As the Fall 2021 semester comes to a close, it’s time for seniors to start thinking about what comes after graduation, whether that’s a full-time job, graduate school or something outside the box.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic still hasn’t totally gone away, so job searching has an extra layer of difficulty this year.
Thankfully, COVID-19 vaccines are now readily available, and some restrictions have been lifted or made less strict.
At the height of the pandemic, most companies put a hold on hiring and recruiting efforts, unless the job was fully remote before the pandemic. Now, the number of jobs and internships that are available is slowly returning to the level it was prior to the pandemic.
Many larger corporations still have policies against in-person recruiting, and are conducting their efforts virtually. They expect a strong social media presence through the website and app LinkedIn.
Another website and app that is used for job search is Handshake. Handshake is an employment software on which companies can post jobs and internships online while tagging certain schools and majors.
Both Handshake and LinkedIn are now considered staples for students who are on the hunt for job listings.
Many students are already familiar with Zoom, as it was used to conduct virtual classes. However, many employers are now using Zoom for job interviews. The virtual option is favored by many employers simply because of its ease, and because they don’t have to travel.
However, both employees and employers realize that they’re missing out on in-person interaction. On the student end, much more effort goes into a Zoom interview than an in-person interview.
Interviewees are still expected to dress professionally, however they also have to worry about lighting and background. It’s also hard to get into a professional mindset when you can see both a potential employer and your dirty laundry at the same time, or a busy background.
Many large employers will hold a round of Zoom interviews first, then will take the time and effort to travel for an in-person interview, which grants a level of contact between job candidates and the employer.
A frequently discussed topic is the current amount of jobs open in the workforce, however this does not necessarily correlate to Elizabethtown College graduates. Employers are experiencing difficulty in recruiting workers; however many job openings are for service and retail positions that aren’t the kinds of opportunities that graduates are seeking. Many entry-level positions require experience, a frustrating topic for graduates because it was hard to gain that experience while there was a global pandemic.
Workers have had the time to reevaluate their priorities with the balance of work and life. Many are going through the Great Resignation, in which experienced candidates are resigning to pursue other options, and some are choosing to retire early. However, the positions left vacant by this are not always the right kind for entry level job positions, but it does provide opportunities for rapid advancement.
Graduate schools have not changed their positions as much because applications were already online. However, many tours were virtual and with job fairs also being online, graduate schools did not have as much of an opportunity to showcase their attributes. However, with targeted online advertisements, students were able to get a hold on which graduate school they want to attend, and many Etown students that wish to go down that path already have their graduate school lined up.
Etown also has its own School of Graduate and Professional Studies, and students can stay and complete a fifth year if needed for their intended path. Careers like occupational therapy and physician’s assistants are required to stay beyond a bachelor’s degree, and at the College, it’s possible to be on an accelerated track.
Even with the pandemic, students at Etown are on the path to success, and with helpful resources like the Career Development Center, the search for the next step isn’t that overwhelming.
