College & Careers Spring 2021 by Omaha World-Herald

COLLEGE & CAREERS YOUR GUIDE TO STAYING ON TRACK SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2021

EducationQuest Virtual College Fair March 2-3, 2021 DETAILS, PAGE 2

COLLEGE & CAREERS

| SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2021

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Browse, chat and learn during EducationQuest’s virtual fair SOUTH DAKOTA

NEBRASKA

IOWA

WE ARE

SOUTH DAKOTA

200+ Academic Programs

15:1

Student-to-Faculty Ratio

Consecutive years as one of the “Best National Universities” U.S. News and World Report

More than 80% of all USD students receive scholarships or other forms of financial aid

NCAA Division I Athletics

EST. IN VERMILLION

Home to the Knudson School of Law and Sanford School of Medicine

USD offers more than 200 study abroad programs in 6 continents

College fairs are an efficient way to scope out potential schools and make connections before venturing for a campus visit. While the coronavirus pandemic has canceled many in-person fairs, virtual events are hotter than ever. EducationQuest’s Virtual College Fair on March 2 and 3 is an opportunity to visit with representatives from more than 75 colleges from 12 states and hear live presentations from several college-prep experts. Register for the free event at eqf.org/ collegefair. To make the most of the experience, browse the list of participants, make a short

PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS ARIZONA

Missouri Western State

COLORADO

Northwest Missouri State

Colorado Christian University Colorado Mesa University Western Colorado University

ILLINOIS

Columbia College Chicago

IOWA

Briar Cliff University Drake University Iowa Lakes Community College Iowa Western Community College Luther College Morningside College St. Luke’s College—UnityPoint Health University of Iowa University of Northern Iowa

KANSAS

Schedule Your Visit Today!

#YOTE L IFE

USD.EDU/VISIT-EVENTS

MISSOURI

Grand Canyon University

USD.EDU 877-COYOTES

list and then video chat with those reps between 9 a.m. and noon Tuesday and 5 and 8 p.m. Wednesday. College booths can be visited any time during the 48-hour fair, so take the opportunity to see what they’re all about. Check in for live presentations on critical college-prep tasks for seniors and juniors at 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. Circle back at 6 p.m. Wednesday, when experts share answers to common questions about the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). For more information and college-planning tools, visit EducationQuest.org.

Colby Community College Fort Hays State University Kansas State University Newman University Northwest Kansas Technical College University of Kansas University of St. Mary Washburn University Wichita State University

MINNESOTA

Southwest Minnesota State

University St. Catherine University

University

Rockhurst University University of Central Missouri University of

Missouri-Columbia University of Missouri-Kansas City

NEBRASKA

Bellevue University Bryan College of Health

Sciences

Capitol School of Hairstyling &

Esthetics Central Community CollegeColumbus, Grand Island, Hastings Chadron State College CHI Health Immanuel School of Radiologic Technology Clarkson College College of St. Mary Concordia University Creighton University Doane University Hastings College Joseph’s College Cosmetology Metropolitan Community College Midland University Nebraska Army National Guard Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture Nebraska Methodist College Nebraska Wesleyan University Northeast Community College Peru State College Southeast Community CollegeBeatrice, Lincoln, Milford

Union College University of Nebraska

at Kearney

University of Nebraska-Lincoln University of Nebraska Medical

Center—College of Allied Health Professions University of Nebraska Medical Center—College of Nursing University of Nebraska at Omaha Wayne State College Western Nebraska Community College Xenon Academy

NORTH DAKOTA

North Dakota State University

OREGON

University of Oregon

SOUTH DAKOTA

Black Hills State University Dakota State University Dakota Wesleyan University Lake Area Technical College Mitchell Technical College Mount Marty University Northern State University South Dakota Mines South Dakota State University Southeast Technical College University of Sioux Falls University of South Dakota Western Dakota Technical College

WYOMING

Laramie County Community

College

University of Wyoming

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2021 |

UNIVERSITY of NEBRASKA–LINCOLN

NEBRASKA IS OFFERING

help—not hype. In the face of big challenges, Huskers come together and support one another. As your university, we’re here for you in your college search. No matter what future you’re dreaming of, we want to work with you to make it real.

