College graduates are being hired for jobs despite the economic downturn, but the COVID-19-era job quest is an online game disfigured by a background of fear, delays, and, sometimes, grief.
“It did affect my job search, as many companies did place hiring freezes,” Jordan Orris, who graduated with a master’s degree in integrated marketing communications, told the Washington Examiner. She was able to find a job but did not have a normal transition. “I interviewed and was on board entirely virtually, which was unique.”
“My husband and I both were given the opportunity to work from home and still get paid,” said Emily Goebelt, a 24-year-old who graduated from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. Emily and her husband run a young adult ministry and had hourlong Zoom calls for 81 days straight.
In May, when many college students graduated and attempted to enter the workforce, more than 20 million people were unemployed in the United States. Many jobs were saved because companies had the ability to move online, but this move also complicated college graduates’ job searches.
One graduate had a job offer at the beginning of 2020, but her start date was pushed back, which left her scrambling for a job to fill the gap. “I entered 2020 with a job offer locked in and a start date of June 1. This date was inevitably pushed back to Aug. 31, so I immediately went on the hunt,” said Jillian Kinder, a graduate of West Virginia University.
She was able to get a temporary job in the meantime, but some of her peers haven’t been able to. “Some of my friends that have just graduated with engineering degrees have resorted to driving for GrubHub or even working at minimum wage jobs just to stay afloat. It’s definitely unstable ground for all of us,” Kinder said.
As coronavirus cases start to rise in states across the U.S., college graduates who have not secured jobs are concerned this pandemic will continue to affect their search.
“I have faith that I will eventually find a job,” Skylar Umholtz, a graduate of Penn State, Altoona, told the Washington Examiner. “However, it worries me that coronavirus cases are rapidly rising in many states. I’m fearful that the resurgence of cases will further hinder the job search.”
Umholtz has been searching for jobs since April and has been applying almost daily. “Most of the jobs I have applied to are currently remotely based, which I don’t mind.”
“It’s been difficult because even though I meet all requirements that I’ve been working on for the last few years, it was looked over because of the pandemic,” said Momal Akbar, an English major who graduated from the University of California, Irvine.
This virtual move has not been easy for most people; the public’s unhappiness level was at the lowest it has been in 50 years during this pandemic. Many college graduates, who had to deal with the pandemic on top of searching for jobs, have especially felt the weight of this virus.
“I had two cousins pass away very close together, and processing their loss during the pandemic has been difficult,” Goebelt said. Despite these emotional struggles, she is glad she had the time to work through her emotions and was able to secure a job.
“I’ve noticed that, since March, I’ve been even more anxious and stressed,” Umholtz said. The coronavirus and job search has been constantly on her mind, she said.
The coronavirus didn’t just shut down restaurants, movie theaters, and sporting events, but also forced many colleges to cancel their graduation ceremonies.
“I’ve always had a very vivid image in my head of walking across the stage with my friends and shaking the hands of the faculty and staff I’ve come to love. Having that ripped away was heartbreaking,” Kinder said.
As some colleges move fully online or plan to switch to online classes after Thanksgiving, fall 2020 graduates could face the same challenges college graduates had to endure this past spring.
