With so many aspects beyond individual control, students are advised for the present to focus on maintaining a positive mindset and on what can be controlled. Don’t abandon the dream job, but devise a Plan B and Plan C. Need some help? Schedule a virtual career planning appointment and/or consider using the tips below to get started on your search.
In the News: Has COVID Changed Job Search? and The U.S.: An Employment Outlook Amid COVID
Start your search with these steps:
- Career values self-inventory. Review/analyze your responses by completing this Career Values Debrief exercise.
- FOCUS2 online offers self-assessments for skills, interest, values, etc.
- Skills inventory, determine your current strengths and make a plan to gain more skills within your major courses
- Career assessment options, offered by Career One Stop
- O*NET® career exploration includes an ability and interest profiler
GoinGlobal, a resource offered by the University Career Center, found the following soft skills to be in great demand:
-
Professionalism
-
Strong oral and written communication skills
-
Flexibility/resilience
-
Emotional intelligence
-
Teamwork and collaboration skills
-
Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- USAJobs has a special website that features federal government openings related to mission critical job functions
- These industries are still hiring. View openings in Careers4Terps.
- Top 100 Employers with 770,000+ Jobs Open NOW
- Where to Expect Job Market Growth in a Post-COVID-19 Economy
- New Types of Jobs Emerge from COVID-19
- 5 Skills That Will Be In Demand in a Post-Pandemic World
Not surprisingly, the employment outlook is highest for jobs that are telework-friendly. Thus, the leisure and hospitality, retail, construction and transportation, and warehousing industries have seen the greatest downward trend in employment over the past year. Source.
The most telework-friendly industries include the following:
-
Educational services
-
Professional services
-
Finance and insurance
-
Information
-
Wholesale trade
-
Real Estate
-
Public administration
- Advice for College Students: How to Maximize your Career Development during COVID-19 - NACE
- Listing of sites advertising openings | Who is hiring, by Candor | Positions with a hiring surge, Glassdoor
- Top 100 Companies to Watch for Remote Jobs in 2021
- Open jobs: The Federal Government is hiring across a wide range of career fields to help respond to the COVID-19 national emergency.
- Networking resources
- Full-time positions shared for UMD students: Careers4Terps @ BSOS
- Entering the gig economy: Contract positions, remote work, flexible working arrangements
- 15 primarily virtual fellowship programs for students
- Protect your privacy and safely search for positions. Tips to avoid scams.
GoinGlobal reports: Conditions can vary greatly at the state level. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that jobless rates are higher than last year in nearly every major metro area. However, things are starting to improve in many areas. An analysis by WalletHub comparing the change in the number of unemployment insurance initial claims since the onset of COVID-19 to the present with the number of claims during the same time period last year, found that the labor markets of the following states have recovered the most so far:
- Oregon
- Connecticut
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- Vermont
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Wisconsin
- Arizona
- Wyoming
Source: WalletHub/U.S. Department of Labor
Most effective Search Strategies & Preparation Tips during COVID
- Networking is the best search strategy
- Target organizations of interest to develop a relationship before an opening
- Application: Submit customized materials
- Use LinkedIn to reconnect with contacts
- Reflect on your true interests & devise a plan to make that happen
- Be patience: things might take a bit longer than than before