Test-Optional for Admissions & Scholarships We know it may be difficult to take the ACT and/or SAT because of public health concerns. To support you, you will not need to submit an ACT or SAT score to be admitted or to be considered for scholarships worth $1,000 to full tuition. You will automatically be considered for merit scholarships based on your GPA alone.

Tuition is Frozen through 2022-23

Nebraska Promise: Attend Tuition-Free

Connect with Us In-Person or Online

In addition to offering among the lowest tuition in the Big Ten, the University of Nebraska has frozen all tuition rates until the 2022-2023 academic year. In a world that keeps rapidly shifting, we’re proud to be able to offer some consistency as you look forward to planning and creating your future.

Nebraska Promise is a commitment to cover the full cost of tuition. If you live in Nebraska and your family makes less than $60,000 per year (AGI) or if you are Pell Granteligible, you may qualify for the Nebraska Promise program. You will automatically be considered for the Nebraska Promise once you are admitted to the university and submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

We’re here to help you navigate the college search process. We are hosting visitors for limited capacity visits by appointment or reservation. If you would rather connect online, we also have a number of virtual experiences available. Join us for one of our recurring online info sessions, virtual campus tours or for a 1-to-1 phone or video conference appointment.

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How to zero in on a college degree ARIANNE COHEN | Rate.com

ne of the most consequential decisions of your life is choosing a college major. Even with soaring college costs, many students and their families make this future-altering decision after little or no research. “They don’t know average earnings, they don’t know about jobs,” says economist Matthew Wiswall, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who co-authored a crash course on how to choose a major and why.

Start planning early

“Education is a sequential decision,” says Wiswall’s coauthor, Basit Zafar, a professor of economics at the University of Michigan. “Certain choices in middle school or high school are going to determine your path.” If you don’t take calculus in high school, high-paying STEM opportunities are moot.

majors 2 Research Focus on the college experi-

ence: How difficult is this major? What percent of students are female or diverse? Do class times allow for afternoon sports or extracurriculars? Does the school charge different tuition rates based on major? Your goal is to make an informed decision. CollegeScorecard.ed.gov, the U.S. Department of Education’s data site, is a good resource.

long-term 3 Research outcomes

AA MAJOR DECISION DECISION

At this early age, it’ll be helpful to connect the future workplace to a topic of study. Yes, schooling to get a job. But what job? How much money does a typical graduate earn, ﬁve or 15 years after college? What percentage pursue graduate degrees, and in what ﬁelds? What sorts of jobs are available to graduates? What lifestyles go along with those jobs? Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce has a handy calculator for the life-long value of attending a particular college, plus a data tool on the value of college majors.

to be rich? 4 Want Follow the money

As a rule of thumb, ﬁelds with high wages often need more qualiﬁed people. Engineering majors earn 60% more than education majors; economics majors also do very well. Fine arts, English and history majors earn less. And the earnings gaps only grow over time: Humanities majors earn less in their 20s, with substantially lower lifetime incomes by the time they reach their 60s and 70s.

about ﬁnancial 5 Think responsibilities

“If you don’t have support from your parents, you might need something that leads to an immediate job,” Wiswall says. Engineering is the current hot major for students who want immediate high-income employability, and business degrees produce a quick marketplace return with many options.

who will be 6 Know at the next desk

Socioeconomic and race differences between majors are very common, and researchers don’t yet fully understand them. For example, students whose parents do not have college degrees are more likely to specialize in business. A typical ﬁne arts major is more likely to have wealthier parents. Physics majors have, on average, highly educated parents.

is OK 7 Switching “One of the pros

of the American system is that you’re allowed to explore and take different courses and switch,” says Wiswall, who encourages changing majors as needed, even if it lengthens time in school. “If it takes you an extra year to get through school, but you find a field that really fits you better, that’s a good thing.”

your bliss 8 Follow Both Wiswall and Zafar re-

turn to this advice. Studies show that students who take postgraduate jobs primarily to pay off school debt are less fulﬁlled.

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2021 |

ONLINE TOOLS TO STAY ON TASK JEANNINE PHELAN | EducationQuest

One silver lining of the pandemic is that we’ve all learned to be more resourceful. We can video chat from our devices, have groceries delivered and go for extended periods without a haircut. Now it’s time to translate that resourcefulness into planning for college. These tools are free at EducationQuest.org.

