Flip the Script: Leverage Social Distancing as a Recent Graduate

 

After 4 years of attending classes, studying for exams, and writing countless essays, I am proud to say that I have finally earned by Bachelor’s degree in Communications. Like 2020 graduates all over the country, I received my degree via an online graduation ceremony due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although I would have preferred to celebrate this important milestone with my family, friends, and classmates on the actual campus where I spent my college years, I still feel a great sense of accomplishment and am excited to move on to the next chapter of my life—a career in social media management. 

As a member of this year’s graduating class, I am well aware that our generation is facing a new set of challenges as we look for jobs during these unprecedented times. Across the country, unemployment rates continue to climb as businesses furlough employees, institute hiring freezes, and cancel or postpone internships. Although no one can predict exactly when the economy and job market will recover, I believe that if we are resourceful, we can still find many ways to keep moving along on our career paths. 

Stay Connected with AWC

My first piece of advice is to take advantage of all the helpful resources the Association for Women in Communications has to offer. If you explore the website, you will find many different webinars that can help you sharpen your skills and learn more about your prospective field. Membership in the AWC also provides access to experts in various fields of the communications industry, who you can reach out to using the Membership Directory for guidance. They are more than happy to answer any questions you may have, and are dedicated to helping student members navigator toward their career goals. You may also consider reaching out to your local AWC student chapter, where you can talk with your peers and get additional support.

And don’t forget to continue reading the AWC blog, Trending, where you will find many informative articles covering a variety of topics in communications! 

Sharpen Your Skills

There are many other things you can do to make yourself more marketable. For example, you can practice your interview skills, so that when you do see an interesting job listing, you will be ready. Due to social distancing policies, most companies cannot do face-to-face meetings right now but are instead opting to conduct phone or video conferencing interviews. It is important to practice for these types of interviews, especially since it may be easier to become distracted because you are not in the same room with the interviewer. 

Keep in mind that while technology is an important aspect in today’s society, it is still not perfect. It is important to have other ways to contact a hiring manager or whoever is conducting the interview. If the internet goes out, for example, you need to be able to call them on the phone so you can continue to talk with them. 

Learning or improving on specific skills relevant to your field is another thing that you can do during while you are spending most of your time at home. There are many online resources that can help you acquire new skills and sharpen your abilities. Search for online resources that can help you achieve this goal. One resource that you can use is Coursera, which offers free or low-cost online classes in many different content areas. It is important to continue learning new things, even after you’ve graduated college.

Polish Your Online Presence

Another recommendation I have is to polish your online presence. Clean up your social media accounts to get rid of anything controversial or unprofessional. Having a strong LinkedIn profile is also very important, and AWC offers a great webinar on how to use this platform effectively. Also check to see whether there are new professional connections you can add to your profile, such as professors or friends from college who shared your major.

Create a professional website to highlight your accomplishments. Here is where you can get creative and let your personality shine through. A website like this can also be used to let prospective employers see your portfolio.

Stay Positive

This year’s college graduates have faced unprecedented challenges, but overcoming these obstacles has helped to strengthen us and make us even more prepared to face the challenges that are to come. We should take heart, because we have family, friends, and professionals who are cheering us on. We are all in this together!

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About the Author

Rachel Berry is a New Jersey native who attended college at Regent University in Virginia Beach. She recently graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications, with a focus on Internet and Social Media. She is a student member of the AWC, and she enjoys gaming and video editing in her free time.