While many employers report they are still evaluating changes to their hiring plans, according to a recent Handshake report, we’re beginning to see trends in job postings emerge— some industries are seeing a significant reduction and others remain relatively steady by comparison. High-contact jobs requiring physical co-location, production jobs with location-specific elements, and positions in the food industry, customer service, and sales are among the most vulnerable in this situation. Other major industries impacted may include travel, hospitality, brick-and-mortar retail, and entertainment.

As more controls and safety measures are put in place, we may begin to see an increase of hiring in these industries once again. Industries that may be experiencing an increase in demand and are hiring in high numbers include health care, pharmaceuticals, grocery chains, delivery services, virtual technology tools, remote instruction, and others. An entrepreneurial spirit is important as nearly all workers shift the way they work.

• Loyola-Notre Dame Library offers access for the Loyola community to Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, and dozens of other newspapers and periodicals.
• Handshake Student Page: Advice for students searching for jobs and internships in the pandemic
• Get Hired – LinkedIn: Newsletter created by Andrew Seaman

Individuals who have attained a bachelor’s degree or higher experience far lower levels of unemployment compared to lower levels of educational attainment (Bureau of Labor Statistics). It is best to stay positive, engaged, and flexible. Check out these resources from Career Contessa and The Muse. If a recruiter reaches out to you through a Handshake message, here’s how to respond and impress them. Employers share their top tips to get a job online right now: fill out your Handshake profile, attend virtual events, showcase your soft skills, and reply to recruiters ASAP.

While some companies have seen a decline or freeze in hiring, others are continuing to move forward with hiring plans during the pandemic. Below are sites tracking high-level changes to hiring activity (Note: The listings are subject to change and are not managed or monitored by our team):

• Companies hiring on Handshake now
• Crowdsourced lists from Candoor and on Google Docs
• Get Hired - LinkedIn Newsletter

While some companies have seen a decline or freeze in hiring, others are continuing to move forward with hiring plans during the pandemic. Below are the best sites to locate those available opportunities:

• Handshake: Use the label ReadyNOW to filter for live opportunities. Tips on using Handshake:
  • Finding a job FAQs
  • 3 must-haves for your Handshake profile
• LinkedIn
• Indeed
• Idealist
• USAJobs and Government Jobs
• Your personal network

Students with internships or jobs impacted by COVID-19 should consider proactively reaching out to the company’s recruitment teams for ways to stay engaged and updated on future opportunities. For those with internships that are cancelled, Career Services has put together a list of options for a Plan B and how to reflect the change on your resume. For those with jobs that are canceled, please make an appointment with our Career Connections team to provide additional guidance in this situation and steps for moving forward.

All services are available to recent graduates and alumni of Loyola University Maryland. Please start by logging into Handshake with your Loyola username and password. If you need access to your Loyola account, please call the Help Desk (410-617-5555). If you have any questions about your services available to you, please email thecareercenter@loyola.edu.

With the shift from in-person to virtual interviewing in response to COVID-19, Loyola is proud to partner with Big Interview to make their proven, step-by-step system of interview prep and practice available to Loyola students. The platform combines expert video lessons and an interactive interview practice tool to help you compete for the most coveted internships and jobs. Your responses can be sent to a staff member or external receipt for feedback. Handshake offers tips on preparing for virtual interviewing. You can also make an appointment with a professional staff member to discuss best practices and techniques for virtual interviewing.

This is a great time to reflect on your skills and on areas that you wish to build upon. LinkedIn Learning is free for Loyola students and offers many certificates and classes on various topics including specific tools like Excel and programming languages as well as more transferrable skills like leadership, communication, and innovation techniques.

Many businesses online are also offering free trainings during this time; these can be found by doing an online search using key words like professional development. Always look at what skills are most relevant to your field. For instance, HubSpot and Google Ads are highly desired skills in marketing. Pro-tip: When networking with professionals, you can ask them which types of skills their company looks for in prospective candidates.

Now is a good time to reflect on your network and make new connections virtually or join professional groups on Facebook and LinkedIn. It is best to determine your networking strategy and goals beforehand to make your exchanges personal and productive. Approach your outreach with empathy and patience at this time. Each person is feeling the effects from the pandemic differently. Response times may vary but individuals are still eager to build connections during this time.

Utilize Loyola Connect to reach 3,000+ students, alumni, and friends of Loyola University who are ready to support you on your career path. You can also reach out to professionals on LinkedIn. Make an appointment with a Career Services staff member to further discuss networking tips and best practices.

LinkedIn found that job postings for remote work jumped 28% in March as companies rethink their traditional dividing lines between on-site and remote work. When you're looking for a remote job, make sure you've read the job description thoroughly to get an understanding of the job being offered and if it is a right fit for your skill set. If your new internship/job has been transitioned to a remote position, use this guide to help prepare to make the most of your experience. Below are some ways to search for companies hiring for remote positions:

• Handshake - Use the keyword “Remote” when searching opportunities
• LinkedIn - Use the keyword “Remote” when searching opportunities
• Flexjobs - Browse 50+ of career fields including Advertising, Human Services, and Engineering
• Idealist - Social Action focused internships and Jobs. Click “Remote” on the left menu
• Indeed.com - Use the keyword “Remote” when searching opportunities
• Remote.co - Browse a variety of fields including: HR, IT, Customer Services
• Skip the Drive - Browse a variety of fields including: Health Care, Accounting, Sales
• Working Nomads - Browse a variety of field including: Education, Health Care, Legal

Micro-Internships are short-term, paid, professional assignments that are like those given to new hires or interns. These projects enable students to demonstrate skills, explore career paths, and build their networks as they seek the right full-time role. Unlike traditional internships, Micro-Internships can take place year-round, typically range from 5 to 40 hours of work, and are due between one week and one month after kick-off. Micro-Internships are used by companies ranging from those in the Fortune 100 to emerging start-ups, and go across departments including sales, marketing, technology, HR, and finance. You can create a free account on Parker Dewey to search for Micro-Internships.

While our team does our best to monitor fraudulent postings, thorough due diligence should still be done before applying. Right now, there may be increased activity from bad actors looking to take advantage of the current uncertainty by offering illegitimate opportunities. Keep the following tips in mind when communicating with employers online during this time:

• Be wary of communicating exclusively via chat-only platforms
• Confirm the employer’s contact information
• Don’t share personal or sensitive information via chat or email
• Report the job on the job search platform for further investigation

Our professional staff is available and eager to meet with you virtually to continue conversations around your career journey. Appointments can be made by following this link. If you have an urgent matter that needs attention, please connect us at thecareercenter@loyola.edu for a response within 1 business day.