Graduating College? What Are Your Options During the Era of COVID-19?

• Author: Kelly Cooke
• Posted: 2023-11-26

The COVID-19 global pandemic has affected nearly everyone on some level. One of the hardest-hit groups of people is recent college graduates. Dreams of landing that perfect job were dashed when the health crisis took hold and the economy tanked. Here are a few options that recent college graduates have as they head out into the real world.

Go to Graduate School or Extend Undergraduate Studies

Looking at the dire job market, it is not surprising to learn that many college students are tempted to extend their schooling if they are able to do so. If you were planning to enter the workforce for a few years before going to graduate school, it may be a better idea to skip directly to your graduate education plans. You might as well continue that schooling when the job market is in this rough spot.

Other students are deciding to simply extend their undergraduate careers by going after a minor degree in a related field of study. Adding more schooling to your college resume will increase your marketability while delaying your college graduation date. The hope is that the job market will be in a better place when you do graduate so that you are able to take a position that does not feel like you are settling.

Work For Free

If you are in the financial position that you can work for free, now is the time to dive into some opportunities. Many companies are offering virtual internships at this challenging time. This is a great way to build your skillset in your field while making valuable networking connections.

Look For Growth Areas

It is also understandable if you want to take some time to regroup and figure out what you are going to do next. Now is an ideal time to look at growth areas and how you can improve yourself so that you are ready to take that leap when the time comes. Perhaps you want to take an online class focusing on time management? Or brush up on your technical skills?

Change Career Paths

Changing career paths in response to the crisis is not uncommon in this economic climate. For example, if your goal was to be a college teacher or aid, those jobs will be in short supply as many campuses move online and lose students. Conversely, you will likely find plentiful job opportunities in the field of e-commerce as many vendors move their business focus to online availability.

Proceeding Forward with the Job Search

If you decide to move forward with looking for a permanent job, you need to be extra precise with your search. Here are three things to keep in mind to help you to boost your chances of success in landing that perfect gig.

• Prepare for the Virtual Interview - A virtual interview presents a certain set of challenges that may not be on your radar. Before the day of your interview, you need to conduct a trial run to make sure that your technology is working properly. You may even consider practicing with friends and family on the technology.



• Be Flexible - Your dreams of starting the job of your dreams immediately after graduation may have to take a backseat during this unprecedented economic time. You will save yourself a lot of frustration if you accept that you may need to be flexible to obtain a job after graduation.



• Do Not Put All of Your Eggs in One Basket - Now more than ever, it is important to diversify your job prospects. This is not a time when you can afford to be picky about what may be available to you. You can always turn down a job if it is not a good fit or if you get a more promising lead. In the meantime, diversifying your options will provide valuable networking and interview experience.

While all of this change and uncertainty may be disconcerting, it is important to keep in mind that it is not a permanent state. The economy will eventually rebound, hopefully delivering a host of job opportunities in the process. Until then, recent graduates need to make informed decisions so that they are positioned to prosper.