How to prepare for a career during the COVID-19 pandemic
The Office of Career and Professional Development’s new “Social Distancing Together” series will feature various HPU faculty and staff to help students concentrate on developing connections and life skills. Photo by @HighPointU
By Nicole Prince
News Editor
During these uncertain times, many businesses have either shut down or are operating remotely. High Point University’s Office of Career and Professional Development, however, encourages students to continue preparing themselves for their careers.
The office’s mission is to “educate and empower all students to translate experiential learning to the professional world as it will be.”
The Campus Chronicle received some helpful tips from the office’s director, Dr. Bill Gentry, for students to utilize while quarantining and social distancing.
- Network.
“Develop a ‘contact’ list of people you know who hold positions that you aspire to hold one day, including any role models, mentors, family friends, relatives, your friends’ parents, teachers, coaches, etc.,” said Gentry. “Connect with these people to learn from their insights, which might include learning about available opportunities. Conduct informational interviews to learn from people who are working in a position or for an organization you aspire to work. Over 75% of jobs are never posted. They are found through networking. Informational interviews can help.”
- Do an online review of your brand.
“Take an objective look at how other people are seeing you on social media,” said Gentry. “What are your pictures and posts saying to the world about you? Specifically, what are they saying to a potential employer?”
- Consider your resume to be a “living” document.
“Do not let it lay dormant,” said Gentry. “You must constantly be refining it and molding it to fit each opportunity for which you apply.”
- If you cannot find an internship, think about other ways to gain experience and life skills.
“This includes part-time jobs, volunteering and job shadowing,” Gentry said. “These can all be considered ‘work experience,’ and employers hone in on ‘work experience,’ not just a job title.”
- Keep applying.
“Employers are still hiring,” Gentry said. “Focus on industries that are in the most need right now.”
- Be flexible.
“Employers are still trying to figure out what is going on themselves,” said Gentry. “Stay vigilant, stay involved, stay interested and give employers a little more grace.”
According to Adjunct Instructor of Communication and Assistant Director of Career and Professional Development Dr. Doug Hall, students can seek remote internship opportunities by visiting https://covintern.com/jobs/.
“When browsing the site under ‘Status,’ you’ll also see companies that have not canceled their internship program,” said Hall. “You’ll have to do some digging to determine if the companies will offer a remote internship.”
The Office of Career and Professional Development launched a “Social Distancing Together” series, featuring six Webex sessions that concentrate on developing connections and life skills with various HPU faculty and staff. The first of these sessions featured Senior Vice President for Student Life Gail Tuttle on April 19.
Other featured guests are scheduled to include Director of Employee Wellness Melissa Marion; Director of Office Accessibility Resources and Services Rebecca Berger; Department Chair of Journalism and Sports Media Dr. Bobby Hayes; Department Chair and Professor of Human Relations Dr. David Berge; and Dean of the Earl N. Phillips School of Business Dr. Jim Wehrley.
Those who need additional assistance or would like to meet with an adviser can schedule an appointment with the Office of Career and Professional Development at http://www.highpoint.edu/careerinternships. The office also updated their drop-in hours from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday through Wednesday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday and Friday to assist students with resumes, cover letters and LinkedIn.