Activities Resume

What it does: Tracks extracurricular activities, honors, volunteer work and part-time jobs throughout high school. Lets you customize your résumé, choose from five résumé templates, and save or send your résumé as a Word document or PDF. Why it’s helpful: You’ll need this information for college and scholarship applications. The typical high school se- College Profiles nior applies to three to five colleges and What it does: Helps you find colleges completes five to 10 scholarship appli- that meet your criteria. It also allows you cations; you’ll want an easy copy-and- to search by school name, location, tupaste option. ition cost, school type, majors, size and more. You can then compare up to three ScholarshipQuest schools at a time. Why it’s helpful: There are approxiWhat it does: Maintains a database of more than 2,000 Nebraska-based schol- mately 5,300 colleges in the country. arships. After completing the ScholarshipQuest profile, you’ll receive a list of College Timeline scholarships that match your criteria. What it does: Walks you through Let’s you sort the results and request college-planning steps from the fall of email or text messages when new schol- your freshman year to the summer afarships are added. ter your senior year. When you see tasks Why it’s helpful: It’s much easier that need your attention, weekly email to earn local scholarships than large reminders can keep you on track. national ones. You should also conWhy it’s helpful: Few students intact your college about school-specific stinctively know what it takes to get to scholarships that you might be eligible college. This tool guides you through to receive. each step.

Path Forward

KNOCK OUT YOUR GEN-EDS EARLY

FIRST TWO YEARS AT MCC CAN SAVE YOU THOUSANDS

Why are your first two years at at MCC a smart move? • MCC tuition is, on average, less than half the the cost cost of a four-year institution • Financial aid and scholarships are available • Transfer agreements with more than than 30 four-year Nebraska colleges • Online classes in ways that work for you Note: To verify transfer agreements, contact your target four-year institution before enrolling.

Visit mccneb.edu or call 531-MCC-2400. Enroll today. Spring quarter starts March 11. Look for MCC at the EducationQuest Virtual College Fair March 2-3 at educationquest.org.

Metropolitan Community College affirms a policy of equal education, employment opportunities and nondiscrimination in providing services to the public. To read our full policy statement, visit mccneb.edu/nondiscrimination.

COLLEGE & CAREERS

| Sunday, February 28, 2021

APPLICATIONS THAT ROCK How to set yourself apart in the COVID-19 era

LEE SHULMAN BIERER | Tribune Content Agency

Objective criteria

Rigor of coursework: This is the most important factor. Colleges want to know that students challenged themselves. Colleges see a student’s full transcript. That means even though they don’t see senior-year grades, they are aware of course selection. Be sure not to load the senior year with lightweight classes, thinking colleges won’t ﬁnd out or won’t care. Grade point average (GPA), rank in class (RIC) and school proﬁle: Have you excelled in your classes? Has there been improvement from freshman to sophomore year and sophomore to junior year? How do you compare with other students from your own school? How does your school compare with others? Standardized testing: What are your best math/verbal, critical reading and

Deciphering your award letter JACQUIE BUTLER | EducationQuest

Completing your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is just the first step in the financial aid process. Many students list more than one college on their FAFSA, planning to compare financial aid offers and select the institution that presents the most affordable route to a college education. Here’s how to analyze data.

he playing field has essentially been leveled. Students aren’t attending elite summer university programs, conducting research, participating in community service projects or mission trips, traveling to distant lands or growing in life-changing outdoor programs. Let’s be real: They also aren’t competing in sports, debating, tutoring, mentoring and pretty much everything else that could help them distinguish themselves in their college applications. There is no question that colleges will be flexible when examining a student’s activity list. Colleges have assured parents and students that they get it; they understand that students haven’t had opportunities to explore, lead, participate and develop skills they would have had if we weren’t dealing with a worldwide pandemic. So, just be honest on the applications. If you feel compelled to share all the things you would have done, if it hadn’t been for COVID-19, then write the optional COVID essay. But most students can relax and know that colleges understand and have adjusted their expectations. But we still want to know how colleges make their admissions decisions. What goes on behind those closed doors? While there’s a lot we don’t know, for the most part the admissions process is rational. Decisions are based on two basic sets of student qualifications: objective and subjective criteria.

