Career Services

COVID-19 and the Summer of 2020

What Do I Do Now?

Many students have found their summer plans derailed due to COVID-19. So, what can you do when a traditional internship may not be possible, but you still want to use your time productively and find opportunities to grow professionally and academically?

Your Career Services Team has been working on answers. While many of the options below may not yield Odyssey or academic credit like an official internship might, they are still valuable experiences. Most can even be included on your resume!


Prepare for the Next Interview

The 10 Most Common Interview Questions & Answers from BigInterview.com

Interview Tips

Preparing for a Behavior-Based Interview

Video Interview Guide: Tips for a Successful Interview from Indeed.com

Make an appointment with Career Services to discuss how you might answer some of the common interview questions and to schedule a mock interview.


Research Virtual Internships, Externships, Micro-Internships, etc.

More and more internship sites are offering virtual experiences. There are several things you should note:

  • Some of these (but NOT all) can qualify as an official internship.
  • Many summer deadlines have passed. BUT, some do have rolling deadlines. OR, you can begin planning for a future experience.
  • Some experiences have fees associated with them.
  • Most include a professional development component.
  • Here are a few sites you can explore. Hendrix has had a great deal of experience with The Washington Center and ISEP, but not the others listed.
  • NPR Article (5-21-20): There's Still Time to Get a (Remote) Internship

GET READY FOR THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY

Career Services has RESOURCES to help you begin or perfect your resume, cover letter, and other application materials. We even help with interview prep! Check out our online resources and schedule an appointment today!

Watch this TUTORIAL on how to create a professional resume

Watch this TUTORIAL on writing a cover letter.

"8 Tips to Improve Your CV" from The Chronicle of Higher Education.


Network

LinkedIn was a valuable resource even before COVID-19. Now, is a great time to really dig in and utilize this tool for networking (and so much more)! Use this guide to create or spruce up your LinkedIn profile.

Check out these resources, too:

An Introvert’s Guide to Networking

Your Next Job is One Conversation Away

How to Find Your Next Job: Talk to the People You Already Know

Indeed offers these thoughts on how to give an elevator pitch (with examples).

An elevator pitch may not be the right fit for every situation. Here's another take!


Think Outside the Box

Was your internship cancelled? What were your goals for that experience? What did you hope to learn and how did you hope to grow? Think creatively about other ways that you might achieve some of those goals. Make an appointment with a Career Services Team Member to brainstorm the best options for YOU!

 


Learn How to Find a Job During a Pandemic

"How to advance your job search during the COVID-19 crisis"

“How to find (and keep) an internship or entry-level job in this COVID-19 World”

Linda Raynier also shares some great resources on YouTube.

Google has offered these Resources for Uncertain Times.

Zippia posted "How to Find Remote, Online, and Gig Work During the Coronavirus Pandemic"

 


Considering Grad School? Join our TEAM!

Check out the Graduate & Professional School Counseling- Career Services team. This team offers posts with news for students wanting to pursue graduate or professional school education, as well as files containing helpful handouts with guidance on a variety of relevant topics.

Here's a template to help you create an elevator speech as you're exploring grad schools. Hello, my name is X and I am completing a degree in X at Hendrix College.  I am interested in a career in X and plan to pursue graduate/professional education in X field.  In college, I have been involved in X and developed skills in X.  I have done research in X and learned X, and I have done an internship/clinical work at X and have discovered that I really enjoy X.  Could you tell me more about X your program?

 

Take a Class

If you choose to do an online class with an accredited university, check with the Registrar BEFORE you pay that tuition fee to make sure the credit will transfer.

If you don’t need the academic credits, but still want to learn, consider some of these options:

Harvard: FREE Online Courses

Parker Dewey Mini-Courses

Cengage Career Center

Learn a Second Language


Teach English as a Foreign Language

Here are some links to explore. (Note: We will be updating this information over the summer. Some information may be outdated.)


How Can You Help Your Community?

Look for ways to volunteer in your community (while maintaining safety guidelines surrounding COVID-19). This might be a good time to reach out to a former internship site or volunteer site. Could they use help developing a new service delivery model that includes social distancing? Do they need someone to help them update their website…manage their social media accounts? Ask what they need but also be ready to offer your ideas on specific ways you can assist on a volunteer basis during this difficult time.

 

Future employers and grad schools will likely want to know, “What did you do during the summer of 2020?” What will your answer be?

CHECK BACK OFTEN! Career Services wants to help you answer this question and will be updating content regularly.

 

COMING SOON!

What would you like to see posted on this page? Send your ideas to careerservices@hendrix.edu.

Contact Us

Office of Career Services

Student Life and Technology Center,

2nd Floor (Student Services suite)

1600 Washington Avenue

Conway, Arkansas 72032-3080


Phone:  501-450-1440

Fax:  501-450-1260


Email:  careerservices@hendrix.edu


Hours:  Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

     (closed noon - 1 p.m. for lunch)