Lessons on graduating into a pandemic
Before going into this blog post, it's important to acknowledge the protests for George Floyd and Black lives. We've been closely following the protests happening across the country, and we want to express our solidarity and support. The pain that has led to these protests has been present in our country for far too long. That pain is intrinsically tied to other injustices rooted in racism against the Black community: higher rates of death among Black women during childbirth, lower numbers of Black people in leadership positions, lower levels of generational wealth. That last one is a fundamental part of our mission. When we say phrases like "close the wage gap," we are referring to the gap caused not only by gender discrimination but also by racism. We will continue to close that gap as just one of the ways we aim to make our country more inclusive, equal, and just. We hope you will join us in doing your part today and long after the protests come to an end.
Today we have a guest post from Betty Marquez Rosales, a journalist and media consultant for She Negotiates. A recent graduate of the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, she reports on gender, health, and education issues among historically underrepresented communities.
Without further ado:
The greatest lesson I’ve learned since completing graduate school two and a half weeks ago is that graduating into a pandemic is both anticlimactic and terrifying. Not only do recent graduates have to worry about the coronavirus itself, we are suddenly in a recession that no one could have predicted would happen exactly at this moment.
If you are part of the class of 2020 — congratulations. You and I are now part of the thousands of recent graduates, many of whom are likely in need of a job, facing substantial debt, and trying to figure out how to make their next move.
The list of difficulties multiplies, as it tends to, if you’re Black, indigenous, or a person of color. And if you also happen to be a millennial, welcome to the club of the unluckiest generation in U.S. history. Club membership includes living through way too many recessions.
While it’s unique in recent history to graduate into a pandemic, you are one amongst many right now. Nothing about this situation is enviable.
So, how do you stand out when applying for a job, negotiating your salary, or planning your next career move?
Navigating higher education and career moves has been complicated by the fact that as the daughter of immigrants I can’t readily rely on family for career guidance or connections. There's no generational wealth or social capital to pull from. But that background has also given me the resilience, resourcefulness, and creativity to push for my goals despite any obstacles.
Here’s how I’m applying those lessons to make sure I stand out:
Fight off the imposter syndrome
It can be easy to blame yourself for the lack of job prospects. But this recession is not your fault. This pandemic is not your fault. You had no way of knowing you would be graduating into this, and you can’t blame yourself for not being psychic.
In moments like this, remember where you came from. How much have you flourished in the past five to ten years as you worked toward this goal? How much have you learned in the process? How many times did you dream of graduating and pushed yourself to the finish line? Who else has worked tirelessly for you to be where you are today?
To be clear, you should take a well-deserved break if it’s possible. Burnout is real. After your break, get back in the game and keep pushing.
You owe it to the people who have helped you along the way — but especially to yourself — to fight off the imposter syndrome and keep your dreams front and center.
Get creative and remain flexible
I realize it’s frustrating to be told to get creative and remain flexible right now. But hear me out:
You have a personal story and experience that you should harness into a tool for networking, earning steady income, and planning your next steps.
Where you were raised, where you have worked, the obstacles you’ve overcome, the experiences you’ve had, the things that make you unique are what stand out to people. Think through what will make a recruiter, potential mentor, or future employer remember you.
That’s the creative part. The flexibility comes next.
We all know the harsh reality: you might not get your dream job immediately. It was already going to be difficult, sans pandemic. But now, depending on your particular field, what was once a potential employer is perhaps facing hiring freezes, layoffs, and budget cuts.
If you must, think outside of the box of what you went to school for and expand your job search. Of course it’s not ideal. But it could be a way for you to earn income and build on your experience while you keep working toward that dream job.
Which industry is similar or adjacent to the one you have been trained for? What is your skill set and how can you utilize it to work across different fields?
Working in a field adjacent to the one you envisioned yourself in is not a step back. It’s not a career ending move. It’s an additional line of experience to add to your resume and to the personal story you’ll tell your boss once you do get to your dream job.
Network, network, network
You can’t meet with people in person, but you can still network with them. Reach out to professors, professionals in your industry, or other people you admire and ask them to join you for coffee over a video call. Sure, it may be awkward at first, but they will understand the constraints of our current reality.
Here are some ideas if you’re not sure what to ask them:
What has been the most difficult obstacle in your career and how did you work through it? What did you do to stand out among a sea of applicants for your current position? I want to submit the best possible resume and cover letter for XYZ position — would you be able to take a look and give me some feedback?
Be earnest with them about where you are professionally and where you want to be. Tell them where you want to work. If they know someone there, ask them to connect you with them.
A great place to start networking is with your own school’s alumni. People who have graduated from the program you just completed are probably working in that field right now. Reach out to them. Your school might have an alumni directory or you can search for them on LinkedIn.
Negotiate (yes, even right now)
If you’re reading this newsletter, you’re already ahead of the game.
It’s scary to think about negotiating right now. But negotiating is the best way to take back some control of your own financial future — and if an employer is offering you a job, they know you are the best fit and they will want to keep you.
Start by learning your market value. Here is a guest post from 81cents.com that breaks down exactly how to do that. Think about what you want to negotiate for: higher salary, better benefits, shorter work hours on a certain day of the week, more paid time off? Then ask the questions that will prepare the ground to negotiate. If you get push-back, it may not be the right time to negotiate. If that’s the case, set a tentative date with your boss so you can circle back to the discussion at a better time.
If this all sounds terrifying, do not despair. Book a consult with She Negotiates to get your very own negotiation roadmap and cheerleader.