This translation has been automatically generated and has not been verified for accuracy.Dear Class of 2020: You are graduating into one of the worst economies in history. But this isn’t news to you. Many of you have already felt the impact, with summer internships and full-time job offers pulled out from under you as the depth and duration of the coronavirus pandemic truly sets in.
Amp up your profile with links to websites you’ve created, articles you’ve written or presentations you’ve given. You can even upload recordings to highlight public-speaking skills. Moving online can make networking less intimidating for newbies. You can ease into building connections, absorbing information and building the confidence to eventually become a more active participant.
“I coach students to identify a person who has at least 10 years of experience, one that knows them well academically and one who knows them well professionally,” Kastor says. “Start with who know, articulate what want and always ask for the recommendation of two more people to reach out to.”Understand what a company is looking for in a candidate. Then, customize your resume and cover letter to that specific job posting.
Tailoring your resume also means including keywords or phrases from the job posting, since companies use software to sift through the initial barrage of applicants.“COVID-19 is unlike anything we have seen, so you have to be flexible,” says Glenn Hellenga, director of career and employability resources at Tri-County Technical College in South Carolina.