Here to Help | Eastern North Carolina Now

Publisher's note: The author of this post, Ken Buday, is a contributor to ECU News Services.

ECU student Brandt Mitchell, left, talks with T.J. Holloway, center, and KeyKey Williams of Hess Construction at the ECU Career Services Job and Internship Fair Oct. 16. Despite social distancing rules, ECU Career Services remains available to help students remotely. | Photo: Ken Buday

    With a record 3.3 million people filing unemployment claims last week, East Carolina University seniors are facing one of the most uncertain times in history to enter the job market.

    Despite social distancing rules that are in place, ECU Career Services is still providing services that can help not only seniors, but all students.

    Tom Halasz, director of ECU Career Services, said students can schedule appointments through Handshake to cover a variety of services, including reviews of resumes and cover letters, general career advice, job and internship searches, interview preparation and practice, exploration of careers and majors, and graduate school and personal statement reviews. All can be done remotely.

    "Staff have adjusted well to delivering services virtually to students," Halasz said. "Career services has been developing resources and services to assist students virtually for several years."

    He said there's not one main question that students are asking as they work virtually.

Though job fairs through ECU Career Services provide face-to-face job opportunities, the center is providing online options to help students during the coronavirus pandemic. | Photo: Rhett Butler
    "The main concern we hear from students is that they are just overwhelmed," Halasz said. "They are trying to sort through their emotions and refocus on their coursework and life in general. On top of all this, they don't know what is going to happen to their families, their jobs or internships, and their careers."

    He said seniors are particularly concerned about job opportunities considering the economic climate created through the pandemic and suggests they be proactive.

    "Follow up with employers on job and internship offers," he said. "Work with your academic department. Utilize career services, especially the Handshake job posting and online scheduling tool."

    Halasz mentioned that despite the shift in the economy, Handshake listed more than 2,600 new jobs, internships, co-ops and fellowships across the country in March, including more than 400 new listings in North Carolina alone.

    He said students should be taking steps right now to be in the best position to land jobs or internships, and that ECU Career Services can help.

    Prepare job search materials such as resume, cover letter and list of references.

    Know what resources are available, including Handshake as well as other database systems such as CareerShift, GoingGlobal, and InternshipsUSA, and use ECU Career Services to schedule one-on-one appointments to help with document preparation, job searches and general career advice.

    Halasz said students should consider targeting specific locations and employers.

    "For some students that are job searching, using locations to target specific employers can help narrow down and focus a job seeker's list as well as create potential leads by identifying alumni that already work at those companies who could help you get your foot in the door," he said. "Today more than ever, using social networks and online resources like LinkedIn can help students identify alumni that could help them gain an inside edge when applying for positions."

    Online resources through ECU Career Services include:


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Faculty: Dr. Rebecca Snyder East Carolina University, School News, The Region, Neighboring Counties Student: McKenzie Swindle


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