Reposted from Zippa.com
Given the change of course that has happened in the world, we wanted to provide expert opinions on what aspiring graduates can do to start off their careers in an uncertain economic climate. We wanted to know what skills will be more important, where the economy is doing relatively well, and if there will be any lasting effects on the job market.
Companies are looking for candidates that can handle the new responsibilities of the job market. Recent graduates actually have an advantage because they are comfortable using newer technologies and have been communicating virtually their whole lives. They can take what they've learned and apply it immediately.
We spoke to professors and experts from several universities and companies to get their opinions on where the job market for recent graduates is heading, as well as how young graduates entering the industry can be adequately prepared. Here are their thoughts.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on graduates?
Sakilé Camara Ph.D.: I think the pandemic has impacted everyone, and so graduates in the field of communication are no different than graduates in other fields. However, the pandemic is an opportunity for students to start thinking about their future careers and life trajectories. Graduates must think about what steps they will need to take to get noticed on the job, how they will need to stand out as unique people, and to be proactive in their search for employment.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for graduates to find work opportunities in this field after they graduate?
Sakilé Camara Ph.D.: What is a good place? Geographically, every place on earth has been impacted; every organization has made changes to its infrastructure or have closed their doors for business. The question is not “what good places can graduate find work in the field?” Every place is a good place. The question should be, “how do graduates reinvent themselves to fit into what might become the new normal?” The answer lies with the student.
How do you envision technology impacting this field in the next 5 years?
Sakilé Camara Ph.D.: Technology is not new to the field of Communication Studies. We study technology from critical, social, and rhetorical perspectives. Technology has impacted the world and every field. However, I don’t think we actually expected how much of the human connection we would miss when social distancing limited our contact. Texting wasn’t enough. Emails, skype, and zoom have all become modes of information overload. We needed human contact.
Humans are stimulotropic, which means we need stimulation to grow in much the same way that plants need light to grow (heliotropic). Apparently, technology is not the panacea of all things, and it isn’t our enemy either. How we communicate effectively and efficiently through technology will be key. How we access resources will be important. How we value relationships from this point forward will make a difference in our social world. Technology will have its place, and so will human interaction.