OMAHA, Neb. — Local universities are wrapping up their school years and new graduates are finding themselves having to adapt to a new job search experience. But according to career advisers, the effects of the pandemic have been minimal on graduating seniors and finding work, more so on the younger students who have lost internships and career opportunities.
"With this global pandemic happening by mid-March a lot of our students had already confirmed plans or job offers," Creighton University John P. Fahey Career Center director Jeremy Fisher said. "I would say we heard more from juniors and sophomores whose internships were either delayed or moved to virtual or remote or canceled all together."
The associate director of career development and employer relations at UNO, Joe Hayes, says that he's seeing a similar pattern there. But despite the cancellations of internships and the changes, he encourages students not to get discouraged and to use this time to work on different skills.
"Making sure that our online brand is where it should be. Making sure that we're talking to people, having those conversations, I think can be one thing that can make you a little more proactive instead of simply applying and waiting."
Updating online profiles, practicing virtual interviews, making phone calls and staying motivated during these times can go a long way.
"Let's use this time if you lost an opportunity to continue to develop your professional and personal skills," Fisher said.
UNO and Creighton career services have been moved online. The schools are offering different virtual tools and webinars to help students navigate through job hunting in the middle of a pandemic.
RELATED LINKS:
Creighton COVID resources
https://www.creighton.edu/careercenter/covid19careerresources/
UNO ACDC resources
https://www.unomaha.edu/student-life/achievement/academic-and-career-development-center/additional-resources.php
COVID-19 Career resources
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sUcOzc46S4zy95G9WaglsDtWWiYZqc8DFIZFyP-hoQ4/edit?ts=5e9a1a26#heading=h.3at9u9s4e0vp
