increased opportunities for future success.
The Class of 2020 will face challenges and uncertainties unlike any in recent history. Keep in mind that college students throughout the country are experiencing turbulent emotions during this time. The best approach is the proactive approach.
Online Resources
The Office of Career Preparation and Professional Development has transitioned many services and resources online. Connect with us via email, Zoom or Google Hangouts today. We are here for you now and after you graduate.
Workshop Wednesday: We are hosting live workshops via Zoom. Register in Handshake.
Schedule an Appointment
For SJC Long Island:
Jennifer Rooney | jrooney@sjny.edu
Kevin Gill | kgill@sjny.edu
Catherine Vitucci | cvitucci@sjny.edu
For SJC Brooklyn:
Ellen Burti | eburti@sjny.edu
Helpful Articles
How to Boost Your Career While You Shelter in Place
5 Genuinely Productive Things to Do in Quarantine
How Will Coronavirus Affect Your Job Search in 2020?
9 Job Search Tips for International Students in the Age of Coronavirus
