Here to Help | Eastern NC Now

Publisher's note: The author of this post, Ken Buday, is a contributor to ECU News Services.


    With a record 3.3 million people filing unemployment claims last week, East Carolina University seniors are facing one of the most uncertain times in history to enter the job market.

    Despite social distancing rules that are in place, ECU Career Services is still providing services that can help not only seniors, but all students.

    Tom Halasz, director of ECU Career Services, said students can schedule appointments through Handshake to cover a variety of services, including reviews of resumes and cover letters, general career advice, job and internship searches, interview preparation and practice, exploration of careers and majors, and graduate school and personal statement reviews. All can be done remotely.

    "Staff have adjusted well to delivering services virtually to students," Halasz said. "Career services has been developing resources and services to assist students virtually for several years."

    He said there's not one main question that students are asking as they work virtually.

    "The main concern we hear from students is that they are just overwhelmed," Halasz said. "They are trying to sort through their emotions and refocus on their coursework and life in general. On top of all this, they don't know what is going to happen to their families, their jobs or internships, and their careers."

    He said seniors are particularly concerned about job opportunities considering the economic climate created through the pandemic and suggests they be proactive.

    "Follow up with employers on job and internship offers," he said. "Work with your academic department. Utilize career services, especially the Handshake job posting and online scheduling tool."

    Halasz mentioned that despite the shift in the economy, Handshake listed more than 2,600 new jobs, internships, co-ops and fellowships across the country in March, including more than 400 new listings in North Carolina alone.

    He said students should be taking steps right now to be in the best position to land jobs or internships, and that ECU Career Services can help.

    Prepare job search materials such as resume, cover letter and list of references.

    Know what resources are available, including Handshake as well as other database systems such as CareerShift, GoingGlobal, and InternshipsUSA, and use ECU Career Services to schedule one-on-one appointments to help with document preparation, job searches and general career advice.

    Halasz said students should consider targeting specific locations and employers.

    "For some students that are job searching, using locations to target specific employers can help narrow down and focus a job seeker's list as well as create potential leads by identifying alumni that already work at those companies who could help you get your foot in the door," he said. "Today more than ever, using social networks and online resources like LinkedIn can help students identify alumni that could help them gain an inside edge when applying for positions."

    Online resources through ECU Career Services include:

• Handshake: A job posting and online scheduling tool with an average of 5,000 available positions
• Here's How Virtual Workshops: Career development topics covered in 15 minutes or less
• Resume samples: Hundreds of samples for each academic discipline
• Virtual Resume Review: Upload a resume to receive virtual feedback
• Interviewstream: Practice interviewing technology
• Virtual job shadow: Thousands of videos and assessments for career exploration
• Career Shift: National job postings and contacts
• GoinGlobal: International job postings and job search strategies abroad