How the LinkedIn Community Brings Hope to COVID-19 Job Seekers
I had always planned on looking for full-time roles in corporate communications at the beginning of March. The timing was perfect, it was two weeks after my last contract ended and gave me the time to recover from a physically demanding project and continue to finish up my Master’s. I had it all worked out. I’d apply for what would hopefully be about three months and know what my job would be by June 1. It had to be June because my family surprised me with a trip to Europe with my mom and sisters right after graduation in May.
But then, COVID-19 hit. At first, we were told it was like the flu and it wouldn’t come to America, so those of us searching for jobs were not concerned with it just yet. I remember my last in-person class before USC shut down, I was paranoid already and brought wipes to wipe down my desk, the door handles and to share with my classmates. Ironically, so did my professor. None of us knew it would be the last time we would see each other in person or how crazy this season would get.
I’ve now been in the job search for a little over a month and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t discouraged. I am finishing an expensive degree and had planned to be working next month. Bills are real and grad loans will hit soon. I find myself up between the hours of one and four every morning checking to see if there are any new postings at the companies I am targeting, knowing that most of them are on hiring pauses and also knowing I just looked at all of them a few hours ago.
Some jobs I have heard back from with the standard, “you have great experience but we decided to go another way” or “while your skills and background are impressive, we have decided to proceed with other applicants”. Others, I am still waiting for news if I will proceed to the next round.
Here’s the thing, while yes, we are all isolated, we can’t do the job search without a community. We need people to help advance us to our next season, and guys, we have a great virtual community. Sometimes you just need an in. Sometimes it takes reaching out to someone to say, “hey, I’m interested in your background, your career trajectory”, to say “what advice would you give to someone interested in working for your company?” “what feedback would you give me on my resume?”
If I have learned anything in this season, it’s that you can’t do this alone. I’m so thankful for this LinkedIn, this network and the opportunities and connections it’s given me. I got my first undergrad internship through LinkedIn connections back in 2011. In the last two weeks alone, I’ve been able to network and do informational interviews with so many professionals at the companies I am interested in who have responded to my messages on this platform. Your response to me, and the hundreds if not thousands of others who are probably reaching out to you as well, is what is keeping up sane in this season. Your response, even if it is, “I’m so sorry at this time I am unable to help you” is bringing us hope. Hope that someone sees us and that our experience and education matter.
So thank you. Thank you for your response, thank you for your advice, thank you for your encouragement.
To all of my fellow friends in the job search, if I could provide any words of encouragement to you it would be this. Just take the first step. Reach out to that person that you think may not respond. Update your resume for the one-millionth time. Write the cover letter. Care about your portfolio, post new pictures of your work and projects. Keep networking.
I am in this with you, struggling alongside you. When this is over, I am hopeful that we will all come out on the other side employed, with the jobs of our dreams.
Keep hoping friends! We can do this!