The pandemic has affected people’s access to internships and jobs, whether they be in-person, hybrid or remote. Many organizations also shut down because the pandemic interfered with their financial functioning and programming. Despite the various obstacles, it is still possible to keep yourself occupied either by applying to jobs and internships, or by helping your future self and focusing on your wants and needs in the workforce.
According to The Muse, a few helpful suggestions to find opportunities include: taking advantage of school resources, looking into remote-work, networking with people in a profession you find interesting, volunteering with an organization or learning through an online course.
At Geneseo, the academic departments frequently send emails to students regarding summer programs and internships. Even though at the moment it feels pointless to apply for a random internship during a pandemic, there is no reason not to try. The application process keeps you occupied and gives you a challenge. Plus, for all you know, you will receive an offer to be an intern.
Additionally, it is important to look into remote-work opportunities. Not only is searching for remote work crucial given the times we are in, but also, as The Muse says, “laser in on opportunities that are least likely to hit a corona roadblock” so that if you were to receive an offer your job would not later be affected.
An extremely useful tip for college students now and in the future is networking. Connecting with people in the profession you are interested in is beneficial to further understand how schooling works, how each degree varies and how life is in the specific career. Oftentimes, networking with people is a way to realize that what you were once interested in is not what you want and that you have to explore more.
Two final suggestions include volunteering with a local organization or enrolling in an online course. Consider volunteering for an organization that was hit hard by the pandemic and may need people to help. Also think about taking an online class, whether to accelerate your degree process or to learn something that you would not have had the opportunity to learn otherwise.
These are just a few helpful suggestions to keep yourself challenged and ready-to-learn and work.