Job Search Advice for 2020 Grads
College graduation looks very different for the Class of 2020 … and that’s just the beginning. For many, it’s a one-two punch: an anti-climactic end to their college years, followed by uncertainty over the future.
Who could’ve imagined trying to launch a career in the midst of a pandemic combined with an economic depression and massive unemployment?! It's a mind-bending trifecta for everyone, and especially challenging for hopeful new grads (and their parents).
Unprecedented Times, Unprecedented Challenges
This is no ordinary job market, which can be intimidating enough for new college graduates in a positive economic environment. On May 19, the New York Times reported that “Already, the unemployment rate has risen most sharply for Americans under 35, and especially those under 25.”
With all of this in mind, we’ve asked several of our well-respected colleagues and industry experts to weigh in on the challenges facing 2020 college grads, and to offer them targeted advice to help them navigate this tricky terrain.
Matthew Hora, Assistant Professor, Adult & Higher Education, Departments of Liberal Arts & Applied Studies & Educational Policy Studies, and Director of the Center for Research on College-Workforce Transitions (CCWT) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, describes the challenges of this year’s college graduates as “daunting.”
“They’ll be dealing with not only a recession that may make the Great Recession of 2008 look tame, but also a massive shift in professional jobs to remote/online tele-working, as well as concerns about health and safety while job searching or starting a new job.
“Each of those alone would be stressful to deal with, and together it makes for a situation where current graduates will need all the help they can get from their colleges, employers, and the government.”
The biggest challenge of all, he says, “is clearly a labor market that is retracting and in the midst of substantial layoffs, and graduates who are hired amidst this economy will be very fortunate.”
Lorena M. Blonsky, President of LMB Associates, adds that the top challenges for this year’s graduates will be “to acknowledge their discomfort, embarrassment and/or resentfulness for not being able to find a job easily; to acknowledge how difficult it is to enter the labor force at this unprecedented time; and to be resilient and stay positive during the job search process.”
Existential Despair Can Darken the Cloud
“Even in the best of times, emerging adulthood is a developmental milestone that can trigger feelings of anxiety, depression and self-doubt,” according to Denise Ambre, LCSW, owner of Ambre Associates. As a widely respected psychotherapist with over 20 years’ experience working with adults, adolescents and families, she reminds us: “As 20-somethings enter adulthood, some experience ‘existential despair,’ questioning the meaning of life as they attempt to assemble their futures. This can be destabilizing — or it can be a tremendous opportunity for growth.”
But these are hardly the best of times. “COVID-19 has brought a dramatic halt to life as we know it. College graduates who were already struggling with the transition — and especially those with a history of trauma — will be at greater risk of experiencing this time as traumatic loss.
“Recovery after traumatic loss can be a slow process and many will need help with this process. How we respond as a society to the needs of the Class of 2020 is critical.”
Network, Network and Network
One common thread that runs through everyone’s advice is to network. Now is a perfect time to work on building relationships.
With record-breaking unemployment, Michelle Mobley, CEO of noquo LLC, advises graduates to avoid the “spray and pray” approach to job search at all costs.
“Be extremely focused in what it is you want to do and for whom, she says. “The quickest job searches start with a target list of 20+ companies and end with the job seeker networking their way into an opportunity at one of their target companies.”
Lorena Blonsky also emphasizes the importance of connections. “Network, network and network! Talk to everyone you know: teachers, parents, friends' parents, coaches, clergy, neighbors,” she recommends. “Don't be afraid to ask everyone for help.
“Tell them who you are and try to be as clear as possible about what you are looking for. Remember that people LIKE to help other people. If you ask for a job, the easy answer is “no.” If you ask for help in finding a job, people are much more likely to share ideas and resources.”
Wayne Breitbarth, speaker, consultant and author of The Power Formula for LinkedIn Success, points out that the first hurdle graduates have to jump over is, “getting the right people's attention when they are concentrating on how to get their organization though the pandemic.
“You can address this challenge ‘head on’ by leveraging relationships with your existing network. People will always help their friends and do favors for them even during crisis,” he says. “Use LinkedIn to build your professional network now with alums that have established themselves as thought leaders in their own industries and fields.”
Keeping It Real
Matthew Hora calls a spade a spade. His advice to this year’s college graduates begins with the acknowledgment that these are extraordinary times:
Recognize that the landscape has shifted and your first-choice jobs or careers may not be available right now, and pursue any opportunities that help to pay the bills.”
If you have time and are not employed in your chosen field, try to volunteer or do paid project work (e.g., what vendors like Parker Dewey call “micro-internships”) to get experience and expand your networks.
In your current jobs or volunteer roles, try to cultivate your communication, teamwork and problem-solving skills, as these so-called “soft” or “social-emotional” skills will be even more valuable in a changed workplace.
Seek out new mentors in your desired field or profession from your institutions’ alumni networks or on your own, and ask them questions about career prospects in the field and other topics related to the future.
Take care of yourself – exercise, pursue a spiritual practice, and keep in touch with friends and family. Everyone is struggling in some way right now, and you’ve got to put you first!
Putting yourself first involves attending to your emotions. “Don’t deny what you’re going through,” advises Denise Ambre. As a mental health expert, she emphasizes the importance of staying present with your big feelings, and talking about the situation — including your feelings about it — openly and honestly.
“Give yourself permission to grieve the loss of ‘normalcy’ and fanfare surrounding your graduation. There is no ‘right way’ to grieve, but acknowledging it will help you process the range of emotions you might be experiencing.
“Try to strike a balance between facing reality and remaining hopeful,” she recommends. “If you find yourself struggling more days than not, or having trouble engaging in your normal activities (eating, sleeping, interacting with others), reach out for professional help. This loss does not have to define you.”
Embrace the Freedom to Be Creative
As Dianne M. Michels, Human Resources Futurist and founder of Possibility Partners, points out, current circumstances afford this year’s graduates freedom to “be as creative and nontraditional as your imaginations will allow.”
Making sure you reach the right people — at the right companies, including those in industries booming as a result of the pandemic, or those who are progressive in their thinking and able to ride out this temporary economic downturn — is critical.
“Researching companies is essential to your job search, as are compelling letters of introduction that indicate you understand their business and have identified skills/experiences that can add value to their organization,” she reminds grads. “If ever there were a time when ‘connections matter,’ I encourage you to reach out to your network to ask for referrals, not for being hired but for engaging in informational conversations.”
Lastly, she recommends taking advice with a grain of salt. What works for others may not apply to your circumstances or feel right to you. In the words of Princess Diana, “Only do what your heart tells you.”
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Many, many thanks to the experts who generously contributed to this post:
Denise K. Ambre, Lorena M. Blonsky, Wayne Breitbarth, Matthew T. Hora, Dianne M. Michels, and Michelle Mobley. We greatly appreciate your insights!