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Many colleges post a Financial aid Shopping Sheet on the student’s college portal, which breaks down all expenses and ﬁnancial aid offers from that institution. There are also online award Letter Comparison tools to help students and families determine the affordability of the colleges being considered. Keep in mind that every college’s award letter has its own format and lingo, so make sure that you’re including all costs, and comparing apples to apples.

Know the Cost of attendance (COa), which is the amount it will cost to attend college for an academic year. Most colleges report their COa on the award letter, which would include the fall and spring terms. If a college has a program that’s longer in duration, it might list the COa for that entire program. Make sure you understand the duration of a college’s COa. Cost of attendance should include tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board (whether you live on campus, off campus or with parents), and an estimate for personal and transportation expenses.

writing scores? Are your scores competitive with the college’s pool of applicants?

Subjective criteria

This is where students are able to set themselves apart from other applicants. Extracurricular activities: Colleges want to know what you have been doing when you aren’t in school. Have you made a contribution? Have you moved from participating in a club or group to a leadership role? Essays: Make sure the essay is substantive and relevant. Follow directions and proofread. Be authentic. Could a friend or relative read it and know that you wrote it? Essays are likely to carry more weight this year since student activities are compromised. Letters of recommendation: Does the writer really know you? Give the recommender plenty of time. Ask people who are strong writers. Be sure to send them thank-you notes. Anything that allows an applicant to stand out: This includes special activities, community service, travel, honors,

awards, athletics, talents, etc. In sharing these activities, always be sure to bring the focus back to how you were affected. Share your insights and new perceptions. Real-world experiences: This includes paid or volunteer work. Internships are particularly attractive to colleges because they demonstrate not only initiative but also a career interest. Creating your own job-shadowing opportunity can be a very valuable activity. Interview: Due in large part to the increase in the number of applications, most colleges no longer recommend or even offer interviews. Smaller colleges are most receptive. Consider arranging an interview if you are particularly interested in a college and if, with an unbiased assessment, you are conﬁdent about your interviewing skills. Do your homework, come prepared with your own questions and have a solid knowledge of the college’s academic offerings, such as study abroad, majors and internships. Lee Shulman bierer is an independent college adviser based in Charlotte, n.C.

Once you ﬁgure out the COa of each college, subtract any grants and scholarships that you’ve been awarded. These types of aid are called “gift aid” because you do not repay them. next, consider the remaining “self-help” ﬁnancial aid. Self-help can include federal student or parent loans — borrowed money that must be paid back with interest — and federal work-study while you’re enrolled in school. If you are left with a balance, tap into other types of funding to cover your expenses. This might include your neST 529 Plan, parent and student savings accounts, or a part-time job. Some colleges may offer a payment plan.

after you’ve carefully reviewed and compared your award letters, you can then choose to accept or decline the sources of aid at the college you will be attending. an important consideration is the duration of any scholarships. Some are renewable, as long as you maintain certain criteria such as GPa; others are only good for one academic year. renewable scholarships can make a huge difference in your overall college cost.

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Learn more about the State College Guarantee at:

www.csc.edu 800-242-3766

www.peru.edu 800-742-4412

The State College Guarantee:

FREE Tuition for Pell-Eligible students who are new or transfer students who attend Chadron State, Peru State or Wayne State.

www.wsc.edu 866-972-2287

Nebraska State College System | www.nscs.edu | 402.471.2505 The Nebraska State Colleges are equal opportunity institutions. Please see nscs.edu/information-for/employees/eeo for details.

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Path Forward GET THE SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE YOU NEED TO GET AHEAD MCC can help you get the training, credentials and education to advance your career, start a new one or finish your degree without missing a beat.

ENROLL TODAY.

Spring quarter begins March 11.

LIVE ZOOM INFO SESSIONS and VIRTUAL EVENTS at your fingertips!  Programs of Study  Student Resources  Steps for Admission  Program Costs

Look for MCC at the virtual EducationQuest College Fair March 2-3 at educationquest.org.

All to create ease of access during your PATH TO POSSIBLE… Visit www.southeast.edu/visitscc/ today to learn more!

