Tips for 2020 university graduates struggling with the impact of COVID-19

If you've recently graduated (or should I say finished due to graduation ceremonies being postponed) and are feeling anxious, lost, scared or uncertain, then you are not alone. Not by a long shot.

The disruption facing 2020 graduates is unprecedented and is significantly impacting employment opportunities as well as knocking the confidence of graduate's whom are trying to infiltrate the somewhat intimidating world of work for the very first time. However; there are steps that can be taken to try and minimise the impact of the current disruption as well as ways to utilise this time in a way where you can both empower yourself and improve your employability prospects going forward. Read on to reassure yourself that the way you are feeling right now is justified, as the affects of the virus on industry and the economy is huge, and also discover ways to help yourself in the very difficult task of job hunting.

The impact of COVID-19 on the class of 2020:

COVID-19 has affected graduates in a range of ways such as resulting in the cancellation of assessment centres, interviews, grad schemes, internships and job offers. It has also resulted in a near halt of active employment opportunities meaning graduates have been left in limbo where they have no income and limitied chances of securing upcoming employement; understandably meaning anxiousness and uncertainty is now commonplace for many. As a new graduate myself, I can relate to this and have personally fell victim to the virus' affect on employment opportunities and I currently find myself at a dead end with applications and job hunting as the demand for graduates like myself is just not there during these difficult times. What adds to the pressure already facing this cohort is that financial burdens of rent, student debt and daily life cannot be met with short term employment in the hospitality sector; a route often favoured by recent graduates. Whilst searching for desired career jobs, employment in restuarants, bars and retail shops is often resorted to as a way of allowing flexible work and providing a stream of income. However, such sectors have been hit badly due to COVID-19 and either aren't open, they are actively making redundancies or have a workforce of experienced staff on furlough ready to utilise again once allowed meaning this is no longer a viable or feasible option for graduates; just another kick in the teeth.

Whilst the above points may seem all doom and gloom, there are in fact ways you can utilise this free time, you have now found yourself surrounded by, to aid in your employability prospects, boost your overall well being and extend your industry knowledge and expertise. Below are seven tips and tricks for you to consider so that you can work towards achieving the points just mentioned.

1. Consider short term virtual work experience or internships to help bulk out your CV

Contact smaller local businesses, who are more likely to reply and need your help more than larger firms, and explain your circumstances. Ask if you're able to do a week's virtual work experience for them, at the earliest convenience, in exchange for them providing you with a reference for future job applications as well as being able to add the experience to your CV. Explain your degree and your areas of expertise and then ask if they're able to provide you with a list of tasks to undertake throughout the week such as content creation for social media platforms if you're a marketing graduate for example or a websire re-form. Do the work to the best of your ability as at the end of it you will have new contatcs, new content to add to your portfolio as well as a reference to show to future employers along with an example of taking initiative; a common interview question.

2. Work on your online networking skills and improve your virtual presence

Spend some time on your LinkedIn profile, connect with people you've met through university or via past work experience. It's probably wise to go through your social media accounts and get rid of any potentially off-putting posts or pictures that could haunt you in the future (yes that includes the ones of you throwing up after a sports social) and it may also be beneficial to begin to follow and engage with pages relating to your degree specialism and chosen career path. You might also want to spend some time creating profiles on job vacancy websites and add your CV, experience, skills etc as you will subsequently get job notifications emailed to you as soon as they are live and these sites are viewed often by potential employers who are uploading such vacancies.

3. Create a portfolio of your work and experience

Create a document, whether it be a PowerPoint, a Word document or a file on Google Docs. You should then establish a professional layout and add any relevant university work, assignments, work experience content, references etc and this accumulation of work can then be submitted alongside job applications to showcase your offerings, initiative and skills. As I am a marketing graduate, I have spent some time learning how to create a website and actually making a live one as evidence of me new found skill. I have also started numerous content creation pages on Instagram to showcase my creativity and to pad out my portfolio with a breadth of work that highlights my capabilities; hopefully this will in turn set me, and you, apart from the sea of other applicants who are all applying for the same role.

4. Search for, and consider working towards, further qualifications

Hear me out. I'm not suggesting you need to go back to university straight away and do a masters degree, however if that's your thing that's cool, but instead I'm thinking mor online courses. If you search online courses rlevant to your degree, especially for industries such as marketing, journalism, business management, accounting, social care etc, you can find a plethora of further qualifications you can do virtually. Many websites offer promotions such as free trials of their extensive course offerings so if you were to use such trials you could theoretically work towards and recieve further qualifications relevant to your chosen industry for free which in turn can be added to your CV and will make you a more appealing candidate to future employers. Plus, you get to further your knowledge, impress employers and fill some of your free time so it's a win win really.

5. Spend time working on your weaknesses

If you're a numbers person and you struggle with words or vice versa, why not get yourself online and take tests such as psychometric, aptitude, numerical and written tests and try and boost your scores over time. Not only will you help improve your weaknesses, you will also be preparing yourself for similar tests often required of applicants during graduate interview processes.

6. Reward yourself for the past few years of hard work - you deserve it

You probably don't need reminding, as you're most likely physically and mentally exhausted and you're either feeling liberated or pining to return to student life again, but you've just finished and completed three or four years at university! That is an incredible feat and you deserve to be proud of yourself for such an achievement (insert pat on the back here). What you've just done is not easy and if you feel you need to take some time to relax and recuperate, that is absolutely acceptable and ok. Self love is essential and in order to better yourself, you need to put number one first and listen to what your mind and body needs. Reward yourself for your hard work and take some time to do things that stimulate you, stuff you enjoy and things you haven't been able to do for a while due to assignments etc. Go on walks, exercise, catch up on a TV series, read, call your friends, see your family (keeing to social distancing guidelines) and remind yourself that there is no time line in which you must abide to when it comes to life after university. You do you and do not feel guilty for it, your decisions or any path you take from now on.

A side note to any employers reading, please consider hiring graduates. We are extremely enthusiastic, hard working, keen to impress and can bring a fresh perspective and new ideas to your business... you will not regret it.