Senior success story – landing a job amidst a pandemic

As we head into the final half of the spring semester, the work is amplifying, deadlines mounting, and, for seniors, the pressure to secure a job is higher than ever. Finding a job after graduation can be a stressful process no matter the circumstances, but for the past year, COVID-19 has added a new set of challenges to the mix. 

The job market is different now, and although some industries are starting to settle into a “new normal,” finding a promising opening within any particular desired field is still a challenge for graduating students. 

However daunting the task may seem at the moment, finding a job as a college graduate is not impossible. It may take a little extra work, and even more applications (and rejections) than normal, but there are some students who have already found success and accepted positions to start their post graduation lives.

Senior biochemistry and molecular biology major Evan Danielewicz set himself up for early success by making the extra effort to get help well before he began applying for jobs. 

Danielewicz first came to the Breen Center for help searching for jobs, which included working on his résumé, updating his LinkedIn profile, and setting up an Indeed account. For Danielewicz, the most important of these things was getting help learning how to effectively apply for jobs, especially while using LinkedIn as a job-search resource. 

LinkedIn is especially convenient for college students. Not only is it a reliable source, but it also makes it easier to find connections within the companies you are applying for. LinkedIn marks jobs listed by companies that employ alumni of the college you attend and will identify if anyone in your network or anyone who’s worked for a company that you have worked for is employed at the company that is listing a job. 

Danielewicz took the advice he got from his initial visit to the Breen Center to get a few applications together, but then he continued to come back to have his applications reviewed as well as to prepare for the next steps by practicing for interviews. 

This part of the process can be frustrating, because after you’ve submitted your initial round of applications, all you can do is wait for a response. Danielewicz recommends finding ways to stay productive during this part of the process to stay motivated as well as increase your odds of getting a response. 

“I would say, on job sites, apply for as many jobs as you can all at once,” Danielewicz said. “That way you’re not just spending a lot of time waiting for just one response. Also, make sure you get used to virtual interviews and meetings.”

Love them or hate them, it seems that virtual interviews are here to stay for the foreseeable future. This means that when applying for jobs, it’s really important to get comfortable looking into a camera and avoiding any fidgeting gesture or motion. It’s also a good idea to have a setup you are comfortable in, with a neutral background and decent lighting.

In addition to coming to the Breen Center for advice, Danielewicz also recalls reaching out to his professors, academic advisor, and other professional connections when looking for jobs. This is a great way to get specific advice and leads from people who are already in your desired field.

Fostering strong connections with your professors, advisors, internship coworkers or supervisors, and even your peers is one of the best ways to get a foot in the door of your chosen field. This is another benefit of LinkedIn, a platform that makes keeping in touch with your network easy.

For anyone reading this before their senior year who may be a little intimidated by the prospect of searching and applying for jobs, the good news is there are lots of steps you can take now to make this process easier! Danielewicz recalled a few things he could’ve started doing even earlier that would have been helpful for his own job hunt.

“Definitely update your resume constantly,”Danielewicz said. “I’d say at least about two times each academic year. Also start looking for jobs early, even if it’s way before you could even start applying. That way you have an idea of what your job field looks like.”

It is never too early to start researching your job field and gaining an understanding of the types of positions that may be open to you as you get closer to graduation. Getting help early on from the Breen Center as well as your academic department is another way to prepare for life in your field after graduation.

The Breen Center is always thrilled to celebrate the success of students, and we are very proud to say that Evan Danielewicz accepted a position at Eurofins Lancaster Lab this spring as a raw materials associate scientist. He will be analyzing products sent to the company to be sure the advertised ingredients are accurately listed by testing the properties of each substance.

It’s wonderful to have a job lined up right after college, but it’s also important to remember that everybody’s path is different. A huge component of success is the ability to stay patient and keep grinding even when you don’t see the results right away.