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What to consider if you’re thinking about a

GAP YEAR

LEE SHULMAN BIERER

The Charlotte Observer

ap years have become a hot topic of conversation. Many parents are reluctant to pay private school prices of $70,000-80,000 per year or even public university fees of $25,000-$50,000 a year to have their child upstairs in the bedroom on a screen all day long. COVID-19 has impacted so much, but for many families it has really refocused the conversation about the value of college. The pathway to college from high school can be too straight and narrow for some. There are students who secretly wonder if they are ready to handle the independence or the pressure. Some are burned out on studying and just want to get off the treadmill. Parents may ﬁnd themselves second-guessing whether their hardearned money will be well spent because they don’t see their children taking academics seriously. The gap year experience is becoming more popular in the United States. It’s already a widely accepted rite of passage in Europe. A gap year will help students gain conﬁdence and real-world experience and also provide a major departure from their structured lives. It could be a totally structured program such as LeapNow’s programs in India or South America that offer college credit, or a self-designed program with community service, internships,

travel or an opportunity to follow a passion. If you think your student is a candidate for stepping off the beaten path to college, here are some things to consider.  Apply to colleges anyway. It’s important to keep all options open.  Have a plan. Do the research and check out websites such as gapyear.com, cityyear.org, whereyouheaded.com and interimprograms.com  Maintain open communication between parents and children. Encourage your students to share their hopes, dreams and frustrations. What parts of their high school experience have been the most and the least fulﬁlling? Why are they interested in a gap year?  Families often ask what colleges think about students taking time off. “The students that I see doing gap years are almost always doing something incredibly interesting,” said Parke Muth, former senior assistant dean at the University of Virginia. “Most do some sort of travel, many do service, and not an insigniﬁcant number are doing internships. All of these opportunities make the student more worldly and usually a bit ‘hungrier’ and grateful for the education that awaits them.” Lee Shulman Bierer is an independent college adviser based in Charlotte, N.C. Visit her website College Admissions Strategies.

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What does my deferral mean? LEE SHULMAN BIERER | The Charlotte Observer

Being deferred is NOT the same as being rejected. It may feel that way for students, but this year, with a record number of early applications, there has also been a record number of deferrals. Being deferred gives a student a second chance to impress the admissions office. Here’s a ﬁve-step plan.

the college 1 Visit If you haven’t toured the campus, this

is a great time to make the visit. Even if you have visited previously, a follow-up visit where you sit in on a class and/or meet with someone from admissions is an opportunity to set yourself apart from other deferred applicants. Also, a campus visit can help you determine where this college ranks on your desirability scale. Plan to eat lunch in the cafeteria and have conversations with current students. Informal discussions often provide insightful comments.

2 Contact your admissions representative

Find out which person in the admissions office handles your geographic territory. Take the opportunity to introduce yourself via email and ask that person if they can share any thoughts on how you could improve your application. Listen to what they say. Don’t argue or complain. It is important to be upbeat and leave a positive impression.

a letter 3 Write Send it to the director of admissions as

well as your admissions representative. The letter should focus on your strongest attributes and how you will be able to contribute to the college community. Talk about: why the college is a good ﬁt for you and why you are a good ﬁt for the college. Use the letter to update the admissions office on any new information, such as leadership roles in clubs, athletic accomplishments, awards, scholarships, etc.

your mid-year transcript 4 Send Most colleges will speciﬁcally request

that you send your seventh semester grades. Follow instructions to the letter and get it done as quickly as possible.  Don’t complain to the admissions office that you really deserve to be accepted.  Don’t accuse the admissions office of making a mistake with its decision.  Don’t compare your SAT scores and GPA with someone else.  Don’t over-boast about small accomplishments. It’s not worth it to share that your SAT score went up 10 points.

