How Your Job Search Will (and Won’t) Change During Coronavirus

As the number of cases of the novel coronavirus continue to increase in the U.S., many colleges and universities across the country are switching to online classes, suspending events, and even asking students to vacate campus for the remainder of the semester to mitigate risk. While these changes are undoubtedly a major adjustment academically and socially, they also have a major impact on juniors and seniors who planned to lock down a job or internship during spring semester. 

Finding a job is already a stressful process, and the coronavirus outbreak undeniably makes this process more challenging. Whether your school has moved classes online or suspended classes entirely, in-person campus recruiting events such as career fairs, networking events, and info sessions will likely no longer be taking place. Additionally, in-person or onsite interviews are likely to be moved to video calls for the foreseeable future as many companies have shifted to remote work temporarily. However, many companies are still working to fill their entry-level roles and internships, so it’s important to adapt to these changes as you navigate your job search. We’ve identified the major changes you are likely to experience in your job search, as well as the parts of the job search that likely won’t change all too much. 

Applying to jobs online

What will change: Depending on the platforms you use, there may be some additional delays in your application being processed

As many companies adjust to working remotely, your application might face some delays in being processed. However, any student who has applied for roles through job boards knows that a lack of response isn’t out of the ordinary, whether a global health crisis is taking place or not. To minimize the risk of sending out applications and facing a decreased response rate, consider being more targeted in your job search. Use a platform like RippleMatch, which fast-tracks your 5-minute application to a first-round interview with companies who are actively hiring. If you’re still applying through job boards, consider reaching out to a recruiter via LinkedIn before submitting your application to ensure it’s going to the right place. 

What won’t change: Attention to detail and personalized responses are key

Whether you’re submitting an application and cover letter through a job board or filling out short supplemental questions requested by companies on RippleMatch, proofreading your work and personalizing your responses for a company will go a long way in helping your application stand out. 

In-person Events

What will change: On-campus events will move online

Large gatherings like info sessions and career fairs aren’t feasible in the current climate – which means many companies will explore alternatives such as webinars, virtual career fairs, or video coffee chats. If you RSVPed to any in-person events, be diligent about checking your email so you don’t miss any updates about events that have moved online. Additionally, stay on top of emails from career services (or proactively reach out), as they may have additional information about the status of various events. 

What won’t change: The importance of personal outreach following an event

Just as you would for a career fair, info session, or other networking event, reaching out to a recruiter via email or LinkedIn to introduce yourself and forge a more personal connection can go a long way. Just as you might after an in-person event, request to connect with the recruiter who ran the virtual event on LinkedIn and ask to learn more about opportunities at the company.

Coffee chats and informational interviews

What will change: These kinds of conversations will move to online or over the phone

If you had in-person coffee chats or informational interviews scheduled, be prepared to talk with a recruiter over the phone or, ideally, through video. Follow our tips to minimize technical difficulties, and get familiar with video chat software such as Zoom, Google Hangouts, HireVue, and WebEx.

What won’t change: The importance of preparation and research beforehand

Like any informational or early-stage interview, it’s important to research the company, the person interviewing you, and prepare questions ahead of time you might want to ask the interviewer. It’s also important to follow up after the interview with a personalized email relaying how much you enjoyed the conversation and are looking forward to any next steps. 

Onsite and final round interviews

What will change: Unless the interview is delayed, final round and ‘onsite’ interviews will be taking place 100% online

Depending on a company’s situation, there is a chance that a scheduled interview may be pushed back as they figure out their next steps for certain positions. However, many employers will continue on as planned, as the roles they are hiring for are important for the company’s continued operations. This means video interviews will play a major role in the final round of interviews. If you’ve been preparing interview tips such as coming prepared with a resume, practicing a firm handshake, and maintaining eye contact, the switch to video interviews might feel intimidating. However, you can still nail a video interview by preparing as you would for a normal interview – with a few additional adjustments.

What won’t change: Coming prepared for the interview will make the difference

Preparation is key – and that remains true as all interviews move online. Read our articles on what to know about a company before a job interview, questions you should prepare to answer, and questions you should prepare to ask your interviewer. In terms of technical preparation, you can check out our full article on prepping your space, but here are some quick tips to keep in mind before and during the interview. 

• Check that your WiFi connection is strong enough to support video calling.
• If the recruiter provided you with a link to the video interview, test the link beforehand.
• Make sure you are in a quiet, well-lit room with minimal interruptions. To limit surrounding noise, you can use earphones.
• Put your computer on Do Not Disturb so you aren’t distracted by any message or email notifications.
• During the interview, make sure that you are not fidgeting on your chair or with items around you, including your clothes and hair. 

It’s important to treat a video interview as though it were in person. Remember that the only difference between an in-person and video interview is the medium of interviewing. That means you should dress the part, make eye contact, and stay focused as you would a normal interview. After the interview, be sure to follow-up with a personalized email to the recruiter reinforcing why you are a good fit for the position, as well as checking in about any next steps if you did not discuss them in your interview. 

Wherever you are in the interview process, don’t be afraid to reach out to recruiters with questions

As processes move online, there will be uncertainties and challenges to navigate through as we work through the coronavirus outbreak. Moving forward, be patient when hearing back from recruiters and know that you should absolutely feel comfortable in following up with recruiters regarding the status of your application. It’s also completely fair to clarify any confusion you might have regarding interviews; for example, how will companies be conducting technical interviews or assessments that would have happened in person? Ideally, the hiring managers you are in contact with will provide important context and clarity, but you should feel comfortable reaching out with questions. 

Despite these challenging times, many companies (including those on RippleMatch) are still recruiting. In other words, entry-level candidates are still very much valued and needed. Stay positive as you adapt your job search process, and know that the RippleMatch team is here to support you. 

If you have any further questions, let us know!

We want to offer you the opportunity to reach out to us in case you have any other concerns regarding the recruiting process. It’s important that we keep you as informed as possible in the coming weeks, and we want to shape our resources in the coming weeks based on your input. If you have other questions or concerns, please submit your questions via this form.