COVID-19

FAQ for Students during COVID-19

We encourage you to get in touch with your main contact at the company and inquire about the status of your internship. Let them know you are excited about your internship and would be willing to delay your start date or work virtually should the situation necessitate that. You should be prepared to have a conversation about what resources you might need to complete your projects/assignments virtually. Most importantly, stay positive and let the employer know you are willing to be flexible and that you are eager to join the team. They will appreciate that! If you have any questions, or need additional support, feel free to schedule a phone appointment with any of our Career Consultants through Handshake.
 

Similar to our advice for students who have not heard about their internship status, we recommend that you be proactive and reach out to your main HR contact at the company to politely ask about the current status.  Demonstrate positivity and flexibility and show that you are still looking forward to beginning your full-time employment.  Some companies may be working out details as the COVID-19 situation develops daily, and they may be working on a communication to their new hires.  This could involve delaying your start date or changing your training to be conducted virtually.  The important thing is to be flexible!
 

Yes—take advantage of the extra time you will have! While it’s important to continue to follow guidelines around social distancing before the start of your job, there are many ways you can take initiative to develop yourself professionally.  Set aside time each day, whether it’s 30 minutes or a couple hours, to taking advantage of free online courses, podcasts, or other resources to continue to learn. You might develop a skill that can be valuable in your career. Think about your major or career area of focus, and what skills are necessary for success.  Here is a list of ideas for you to get started.
 

While some industries and companies may be on a hiring freeze right now, the majority of companies that we have heard from are either honoring their existing offers or offering virtual opportunities such as short-term projects that can be completed remotely (called micro-internships).  Check websites like Handshake, Parker Dewey, and LinkedIn.  These online job search platforms are going to be extra important since there are no on-campus interviews or career fairs taking place.  You can also check this link,  which contains information geared toward Fisher students about companies who are currently hiring, virtual events taking place, and other opportunities.

Think about reaching out to people or businesses you know in your hometown to inquire about taking on a project for them this summer.  Finally, consider offering your time and energy to an industry that is in need right now, such as essential services like working at a grocery store, delivery service, or healthcare.  Many of these industries are still hiring and you can do good for your community, make money, and develop important skills at the same time.  Do not under-estimate the value a prospective employer will place on “good works” during this time, regardless of whether you are a first-year undergraduate, or enrolled in a graduate program.
 

Keep in mind that the OCM recommends you honor all commitments to employers, so if you have accepted an internship opportunity it is best not to renege, even given the current circumstances.  If your company contacts you to say that your internship has been converted to all-online, we suggest staying positive and making the most of that experience.  A virtual experience can still be a great experience.  

It is unlikely that you would find another in-person internship this late in the year, especially with the stay-at-home orders we are currently under. A virtual internship, while not ideal, is still going to help you build professional skills this summer.  

The Vault Career Guide contains several resources and articles with suggestions on how to successfully work from home.  

Here are some suggestions to get you started:

• How to Master Working Remotely
• How to Boost Your Career While You Shelter in Place
• 6 Biggest Challenges of Working at Home and How to Overcome Them
• 5 Tips for Being a Persuasive Communicator While Working Remotely
• The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly About Virtual Internships

If you have not registered with Vault, click on “Create My Vault Account” and use your OSU email address to get started.

Yes, there are companies that are still hiring for both internships and post graduate opportunities and Handshake should be one of your main resources.  When searching for jobs or internships on Handshake or  any other job board, be sure to search for the jobs that have been posted most recently (no more than a couple of weeks old) as these postings will be most reliable.

Other job boards to view regularly include 

• Indeed
• Linked-In

Here are some other job search activities to put into your daily routine:

Attend online events: The university and business communities alike are attempting to shift events online whenever possible. Navigate to the “Events” page within your Handshake account to see the growing number of virtual events being added every day.

Learn from your peers: Read the over 100,000+ employer reviews on Handshake to learn more about what it’s like to intern or work at a specific company. Or, use Peer Messaging to chat with alumni or other students with your major, or even to conduct informational interviews online. Check out this guide out to learn more about how to learn from other students on Handshake.

Be sure to fully complete your online profile: Did you know that 80% of students who fill out location preferences, job role preferences, and job type preferences receive a message from an employer? It’s a simple step, but a very effective method to start engaging with potential employers online. Here’s a quick guide to getting the most out of your Handshake profile.

Follow employers that interest you (e.g. on Handshake or LinkedIn): By following an employer, you’ll be alerted when they post new opportunities.

Stay the course

More than anything, it’s important during this time to continue your job search activities: continue 
applying for jobs/internships, refine your digital presence and brand, ramp-up your virtual networking outreach and relationship building efforts, and actively follow-up on LinkedIn. Below are some additional resources to support your job search.
 