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SPONSORED FEATURE

Navigating ﬁnancial challenges Here’s how UNK partners with students to solve dilemmas

Special for University of Nebraska at Kearney

oney was always tight for Agustin Ruvalcaba when he was growing up. Coming from a lower-middle-class family in Shelby, Nebraska, he knew at a young age that scholarships would be necessary if he wanted to attend college. Unfortunately, he didn’t earn a big scholarship like his older sister. And when his father used a pension to open his dream restaurant, their family became ineligible for most grants. Ruvalcaba’s dilemma: His family couldn’t afford college tuition but made too much money to be eligible for common need-based grants. “I was struggling to find a solution, but once I went to the Financial Aid Office, they helped me sort things out,” said Ruvalcaba, a wildlife biology major at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Ruvalcaba was drawn to UNK after seeing his older sister have a great experience there. The number of student organizations and inviting Fraternity and Sorority Life program made him feel accepted right away. None of it would have been possible without a team of financial aid experts who took time to hear his story. At UNK, a small Financial Aid staff meets regularly to solve problems for students. In higher education, one of the most difficult challenges to overcome is navigating financial aid. The process can be frustrating and exhausting. That’s when a qualified team of financial aid experts is a tremendous resource.

MAKING PERSONAL CONNECTIONS Amid COVID-19 challenges and economic uncertainty, many families similar to Ruvalcaba’s are being impacted by financial struggles. UNK’s Financial Aid team spends a lot of time connecting with students and their families. They hear their stories and understand their challenges. It takes a personal touch. UNK prides itself on making those individual connections. You’re not a number at UNK, said Financial Aid Director Mary Sommers, who has worked in financial aid for 33 years. “One of our greatest pleasures in the Office of Financial Aid is developing relationships with our students and their families over several years. That’s the benefit of having a stable staff that is committed to UNK and its mission. We really come to know our students,” said Sommers.

U N I V E R S I T Y O F N E B R A S K A AT K E A R N E Y

Agustin Ruvalcaba, a wildlife biology major at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, entered college facing a problem many students face: His family couldn’t afford college tuition but made too much to be eligible for common need-based grants.

FINDING FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS UNK is dedicated to ﬁnding individualized solutions to meet the needs of each student. At UNK, 80% of incoming freshmen receive scholarship or grant money. Scholarships include merit-based, need-based and others. Student or parent loans, work study opportunities and grants offer other funding sources but often come with a learning curve of their own. To really understand a student’s situation, it takes a one-on-one conversation. At UNK, the Financial Aid team listens to the needs of families and offers opportunities that students might not realize exist. “Working with people in the Financial Aid Ofﬁce was like working with a friend who knew exactly what to say when times were tough. Money was always a stressful subject

for me, and each time I interacted with them I received the help I needed,” said Ruvalcaba. UNK helped Ruvalcaba with multiple small scholarships early on, then continuing education scholarships after his freshman year. Now, he’s set to graduate in a few months and plans to pursue a career in herpetological research. “The help I received from the ﬁnancial aid team is the reason I will be graduating this May,” said Ruvalcaba. “Without it, I truly do not believe I would be earning a degree.”

MAKING COLLEGE ACCESSIBLE The University of Nebraska at Kearney offers the lowest university tuition in the state. Combine that with a high-quality University of Nebraska education with prosperous outcomes, and the value is already there. Re-

ceiving additional assistance to cover costs makes UNK more accessible for all students. It’s a big hurdle, and UNK has a strong history of providing the boost many families need. UNK’s Financial Aid team is ready to hear your story. “Our staff has worked with students in many difficult situations over the years. We do our best to provide options and opportunities for our students based on their unique circumstances,” Sommers said. Students should become one of those familiar voices in the Financial Aid Office. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Your entire future and financial security could benefit greatly, said Ruvalcaba. “College is expensive and financial aid is a lifesaver. It’s heartwarming and reassuring the way they want to help.”

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for your interview 3 Prep Nailing the virtual job interview

Ace the virtual

INTERVIEW 5 tips to help you make a good ﬁrst impression

ROBERT CHANNICK | Chicago Tribune

ith hiring freezes, furloughs, stayat-home orders and more than 26 million Americans filing for unemployment benefits since the coronavirus pandemic began, it might not be the best time to find a new job. But career experts say you can get hired now. There may be opportunities for remote work in distant markets that wouldn’t have been possible before COVID-19. So update your resume and arrange your home office for a good video interview.

willing to pivot 1 BeAccording to a survey by online

job and recruitment site Monster, about two-thirds of employers have decreased the number of postings since the pandemic

began. Finding work during the health crisis may require pivoting, with truck drivers, nurses, software developers, store clerks and customer service representatives among the occupations with the most new job listings. “Maybe this isn’t necessarily a longterm move, but in the short term, there’s a demand right now for these workers,” said Monster career expert Vicki Salemi. Some jobs have remained plentiful. The opportunities are in health care, distribution of food and cargo, store clerks and other essential businesses. “Across the board, hiring is down,” said Marie Trzupek Lynch, president and CEO of Skills for Chicagoland’s Future, a nonproﬁt. “However, there are deep pockets right now of hiring in the entry-level space.”

