#ClassOf2020
There is a new tone and tenor in my conversations with soon-to-be grads. With formal graduation ceremonies postponed indefinitely and all of us working virtually, many have an understandable sense of fear combined with a heightened paralysis about launching a job search in unchartered waters. Most college seniors have flown back to the nest, finishing up classes online. While it might have been easy to kick the can down the road until after commencement in years past, the class of 2020 feel they should be doing something now.
I cannot think of a more emotionally charged and challenging job market to enter, and it’s true for clients across all age groups. But I worked through 9/11 and the crash of 2008, so I know that together we will recover and move forward. We’ve barely finished Q1, but “This, too, shall pass” has already become the catchphrase of the year. The nature of how—and where—we work may change, but the good news for the class of 2020 (and the many other job seekers in the marketplace this spring) is that you all have very marketable skills: look no further than all those Instagram stories you’ve painstakingly crafted!
So let’s discuss logistics, or as I like to call them gravity issues (anything that directly affects the economic reality of your life) first. My colleagues in Career Services at my alma mater @ Emerson put it this way in a recent email:
Let’s say you’re a senior completing your final classes online while staying with your parents in Ohio, Massachusetts, Texas, or Oregon. And you’re wondering if and when you should move to Los Angeles or New York to pursue a career in (for instance) the entertainment industry once you complete your degree in May. Will those orders to stay home for Californians and New Yorkers still be in effect come summer? If so, doesn’t that mean there won’t be any entry-level jobs in the entertainment industry? And if that’s the case, wouldn’t it make more sense to stay home in Ohio, Massachusetts, Texas, or Oregon and look for a survival job while living with your folks and trying to save money for a move at some future time?
These are tough questions, and only you can answer them honestly. But I do have some suggestions for a way forward.
A survival job, or something encompassing essential services, may be an option and an opportunity to give back to your community until stay-at-home directives are lifted. More insight from Emerson CS:
You might also look for xyz Industry jobs in your home state, or target roles that allow you to work remotely. College seniors are already virtual workers—they’re digital natives, highly adept with online communication platforms and learning. This can be a real advantage as you approach this new way to work.
If you are not yet at the point where you can articulate your dream job, or if real-time circumstances have forced you to change your plans, here are three steps you can take to refocus your energy in a productive way right now.
Narrow it down. The first—and in my experience, most challenging—part of achieving a goal is setting one. When I work with clients, we start by constructing a target job goal and illustrating what that job might look like. This is a role you can justify on paper: You can convince a skilled interviewer that you can do it, and you have qualitative and perhaps quantitative evidence (through data-based assessments such as STRONG) to show that you will succeed. If you are at the whiteboard stage, I strongly encourage you to connect with your college or university’s Career Services team. I also highly recommend the processes and tools that Bill Burnett and Dave Evans share in their super-helpful book (and accompanying website), Designing your Life. And because it’s always valuable to have another perspective, you might also consider scheduling a session or two with a career coach.
Craft your narrative. This part of the process is where you develop a succinct answer to the “tell me about yourself” question that typically begins every interview. Your answer should be highly personal, and based on the strengths, skills, and values you’ll bring to your target job. My clients and I refer to this as your Professional Value Proposition (PVP), and yours should communicate a concise and relatable summary of your unique professional value. Your PVP will be an easy reference to use for interviews and also for the many networking opportunities you’ll have.
Your PVP tells employers what you bring to the table, your unique brand promise, and may even identify a problem you could solve. To craft yours, follow my three-step process:
· Identify your personal strengths. What special, innate talents make you unique? You might, for instance, be: a confident leader, an extremely adaptive team player, someone who works well under pressure, or a creator of new ideas. List 3+ personal strengths.
· Identify the attributes/skills the employers in your target set are looking for, and all the ways your skills are a match. You might have hard skills such as anything computer- or IT-based, as well as high-touch skills for work in sales, customer service/relations, writing, data analysis, or research. Connect the dots between your skills, the impact or solution you can provide, and the target set you are looking to connect with. Use some examples of your Target Role for this step.
· Identify all the personal and professional experiences that demonstrate and/or contributed to your strengths. Provide concrete evidence of your talents through a relevant and memorable narrative. List 3+ personal experiences that highlight your strengths and skills.
Network. Even if you feel you are not ready to reach out and activate resources and contacts that can help you land your dream job, it is still an excellent time to stay connected. Although you probably aren’t seeing them regularly these days, it’s still worthwhile to connect with those who have had a positive impact on your academic, professional, or personal life. It’s tempting to retreat to the couch for another episode (or six) of Tiger King, but you might feel better if you use some of that time to video chat or email someone who made an indelible mark or contribution to your success. Check in with them. I recommend my clients cultivate a personal Board of Directors before they start professional marketing efforts. Your tone may vary depending on whether you’re reaching out via email, text, or call, but it’s always a good idea to show gratitude and a genuine interest in your contact’s health and welfare!
Whether you decide you are ready to move forward in pursuit of your dream job or hunker down with a placeholder, here are some resources that connect employers with employees who can work remotely. There are many more, but I have some firsthand experience with these sites. Check out listing dates when looking online: Be aware if a job was posted this week or after stay-at-home was enacted.
FLEXJOBS https://bit.ly/39ayibk
JOBSPRESSO https://jobspresso.co
OUTSOURCELY https://www.outsourcely.com
THE MUSE https://www.themuse.com
CAREER BUILDER https://www.careerbuilder.com
UPWORK https://www.upwork.com
Two new boards which I have just found that are super cool:
https://www.postscript.io/blog/ecommerce-jobs/- Started by Postcript (link?) In response to the worldwide impact of COVID-19, they created this job board as a way to support merchants, partners, and the people who make up the larger ecommerce community.
https://bit.ly/2Rzi2ei Shared by Jai Sanjani, Principal New Enterprise Associates, Inc. NEA is a global venture capital firm that empowers founders who are creating vital change in the world.
I have also heard a lot about Fiverr (a site and an app) of late. With jobs starting at just $5 a pop, Fiverr is a handy site for finding your first freelance gigs and building a portfolio in a hurry. Fiverr focuses on “gigs” or “micro-jobs,” like editing an image in Photoshop, designing a Facebook ad, or brainstorming SEO-rank-worthy article titles. You can also add any specific skills or credentials you have to your listings, allowing you to make a lot more than $5 for some jobs. If you register and are employed through the site, a fee is subtracted when payment is wired.
We’re all working in new and different ways, and we’ll likely continue to well after we come out of quarantine. But by being proactive now, you’ll prepare yourself to step confidently into the workforce now or towards a more permanent destination when the time comes.
*Links provided are subject to change/inactivation by the source.