The coronavirus pandemic is putting a unique kind of pressure on college students and recent graduates. It's may feel hard to plan for your future when it feels like the world is on hold, but with the right planning and resources, you can absolutely maintain your momentum. Full Sail's Career Development department has some advice on tackling the distinctive challenges and opportunities that come with job-hunting during the pandemic.

Patience is Key

Although many industries temporarily contracted or changed their procedures, things are starting to turn around. If you're looking for a job in the film or recording industries, you might wind up working with a smaller crew or waiting until it's safer to join your colleagues in the studio. In the meantime, you might be able to find job opportunities without leaving your house.

"I think there's definitely more remote work," says Doree Rice, Full Sail's Director of Career Development. "And so you may have an opportunity that wouldn't have been afforded to you before because you weren't in the right location."

Network Online

Making face-to-face connections at industry events, conferences, or school meetups isn't safe right now, but you can still forge professional relationships with online networking. Full Sail students and grads can sign up for online networking events, workshops, and alumni mixers via CareerSync.

Meeting a wider range of people from different parts of the world is a hidden benefit of online networking. "There are a lot of [meetings] happening virtually and sometimes it's a little easier because you get to go to more places and to more types of meetings because you don't have to physically go there," says Doree.

Research, Research, Research

An in-person interview can help you get a feel for the work environment and your potential coworkers, and it might be harder to determine if the job is a good fit in a virtual interview. Doree says that you can rely on your research skills and Full Sail connections to fill in the blanks.

"There's a wealth of information online if you just invest the minutes to find out about [the employer]. Look at their products. Look at what they produce. Look at what is said about them online…Also look for alumni who may be at these companies to get some inside information on what the company culture is like and also what they look for in hiring other Full Sail graduates."

Stay Positive

The COVID-19 crisis isn't in the rearview mirror yet, but keeping these tricks and tips in mind will help you stay focused and set you up for professional success once things settle down.