Because some companies need workers quickly, a candidate can go from application to job offer in as little as 48 hours, Trzupek Lynch said.

remote 2 Consider opportunities

Remote working has become the norm for many companies during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a huge spike in the search term “remote,” according to Monster. The concept of working from home is working. The majority of companies polled by Monster plan to reexamine their workfrom-home policies after the coronavirus shelter-in-place orders are lifted, Salemi said. “Job seekers should go where the jobs are, but in some instances, they may be in your home,” Salemi said.

requires practice, preparation and a quiet place within the home office where pets, partners and other distractions won’t knock you off your game. First, treat the online job interview as if it were an in-person interview, including prepping your resume and supporting material, and girding for it mentally at least a half-hour before it begins, as you would consider doing for an in-person interview, Salemi said. Set up your interview space in a quiet corner of your house that looks “professional,” Salemi said. That means avoid the kitchen, for example. Lighting is crucial, she said. Have a light behind your laptop to illuminate your face and try not to have a window behind you. Background is important too. You might consider removing that “Fast & Furious” movie poster with Vin Diesel behind you when you’re talking to the head of human resources. “A blank wall is ﬁne behind you,” Salemi said “You don’t want it to be too distracting.”

video chatting 4 Practice Get your laptop or phone at eye

level, and put a Post-it Note just below the camera, so you remember to make eye contact during the interview, she said. Practice a Zoom call with a friend to get comfortable with the format, and get feedback on how you’re doing. It is difficult to pick up body language and other cues during a remote interview, but it is important for both the applicant and potential employer to connect, Salemi said. At the same time, don’t be afraid of “dead air” during the interview — it may be video, but it’s not the network news. “Try not to rush it and just allow for those silences, even though you’re staring at your computer thinking this feels awkward,” Salemi said. “In reality, it’s only a few seconds and it’s not a big deal. You’re better off taking a beat or two, gathering your thoughts and articulating your best answer.” When the interview comes, close the door and put a sign on it warning others to stay out. Sit up straight and relax.

Don’t forget 5 to dress for success

And finally, wear pants. A suit jacket on top with shorts and flip-flops down below may seem safe enough, but if you need to get up to retrieve your resume or answer your door, your first impression may be your last. “Anything can happen, so just look polished from head to toe,” Salemi said.

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INVITING ICEBREAKERS

Better conversation starters than a casual ‘How are you?’ JESSICA STILLMAN | Inc.

s author and Wharton School professor Adam Grant points out, “How are you?” rarely starts a meaningful conversation. “It prompts us to summarize our emotions instead of sharing the stories and insights behind them.” The question falls particularly ﬂat on Zoom, psychologist Jane Dutton says on the TED Ideas blog. “People are pretty tired of the same old ‘How are you doing?’ question.” And if someone is actually suffering at the moment, the casualness of the question suggests you don’t really want to know how they are, forcing the other party to perform fake cheerfulness. Psychologists say this sort of “toxic positivity” has real mental health costs. Here are six more genuine and optimistic conversation-opening lines.

1 What surprised

you this month?

Grant says it’s better to ask about experiences than emotions, suggesting this offbeat opener as an example.

2 What did you do

this week that you loved?

“Ask a question that taps quickly into something that’s meaningful to people and conveys, ‘I am genuinely interested, and I genuinely care,’” Dutton says.

3 What’s something

you’re excited about?

Thrive Global rounded up alternative openers, and this one comes from Craig Inzana, a content creator from Omaha, who asked this even before the pandemic. “It’s open-ended enough for someone to talk about their work, their favorite TV show or anything else that they’re loving at the moment,” he says.

4 What’s been

keeping you busy?

“I’ve recently found that asking people more speciﬁc, but not intrusive, questions leads to a more authentic exchange,” Marta Chavent, a management consultant in France, told Thrive Global.

