Marist Seniors Enter What Could Be the Worst Job Market of their Lifetime

Entering their second to last semester at Marist College in the fall, seniors had a hopeful outlook for their future with a steady economy and low unemployment rates. 

Marist senior student-athlete Michael O'Donovan has a story similar to that of many other seniors — uncertainty of what the future holds. “I have been trying to apply for jobs before and during this epidemic and the epidemic has just made things slower for companies to get back to me,” said the Swim Team member and business administration major. “I have started to slow down applying for jobs right now and just want to finish the semester out, then I can get back on the job search.”

In only a short few months, the coronavirus pandemic has altered life and the economy, leaving seniors uncertain of where they will be following graduation in May. College seniors now have to enter the 2020 job market amid a recession. The Labor Department’s Report for the week of April 11 stated that 5.2 million more people in the United States filed for unemployment, making the total number for the past four weeks greater than 22 million people. 

With record-breaking numbers of unemployment during the shutdown, companies have been laying off workers and communicating less with potential employees graduating in May.  

But instead of panicking, O'Donovan is thinking about the circumstances as temporary and simply hopes he can find any work after graduation. 

“I have noticed a limited number of jobs listed for the start of 2020 which I find concerning for the short term, but not the long term,” O'Donovan said. 

He’s somewhat worried about putting his degree to use, though. “For the short term, once I’m done for the semester, I might not have a job that really matches my degree. For the long term, worst-case scenario, I might not get a job that reflects my degree until Christmas time.

 “I’m sure I could do some side jobs until then, but once I find a job that resonates with the work I have done at Marist for the past four years, it will be better.”

The coronavirus is still a rapidly evolving pandemic in the United States and around the world. Many colleges and universities are warning students for the possibility of changes to the traditional semester in the fall of 2020. 

Santosh Krishnan ‘20, a student-athlete and sports communication major will be attending graduate school after finishing his last month remotely at Marist. 

“I am heading to graduate school at Manhattanville College for a Masters in Physical Education,” Krishnan said. “My start date is currently scheduled for May 26th. I am not sure if it will start on time, but I hope it does.” 

Although most Americans are being affected economically by coronavirus, certain industries are suffering a harder hit. As many corporations have instructed their workers to continue remotely, Statista recently released new statistics showing the restaurant and retail industries have been hit particularly hard by stay-at-home orders. 

For fashion major Tatum Flood ‘20, the job search for 2020 has become more difficult than it already was, due to the economic shutdown across the nation. 

“As a senior at Marist, I have been on the search for a full-time job following graduation,” Flood said. “Well aware of companies canceling internships, furloughing employees and even laying off some, the job search has definitely been concerning. Companies are struggling to keep up with the difficulties of their business and more concerned about how they will keep up if this doesn’t end soon.” 

Flood, The Silver Needle Runway Student Production Director, has spent the past four years working to assimilate into the fashion industry through Marist’s program. 

“I don't think companies are looking to hire yet, but that won't stop me from moving forward with my search process,” Flood said.

The Marist fashion program is competitive to help prepare students for their future in the industry. Many fashion students hope to make connections with brands and companies through internships, but internship opportunities are becoming scarce. In a statement to Business Insider, Linkedln said that since March 1 the number of new internship roles posted on LinkedIn's job boards is down approximately 60%. 

“As a fashion major, it has never been easy finding an internship or job without digging deep and staying persistent,” Flood said. The fashion industry is oriented by personal network connections and gig-employment for shoots and shows — so Flood said that simple resume attachments and personal information forms are a rarity.  

“In the industry that I am a part of, being tireless and devoted is the only way to find a job on your own,” Flood said.“However now with this current pandemic and companies straying away from hiring at this exact moment, it is going to take even more than that to get a job.”