留学生疫情期间找工作难？给你6个小贴士！

Being an international student is not easy. Nowadays, graduating and looking for your first job can add to this pressure. Everything appears to be turning upside down, the economy, COVID-19, politics, immigration, and the state of the world.  

As millions file for unemployment, many first-time job seekers might be wondering how to break into this unpredictable job market. It is imperative not to lose hope and continue to look for work and stay connected during the economic downturn.

Here are six easy ways to keep networking, find work, and make advancement in your career.

1.Stay Flexible

Many international students and first-time job seekers have a vision of what they thought their first job would look like. That thought might still be right, but you might need to take some turns and twists to reach that goal. For example, while many international students might have their minds set on a full-time job with full benefits, it might be time to consider a six-month internship or fellowship or look for a short-term contract until businesses start hiring for more full-time positions again. 

2.Change Your Expectation

Many of my students tell me that they are sending out their resumes, but they’re not getting many replies. I ask them to consider adjusting their expectations. They must jump somewhere, even if it’s not where you want to be, to gain experience. This is not to say to ignore your final career goal, but alternatively, think about what other positions would give you the skills and expertise you need to get closer to your ideal jobs. Or maybe you can be more open-minded about job location. Perhaps you wanted to work in Manhattan or Chicago, but you see positions that are a better fit for you in Pittsburgh or Miami. Or even though you’ve wanted to move away, there are more opportunities closer to home. Wherever you end up right after graduation doesn’t have to be where you live forever, and a job in an unexpected location now could set you up for a role in the city you hope to settle in later.

3.Focus on Your Skills 

I often tell students instead of focusing on the job they want; they should focus on the industry most interested in the skill set they have built. It is essential to think about how the skills from their college courses, past internships, summer or work-study, or even volunteer work can be leveraged in the current economy. Keep in mind that whatever position you get now, you can use that experience down the road to assist you in shifting into the kind of role you initially had in mind – or you might discover another path you’re even more excited about. 

4.Network, Network, Network!

It is essential to reach out to people you already know relatively well and ask them to let you know if they find relevant opportunities. Start asking a list of people in your network you feel comfortable approaching; for example, your favorite professors, internship supervisor, even family members, and friends can let them know you are actively looking for a job. It is essential to be more focused on staying connected and telling your story than finding a job. It may seem counterintuitive, and it may not generate job offers right away, but you will be getting on people’s radar and laying the foundation to build and develop your career in the years to come. 

5.Standout

It is easy to feel productive and send out 100 one-click applications on LinkedIn, but getting a job requires you to get clear on what you are looking for and why you want it. In today’s virtual world, suppose you ask for a virtual coffee chat, write a personal and well-researched email. Don’t ask to pick someone’s brain. Be more specific and pinpoint the topics you’d like to learn about and discuss. Being more specific about what you hope to gain from these meetings and being prepared with thoughtful questions will help you stand out from others reaching out for advice. It is also essential to show that you have done your work only in networking, but also it should reflect in your cover letter and interview. Don’t just say you want to work for the company, Show them why you want to work for the company. You are familiar with what they do, their challenges, and recent news, but most importantly, make sure to tell them how you can offer the company or the team how you could contribute to the role you are applying for. Don’t forget; companies are most interested in what you can do and why you’d be the very best candidate for the job. So make sure you’d be for the job.

6.Constantly Update Your Skills

Expanding your knowledge will be particularly useful when potential employers aks how you spent your time during this pandemic. It is necessary to show that you were productive, so be ready to talk about the online courses you took, volunteer work you have done, or the books you have read. 

This is a tough year, particularly for international students. We don’t know how long the pandemic, social distancing, and the economic crisis will last. So let’s focus on what we can control, responding to job postings, and reaching out to our network.

Just keep in mind that there will be many NOes, but it is crucial not to take it personally… Stay focused on what you can do and can do better and how to move ahead, one step at a time.