5 What have you learned about yourself lately?

California-based marketing director Isabelle Bart submitted this one to Thrive Global: “Not only have I realized that they usually open up and are willing to share personal stories, but they also get excited about sharing something positive related to personal growth.” “How are you?” falls particularly ﬂat on Zoom, says psychologist Jane dutton.

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6 Tell me a silver lining

that happened this week.

“Talking about silver linings acknowledges that something negative has happened, but it also touches on the positive that you’ve made of it,” Dutton says. She suggests this conversation opener for a big group Zoom call.

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2021 |

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BOOST YOUR SOFT SKILLS

up 7 Listen Speaking effectively is important

Ways to enhance leadership, communication and more

but people often undervalue the importance of listening. Practice listening. An effective listener truly hears the opinions and ideas of others before reacting.

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orking from home can be difficult. You’re often isolated, frustrated and basically waiting to get the COVID-19 “all-clear” so you can get on with your life. Now is the time to make yourself more valuable than ever. Brush up on your soft skills, those intangible qualities that separate good employees from great. Here are 12 steps you can take to prepare yourself for what comes next:

creative 8 BeThat email update you want to

send to your co-workers? Make it a video instead—and use your 6-year-old son and 9-year-old chihuahua to act out your message. That Zoom meeting that goes on and on and on? Break it up with a quick ukulele sing-a-long. Yes, those are dumb ideas and yes, someone will appreciate that you’re using the right side of your brain to mix things up a bit.

your work ethic 1 Amplify When your boss can’t see

you in person, it’s imperative that you do the work. Don’t skip projects or do the minimum amount of work. Considering the COVID-19 communications barriers, you may ﬁnd that it takes more work than usual to get things. When someone asks for something via email by 3 p.m., send it to them an hour earlier.

prepared 9 BeThe days of strolling into the con-

ference room a minute or two late for the weekly meetings are on hold. Today, tardiness can be a real hindrance to getting work done. If you’re supposed to be online for a meeting at 10 a.m., set up ahead of time so you’re not tumbling into the screen at 10:06 while fumbling with your mute button and yelling at the dog.

your homework 2 DoNot being in the office doesn’t

10 Adapt

absolve you of keeping up with the latest trends, issues and competitors. Read industry publications, check out various business sections, visit related websites, listen to applicable podcasts and check out other sources of information to make sure you know what you need to know —and more.

Pretty obvious, right? If your rigidity to new ideas, situations and environments has held you back in the past, this current stay-in-place situation provides the perfect opportunity to get a bit ﬂexible. Being receptive to new strategies, methods and forms of communication now will pay off in the future when things get a bit back to normal.

your approach 3 Improve To be successful and valued, you

problems 11 Solve Working toward solutions should

should be an employee who can work well with others. Take steps to improve your interpersonal skills, including how you interact with co-workers and managers in person and online. Hint: A positive attitude and a pleasant disposition go a long way.

be part of your process. Problemsolving skills, among others, include finding ways to work with other departments, minimizing scheduling conflicts, minimizing personality conflicts and identifying various solutions that will only help your project and your professional reputation.

a team player 4 BeAlthough you’re working remotely,

the members of your team are still members of — yes — your team. If you take some time each day to catch up on headlines or bingewatching suggestions, keep doing it. Your ability to be a strong, contributing member of a department relies on your professional and personal contributions. If your workfrom-home experience becomes a workfrom-home-alone experience, it will be hard to acclimate back into the workforce.

curious 5 Get If you see an unfamiliar topic on

an upcoming agenda, do a little legwork and ﬁnd out what it is and what it means to you, your employer and your industry. Then, if applicable, analyze how the topic in question has been successfully managed by others.

on distractions 6 Easy When working from home, time

management is key. If you can fight the urge to turn off your laptop and turn on Netflix when you have work to do, you’re halfway there. Learn to segment your day into tasks, find a schedule that works for you and stick with it.

mistakes and move on 12 Admit Everyone’s working in a unique

environment, thanks to the pandemic, so it’s likely there will be an occasional misstep. If you’re involved in a blown deadline, a botched project or a missed opportunity, own up to it, ﬁgure out what went wrong and address those issues in the future.

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| SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2021

COLLEGE & CAREERS

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