As I hit submit on the last final project of my academic career, I wondered as many other recent college grads do,  “what now?” My “what now” was fueled by the many doubts and insecurities which recent graduates face and was compounded by newer worries and fears due to the state of the world. Graduating during a pandemic was certainly the last thing I  ever anticipated, but I knew I was not the only one struggling to make sense of this new job economy which only seemed to be shrinking as the days passed. 

Sharing my anxieties with others who were in the same boat as I was comforting and helped me develop meaningful connections with my peers. It was through open communication and empathy with one another that we shared our worries, potential solutions, and also created plans to propel us forward. 

While this global crisis was new to everyone, I decided to reach out to the experts I had come to know best during my five years at USC, my professors, to see if they had any guidance or clue as to what the future would look like in my industry. While they all gave me varying bits and pieces of advice, all of them shared one common thread, “be patient and flexible”. They warned, “Your first job may not be your dream job— even before the pandemic, most people’s first job wasn’t what they expected.” Understanding that and being flexible about your career path is essential now more than ever because things are changing so rapidly... I was also reminded that there is not one single path to reach my end goal. It’s important to view opportunities with an open mind and be creative about how and where you can apply what you’ve learned. 

Networking seemed to be the most important job during this time of uncertainty. While the economy slowed down and hiring became scarce, the wisest use of this lull was to build relationships that could blossom into opportunities later down the road. However, this wasn’t as simple as it sounds. Online networking is generally less personal than going to grab a cup of coffee with someone and it can be hard to maintain those relationships when everyone is quarantining inside. Some of the tips and tricks which helped me grow and maintain my network were…

1.  To send a thank you note after every informational. While sending a written note may not be possible during this time since most people are working from home, make sure you send a personalized thank you email to let the person know you appreciate them taking time out of their day to speak with you! 

2. Asking the professional I was talking to if there was anyone else they believed I should connect with. This can help you meet new people and create new connections!

3. Always extend an offer to help out if they ever need anything. A relationship goes both ways and if you are chatting with someone older than you, they might appreciate being able to pick your brain as you might be more up-to-date on certain trends! 

When an opportunity finally came around, thanks to a very dear former professor of mine, I was extremely thankful! Chatting with professionals who were in the field I was interested in helped me understand what to expect in terms of tasks and responsibilities. More importantly, though, I learned that all of them had different backgrounds and experiences that helped them land the job they had, there wasn’t just a one size fits all career path. While the job opportunity wasn’t the exact position I was looking for, I loved the company culture, the potential for growth and I reminded myself that this job would be a chance to foster new skills that I can apply wherever I go next.