An Open Letter To Graduating Students

In a recent TED Radio Hour segment on the topic of re-imagination in times of change, important questions were explored which made me think of students at Santa Clara University and all students during this extraordinary moment. Given what’s happening globally with COVID-19, we’ve never had to learn as fast about anything, ever. The world is going through dynamic transformation in ways we don’t yet fully know and in a manner that recent generations have not experienced.

For those of you who are graduating, in times of uncertainty like the moment we are experiencing now, consider what it takes to redefine yourself, your community and the fabric of the systems we live in? While there is a great deal of shifting under your feet, for what it’s worth, you have much of the potential and tools needed to navigate this. 

Here are some thoughts on why and how:

You are no stranger to extraordinary times. Since you grew up post 9/11 during the great recession, you likely have an innate sensitivity for economic and societal uncertainty. And now, new conditions have emerged prompting you (and us as a society) to become learners of new behaviors; including leaning into what’s unknown and uncertain.

Reinvention may become one of the hallmarks of your generation, the ability to regenerate, adapt and use resiliency as you build your future at the same time as our society rebounds from this unprecedented event.  

It's likely you were already going to disrupt the status quo. Have the courage to create a new set of ideas about what’s possible. As referenced in research conducted by Handshake, you're rewriting the rules as the innovation generation. With your generation it’s not business as usual. In fact, it's clear you're going to have a significant impact on the workforce. If you are purpose-driven, focused on working for an employer with a compelling mission with a (positive) impact, and are selective about being part of organizations that are building inclusive and equitable work environments for all, use these values and qualities to your advantage.

Take an entrepreneurial approach and focus on sectors that are growing. Even if these areas don’t align with what you imagined you’d be doing after graduation, cultivate a flexible and open mindset - this will be essential for students in a COVID-19 economy.  

Pursue opportunities in organizations that are thriving. The Muse has a good starter list of companies that are hiring; examples of industries in this growth bracket include: remote collaboration platforms (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Slack), shipping & delivery (UPS Hubs, Amazon), food/grocery (Instacart, Safeway, Trader Joe’s), logistics (ports, supply chain, shipping), online education & ed-tech (Outschool, DreamBox, Lexia), and government (hiring projected to rise in the future to support managing a global crisis).

Redefine success for yourself, since the path ahead will look different from what you planned or expected. Instead of defining success by the extrinsic merits of securing the “right” first job after college, one practical approach may be to cultivate a plan A, B and C. In additional to pursing your first job out of college consider also exploring large nation-wide employment agencies and boutique region-based staffing firms like Premier Talent Partners or Slingshot that might provide a foot in the door, or explore a graduate school program of interest. Develop a support network and utilize the resources available to you, starting with your university.

Many colleges are building remote and online infrastructure, leverage these resources. Like other schools, SCU’s Career Center is offering Santa Clara students access to virtual career exploration and search support and a variety of digital resources including Handshake, a job and internship discovery platform for college students, Big Interview’s mock interview software, micro-internship and remote project-based work opportunities through Parker-Dewey, and connections with employers via video chats and resume submissions in lieu of in-person recruiting forums. 

Keep a close eye on emerging economic trends. Be careful, however, not to let fear-encouraging media coverage get the better of you. During this time, we are bound to hear a great deal from the press about the impact on college grads like The New York Times recent article. While developing an agile mindset in response to rapid disruption will be critical, students take heart! There are many reasons to persevere despite this noise. It’s often a last resort for many employers to cancel or postpone offers to students. As Dan Black Global Recruiting Leader at EY said in a recent discussion about the hiring landscape for graduating students “Employers know that investing in the future of their organizations means investing in students and interns.” You are the future of our workforce and the future lifeblood for many organizations. Students and recent grads are critical to employers and you will continue to be during and after COVID-19. 

Build your energy as if you’re preparing for a marathon not a sprint. In the weeks and months ahead, be patient with and kind to yourself and develop support systems. Consider the possibilities that may emerge (in time) for us as a society, when many communities and sectors begin to focus on rebuilding.

How are you going to be part of creating the future? Consider innovators, empathetic and purpose-driven leaders like alumni from your university or community that are reshaping the way we lead our lives, engage with the world, and do business. How are you going to be part of that story? While we can’t choose the times we are born into, you can decide what you do with the cards you’ve been dealt. For graduating students everywhere, in the weeks, months and years ahead, I can’t wait to see what you do.