Association Offers Career Help to 2020 Grads

A little less than three months ago, Ole Miss graduating seniors were finishing up their academic requirements and starting to think about preparing their resumés. Some already had commitments from companies to hire them, but many more were feeling confident about landing a job in an employment market with only a 3.5 percent unemployment rate.

And practically overnight, all of that changed with the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic. Graduating seniors soon learned that campus was closed for the rest of the school year, and the job market was going to be very different from what they had anticipated.

With nearly two million students graduating from college in May and June in the United States, it’s not surprising that surveys show it takes the average graduate 7.4 months to find employment—even in a good job market. And with college campuses closed, seniors have less access to critical job search advice that career centers provide.

Because of these issues, the Alumni Association partnered with TalentMarks, a higher education firm that has provided career and professional development programming and curriculum to more than 1,000 colleges and universities. The OMAA is giving away 5,000 free tickets to the Class of 2020 to participate in a four-day online Grad CareerFestival, June 24-26. The cost to participate in all 36 hours of live career presentations is $87. However, Class of 2020 grads that register here will receive a free ticket.

The massive four-day online career conference introduces grads to the career philosophies and strategies of 72 of the world’s top career authors and coaches. Graduates will learn critically essential strategies to create an elevator pitch, build their online brand, use social media to land a job, as well as learn traditional networking, resumé, interviewing and job search techniques. Coaches will share the importance of exploring career options, creating a career plan, managing one’s career and staying current on soft skills and job search strategies.

“For most grads, the need to focus on academics and participate in athletics, clubs, and part-time jobs—not to mention social events—leaves little time to invest in career exploration, career management and learning fundamental job search skills,” says Kirk Purdom (BA 93), OMAA executive director. “In uncertain economic times, these skills are more important than ever. We expect grads will gain the confidence, knowledge and skills to not only find a job more quickly, but launch and lead successful careers.”

Each author and coach will share three tips in their TED Talk-length presentations. Grads will walk away with hundreds of ideas and strategies that were not covered in their college academic curriculum.

The career lectures are divided into four tracks: Career Management, Job Search, Soft Skills, Post-Graduation Life and offers an extensive collection of post-graduation career and professional development programming assembled just for graduates.

“Research by Adecco Group that showed 81 percent of graduates wished they had done more while in college to prepare for their careers caught the attention of our partners who recognize there is a tremendous need to step in and offer grads help,” says Don Philabaum, CEO of TalentMarks and producer of the Grad CareerFestival. “Our authors, coaches, college recruiters, hiring managers and employment experts know the enormous impact career and life coaching can have on a person’s life. The Grad CareerFestival will change the trajectory of graduates’ careers.”

Jennifer Doyle Vancil, president of Communicating Strengths and one of the participating coaches, shares why college career centers welcome this program.

“College career centers traditionally have limited staffing and financial resources to provide scalable post-graduation career support to their students,” she says. “The Grad CareerFestival provides graduates with comprehensive career support not only when they need it—but when they are ready for it.”