What’s going to happen to the class of 2020?

The job market was one of the reasons I went to graduate school in 2010. I had done my best to gain real-world experience during my undergraduate education, but I realized that I faced an uphill battle if I entered the job market right after graduation — especially in the world of journalism. The unemployment rate had already started to fall by the time I graduated with my master’s degree.

The class of 2020 now faces a similar — yet altogether different — situation due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The unemployment rate has already jumped more in one month than it has in 45 years and many of those who are still working are stuck at home. Graduating seniors are obviously wondering how they should approach this strange reality as they finish out their college careers.

I reached out to internship coordinators and career service professionals at colleges and universities across the country to find out what advice they had for the class of 2020. They did not disappoint! Hundreds of comments were shared with me.

Use this time to network

One advantage many members of the class of 2020 has is the ability to spend several weeks networking with professionals in their fields before graduation. As I’ve said over and over again in this newsletter, networking is just as important to your job search as a resume. You can read advice that Dorie Clark shared with us in a past edition about remote networking by clicking here.

“Too often the focus is on finding advertised opportunities when it should be on finding potential opportunities even before they have become public,” wrote Crystal G. “This means doing more of what we always suggest — focus on networking and direct contact with employers of interest whether they are advertising a position or not.”

Cathy B. also suggests students reach out to people they already know, even if it’s just to check in on them during this difficult time. Perhaps you can mention an article or podcast that reminded you of advice they offered at one point. “Be visible but don't be in an asking mode. Offer your ideas and expertise,” she wrote. “When the time is right, these contacts will be in a position to help and you will feel more comfortable asking for assistance when you have been reciprocal, and in generous contact.”

Be open to new opportunities

While graduating seniors may have had a clear vision of their future, it’s likely a bit hazy due to the current circumstances. One of the key things to remember is that there are many paths to your dream job or career.

“For example, perhaps you don't land your dream job immediately, but are offered an opportunity within that company. Take it, do the job you were hired for, and continue to explore other professional possibilities within that organization,” said Valerie H.

Times of great disruption can also reveal opportunities that you didn’t think of earlier in your career-planning phase of school. “Take a position you may not have expected to on your career journey and acquire new skills,” suggested Candice S. “The attitude that you have now will significantly impact your success in the future.”

Joshua R. said being flexible led him to an industry he didn’t consider at first. “Initially, after college I wanted to work in the education field but found that my skills were transferable to the private security industry (which is hiring now) — this has turned into an awesome and rewarding career.”

Build your online presence

College students are likely no strangers to social media, but it would be a good use of their time to focus on the type of posts and engagement that could help their careers. We discussed how social media can affect your job search several months ago with Kerri Twigg, founder of Career Stories Consulting. You can read her advice by clicking here.

“Create content on topics of interest for their chosen industry,” wrote Maureen M. about students. “Share it wisely and engage with others sharing relevant content to build credibility.”

Also, don’t forget to clean up your digital presence by deleting and using security settings to hide any embarrassing posts. “When someone does a search for your name on Google or social media you would want it to speak volume[s] of greatness,” said Shenique R.H.

“Now is the time to delete any content on your social media pages you wouldn’t want potential employers to see,” added Angela Y.C. “Update your LinkedIn profile and start following companies/organizations that interest you.”

Keep going

Times may be tough, but that just means you need to be tougher than the obstacles that get in your way. Be resilient and remember that this is an unusual time. While many industries are facing job losses, others are seeing increased demand. Your chances of getting hired only fall to zero when you stop looking for work.

“Starting a career is hard, it's complicated, there is no magic pill, there will be a lot of rejection and ghosting, and at some point it starts to feel personal. The only thing I can say is that it isn't personal, and you just have to do what you need to do to stay optimistic,” wrote Moses M.

What should the class of 2020 be doing before graduation? Join the conversation.

▶ Speaking of optimism:

My colleagues at LinkedIn Learning have created a wonderful resource featuring several different courses related to job searching in a difficult economy. You can see the courses by clicking here, but I’ve also embedded one of those courses below. In it, Careercake’s Aimee Bateman explains how to stay optimistic during your job search.

▶ The #GetHired Job Seach Guide

As I’ve said before, I will do my best to keep you up to date with the latest tools and tips to help you #GetHired. To keep track of those various pieces of information, I created a one-stop-shop where I’m summarizing and linking to a lot of my newsletters. You’ll also find accompanying LinkedIn Learning courses below most of the topics. Click here to check out the guide.

▶ The follow-up:

Millions of people across the country have been joining the job hunt each week due to layoffs and furloughs. Meanwhile, LinkedIn data show that hiring is on the decline — dramatically, in some cases. These various factors mean that it’s more important than ever to stand out from the crowd. In the last edition of #GetHired, we spoke with Jessica Hernandez, who is the president and CEO of Great Resumes Fast. She offered some practical tips for grabbing an employer’s attention, including using a specific position and relevant keywords to highlight your knowledge and experience to the recruiter or hiring manager. Additionally, you should highlight quantifiable achievement to show your value. As for your profile, ask for recommendations and don't make it look exactly like your resume. Here’s what people are saying about the advice.

▶ Other news to help you #GetHired:

Here’s who’s hiring right now. As I’ve said before, we’re doing our best to connect you with companies that are still hiring during these troubled economic times. Part of that effort is a regularly updated list of companies we know to be hiring. Some of those include Amazon, Walmart and CVS Health. Click here to see more.

The U.S. unemployment rate jumped to 4.4% in March, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The 0.9 percentage-point jump is the largest month-over-month increase since January 1975. The government said 701,000 jobs were lost — much more than analysts were predicting for Friday’s report. The losses are likely the tip of the proverbial iceberg since the data only accounted for those reported through March 14. Initial data suggests nearly 10 million people filed for unemployment benefits for the first time during the final two weeks of March. Here’s what people are saying about the numbers.

Can increased demand in some industries offset the losses in others? While some companies are hiring tens of thousands of people to meet the increased demand created by the ongoing pandemic, others are shedding jobs just as fast through layoffs and furloughs. But those new jobs may not be accessible for the recently unemployed, reports Bloomberg. Additionally, the increased demand in some industries are for jobs requiring specialized training that may not be easily accessible during the current global health crisis. Here’s what people are saying about the report.

▶ Want more #GetHired?

In addition to this weekly newsletter, I also broadcast on #LinkedInLive every Friday at 1 p.m. ET to discuss job search strategies during this hectic and uncertain time. My most recent guest was Sarah Johnston, who is the founder of Briefcase Coach and a 2019 LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search & Careers. If you missed the live show, you can catch a replay below. Follow my profile by clicking here if you’d like to get a notification when we go live Friday with Lisa Orbé-Austin, a psychologist and executive coach at Dynamic Transitions Psychological Consulting.

▶ Up next:

Many workers have seen their positions turned into remote jobs overnight due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The ability of people to do their jobs while at home during this crisis and the need for employment has a lot of job seekers thinking about pursuing remote positions. We’ll discuss this trend in the next edition of #GetHired and some fresh LinkedIn data. Until then, let me know what your thoughts are on remote work in the comments below.

▶ Click here to see the latest updates on the coronavirus

Thanks for reading! Feel free to reach out to me if you have ideas on topics or questions I should address in future editions of #GetHired. You can also email me at GetHired[at]LinkedIn.com.