Blog

Job-Searching Postgrad Amidst a Pandemic

Author: Marieli Valencia

Anyone who graduated during the year 2020 would most likely agree with me when I tell you this pandemic threw me into a postgrad situation I would have never imagined. When I was younger, I would always fantasize about the day I graduated college and finally move on to bigger and better things in the world. I would walk across a stage and receive a diploma in a ceremony representative of my transition into a life free from the stress of school and into the excitement of the real world. Little did I know my reality would look something like sitting in my living room watching a virtual commencement through a computer screen, isolated from all the close friendships I had fostered throughout my college experience.

I initially did not even begin my job search straight after graduation. The world felt like it was turning upside down, and I instinctively went into survival mode as discouraging stories of job losses were constantly at the beginning of most conversations. I took a serving job at a local restaurant that was operating under strict COVID-19 guidelines, and found this to be a silver lining amidst the chaos that was happening in the world around me. I will be eternally grateful for this job because I found a sense of stability and structure for which I was desperately searching. I had never thought I would be in this situation straight out of college. After working there for several months, while simultaneously working on my design portfolio, I finally mustered up the courage to begin my search for a design job.

When I finally began my job searching journey, the first thing I knew I had to do was tune out all the noise. I heard so many voices around saying that this was a terrible time to get a corporate job, or that I wouldn’t be successful in finding anything till the pandemic passed. I simply decided none of this was true. I sat in front of my LinkedIn profile for hours at a time, saving job ads and perfecting my resume before hitting that “submit application” button for what felt like a hundred times. I realized the resiliency of a lot of companies. I was actually pleasantly surprised at the amount of job ads I ran into that were seeking to hire a fresh-out-of-school designer. They sought to preserve their companies and keep the show running despite what was happening in the world around us all.

After finally coming to Proximyl Health, albeit virtually, I have a newfound appreciation for how far technology has been able to compensate. In the most unexpected way, the pandemic brought me to a job in a location that I could have never guessed for myself. The unique experience of working from home and getting to be in a location so geographically far from Proximyl has brought me connections and experiences that would have not been possible before remote work became normalized. I feel extremely fortunate to be in a job situation where I do not feel limited within the confines of my geographic location. The pandemic thrust me into the lifestyle of remote work; and strangely enough, I am actually very grateful. COVID-19 also exposed those companies that were unafraid to restructure and fearlessly tread into the sometimes-rocky waters that characterize virtual interactions. I found that companies that were willing to adapt and change represented a work force that aligned more with resiliency and innovation. I know now that Proximyl Health falls within this category. I’m excited to see where the future takes me as I continue to navigate remote work in the post-pandemic world.

Recent Blogs

Getting back to a “normal” working environment

  BlogGetting back to a “normal” working environment Author: Proximyl Health A flashback to not so long ago Ahh, remember the good ol’ days back in early 2020 (pre-Covid, of course) of commuting into the office every weekday morning, bagel and coffee in hand,...

Put on your client hat

  BlogPut on your client hat Author: Todd Jackson After 10 years of agency life in account services, I made the decision to try something new – make the jump to the client side. While many of my skills and experiences were transferable, the move was also...

When you make every word count, you make it work

  BlogWhen you make every word count, you make it work Author: Ron Kellow Aside from meetings, my days are spent writing – mostly promotional pieces targeted to healthcare professionals. It’s a good kind of “selling” as I’m informing physicians about something...

Promoting Vaccine Efficacy in A Digital Age

  BlogPromoting Vaccine Efficacy in A Digital Age Author: Andrew Maiorino Behind my role in market research and serving our clients, I’ve always had innate layers of trust and understanding in scientific principles and ideas. After all, physicians practice daily,...

What Would Cy Twombly Do?

  BlogWhat Would Cy Twombly Do? Author: Glenn Hauler A few years ago, my brother Jack, who is a very left-brained kind of guy, was grilling me about my job—a career which, by the way, he cannot fathom. At one point he asked me, “But what if you run out of ideas?”...

Work Out Your Mind

  BlogWork Out Your Mind Author: Michelle Leung Behind the development of unique ideas that give voice to my work as a graphic designer lies the creative process. This out-of-the-box thinking can be challenging at times because it’s hard to determine what will...

Before you launch InDesign, do this

  BlogBefore you launch InDesign, do this Author: Robert Giorgio How many times have you found yourself staring at your InDesign file, wondering what to do next? Many times, designers get excited about their first idea and leap right to the computer. This is...

Helping through understanding

  BlogHelping through understanding Author: Truth Serum NTWK In late 2008, I was getting ready to start a new job as a medical copywriter at an agency. New beginnings, new people... everything looking up. Then, my father was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. And...

The difference between a ‘boss’ and a ‘leader’

  BlogThe difference between a ‘boss’ and a ‘leader’ Author: Marilyn Aquino “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” —John Quincy Adams I’ve learned through experience that there is a big difference...

Recent Videos