10 Tips for Building Resilience and Staying Positive

As a college student, you may be well acquainted with feeling overwhelmed – and likely you have adopted coping strategies of your own. But given the current COVID-19 pandemic and the impact on your career plans, you may be feeling a greater sense of disorientation, powerlessness, and isolation. And while we all have little control over the progression of world events, what we do have control over is our response. Learning to respond well to change is an essential skill, in life, and in your career. 

Here are tips for responding well:

1.Make the most of this unforeseen time.

When plans don’t pan out as you hoped, it’s important to look for the silver linings to circumstances. The old adage “Turning lemons into lemonade” may serve as a beneficial stance during these times. If your internship has been cancelled, for example, consider using this time to focus on areas of your life that you wouldn’t have otherwise. Consider the common interview question, “Tell me a time when something didn’t go your way – how did you respond?” Use this as an opportunity to show a positive response – and how you (and this future employer) benefited!  

2.Build/nurture connections/network.

As the world has shuttered, feelings of isolation grow. Seeking connections with peers and professionals alike can help you weather the storm while also advancing your career/industry knowledge. Reach out to professionals who are working in a role/industry you aspire to for aninformational interview. Use the Career Center’s student/alumni network to identify professionals in your field.

3.Get your ducks in a row.

Now might be the time to address areas of your life that you’ve had to put on the back burner. Consider sharpening your knowledge in an area that you lacked the time to work on. Whether it’s learning to cook better (or trying a new dish), organizing a closet, photos, reading a book, or listening to a podcast, etc. Career-wise, this might mean updating your resume, and crafting your LinkedIn presence or website. Eventually the pace of life will resume, and you will come out feeling a bit more organized, confident, and a step ahead.

4.Give back/volunteer.

Shifting your focus to those in greater need can do wonders for helping you put life in perspective while increasing your sense of connections.  As with other national crises in history, building human capital (and your resume – as a silver lining!), can be very fulfilling and soul nurturing.

5.Prioritize your health.

You’ve heard it said, the benefits of exercise are numerous! Now is the time to get outside and walk, bike, garden, bird watch, etc. If you can, start and end your day outdoors. Try to tune in to nature and turn off artificial devices that detract from it. When our bodies are stressed, we need to fuel it with foods that give us energy and increase our ability to fight off illness. Find simple ways to ramp up fruits and veggies – and eliminate processed foods as much as you can. Keep it simple – and allow for indulgences now and then!

 6.Get creative.

Although life may be at a slower pace, your thoughts may be anything but calm. Finding time to indulge in creative outlets can bring about a greater sense of peace. Journaling, painting, and crafts can be a great way to channel and process thoughts.

7.Create rituals/routines.

As life feels so out of step with our normal routines, it can cause increased feelings of chaos. Creating morning and evening rituals can help increase feelings of calm and greater sense of control. Take a walk, sip your favorite beverage, journal, listen to music. Routines can ground you during times of stress and change. Setting a schedule for working on your career-related activities daily can help build a sense of control and empowerment that is essential during times of ambiguity.

8. Surround yourself with positivity.

Whether it’s art, or music, or people, choose to seek the uplifting. Photos of loved ones, inspirational quotes, scripture, etc., can foster a greater sense of happiness and hopefulness.

 9.Express your appreciation.

When life is challenging and things seem to be daunting, one way to elevate your mood is to take a moment to express love and gratitude to others. Whether family, friend, or colleague, a simple note, message, act of encouragement, and gratitude is all it takes.   

10.Celebrate small wins.

It’s important to recognize progress – no matter how small. Share those celebrations with others – and celebrate together. The path to victory is lined with small wins.

Whether you are facing a global pandemic, a job loss, or some other unexpected set of circumstances, learning to adapt to unforeseen circumstances is a skill that you will use repeatedly and will help you move from surviving to thriving! 

Remember that theUMBC Counseling Center and theCareer Center offer an array of services and support to help you successfully navigate this challenging time. 

Job searching can feel challenging and stressful at any time but especially now with the increased uncertainty and tight job market brought on by COVID-19. You might understandably feel increased pressure to begin applying quickly and furiously to as many jobs as you can. However, we’d like to advise you to complete a very important foundational step first – self-discovery of strengths, interests, skills, and values. 

Much like when you build a tower, you must start with a solid base before you start building upper levels or risk the whole thing crashing to the ground and having to start over. In building a career, this might mean discovering where your passions lie, recognizing what comes easily and naturally to you, acknowledging patterns of strengths that have been present throughout your life, and considering what qualities and aspects of work are most important to you in order to feel satisfied and fulfilled.Taking the time to do this necessary work will allow you to better articulate yourself, market yourself to employers, and successfully navigate the shifting job terrain. 

Not sure how to determine your strengths, interest, skills, and values? The UMBC Career Center offers free assessments such as the FOCUS 2 and MBTI as well as a useful dependable strengths workshop activity here. If you would like to discuss these topics with a career specialist, you can make a 60-minute appointment for major decision making, career decision making, or FOCUS2 and MBTI interpretation here. 

When job searching, it is essential that you first focus on identifying your strengths and skills. Don’t skip this fundamental step. 

Graduation is less than a month away, and as exciting as it is, it can also be kind of scary for many of us. Especially if you don’t already have a job lined up for after school. But that’s okay! Not everyone lands that perfect job right out of college. As for the job search, the UMBC Career Center has your back, even after you graduate.

There are a number of services the Career Center offers to alumni that you can find on the Career Center website. And even though you’ve graduated, you can still attend any workshop or job fair the Career Center offers. Your UMBCworks privileges last for a year after you graduate, and they can be renewed on a per-semester basis for free at any time. You can even make resume and cover letter review appointments among other things.

Some tips for how to make the most out of the Career Center as an alum:

1. Take advantage of the six month grace period! Finding a job is hard, and it may take a while, so make appointments, polish your resume, and narrow down where you want to work and how to find that dream job.

2. Take a Career Assessment! These assessments are available on the Career Center website. These assessments are often promoted to students who are trying to figure out their major, but it can also be used for alumni who are trying to find their career path. These assessments can tell you what kind of work environment you might be most comfortable in, the kinds of jobs you might like, and the different career paths you can take to get to where you want to be.

3. Join the UMBC Alumni Association! This is a great way to network with other UMBC alumni and join a great community of professionals.

Graduation is so close, we’re almost there. This is an exciting time, so don’t sweat it if you don’t already have a job. The Career Center is happy to help you even as an alum.