• Companies Still Hiring During COVID-19
• How to Job Hunt During the Coronavirus Pandemic

• https://skillcrush.com/blog/sites-finding-remote-work/https://skillcrush.com/blog/sites-finding-remote-work/
• https://careersidekick.com/best-remote-job-boards/
• https://www.workplaceless.com/blog/four-best-places-to-find-remote-jobs
• https://www.flexjobs.com/ (note- this does have a subscription fee to view all job information but you can get a sense still of what types of jobs are posted.)
• https://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/25-virtual-companies-that-thrive-on-remote-work-v2/

• Parker-Dewey
• Uplancer
• Linked-In ProFinder
• FlexJobs
• Fiverr
• Upwork
• CloudPeeps
• SolidGigs
• FreeLancer
• Additional freelance sites

The short answer is No. With such a vast list of companies that hire students for internships and post graduate positions, we do not know of a specific list that is available and/or reliable.  Candor.com has developed a list that is 100% user generated, anyone can add information into the company list and the information listed is not being verified by anyone at Candor.  This list is not specific to internships or post graduate employment opportunities, but simply a list of companies indicating, through the experience of others, if the company is hiring, on a hiring freeze or if the company is laying off.  

https://candor.co/hiring-freezes/

We highly recommend that you work closely with the OSU Office of International Affairs to determine  your CPT eligibility.  http://oia.osu.edu. 

The United States Citizen and Immigration Services recently announced H-1B petitioners should expect a delay.  Check this website for the current status: https://www.uscis.gov/ 
 

We highly recommend that you work closely with the OSU Office of International Affairs to determine your ability to pursue and secure CPT for temporary virtual gigs and/or virtual micro-internships. The nature of virtual gigs/micro-internships will likely add difficulty in receiving approval for CPT. We suggest international candidates carefully consider (1) The work must be directly related to your degree; and (2) the work must be integral to the curriculum as you’ll need to be prepared to provide justifications for each to support your CPT approval process

As you all know, we are in uncharted territory regarding international mobility. It is impossible to predict if and when further restrictions will be put in place by the U.S. Administration for travelers from high risk countries.

You need to check the travel and visa restrictions that may be in place at the time you are planning to travel as the situation is changing daily. If you are currently outside the U.S. or plan to travel outside the U.S., we recommend that you continue to monitor travel updates by CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). As of March 18, 2020 routine U.S. visa issuance has been suspended worldwide and daily restrictions on travel are being implemented.

International students facing financial distress during the current crisis can apply for assistance through OIA by completing the following International Student Grant application https://oia.osu.edu/pdf/International_Student_Grant.pdf. Eligible students do not need to be within one term of graduation to receive funds in emergency cases. 
 

1. Apply for OPT: F-1 Students are authorized to receive up to 12 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT) upon graduation. This is intended to provide students with practical  experience in their field of study. Students may apply up to 90 days before their anticipated program end date and up to 60 days after their program end date. For most students, the program end date is defined as Ohio State’s official commencement date. Please visit the OIA website for additional information or register for a virtual advising appointment at go.osu.edu/oiaadvising 
   
   If applying for OPT:
   
   Apply for Jobs: Continue to monitor Handshake and individual company job boards for internships and full-time career opportunities. Continue to expand your professional network, strengthen your resume, job search correspondence and digital presence on LinkedIn. 
   
   Helpful Resources: 
   
   Companies Still Hiring During COVID-19
   
   How to Job Hunt During the Coronavirus Pandemic 
2. Apply for Grad School: The Fisher College of Business offers several graduate degree options including the Master of Accounting (MAcc), Specialized Master in Finance (SMF), Master of Human Resource Management (MHRM), Specialized Master in Business Analytics (SMBA) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs. Please note: Application deadlines for these programs are rapidly approaching. International students should submit their application no later than May 1 and complete their application no later than May 15 in order to receive an application review for this autumn semester.  For additional information on Fisher’s graduate degree programs please contact  614-292-8511 fishergrad@fisher.osu.edu 

Yes, we are actively planning our Fisher Fall Career Fair to take place at the Ohio Union on September 9, 2020.  We are also exploring, and planning, for the possibility of a virtual career fair if necessary.  We will be informing companies and students of a final decision on the format for this year’s Fisher Fall Career Fair in early July.

Yes, the Office of Career Management undergraduate team is offering QUIC interviews virtually via Zoom.  You can sign up for your QUIC interview time through Handshake.  Click on “Career Center” > ”Appointments” to find an appointment day/time that works for you.  Your QUIC interviewer will send you an email containing the Zoom link for the meeting.
 

Our team of Undergraduate Peer Career Coaches and staff are offering feedback on resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles through email.  You can email your document (preferably in Word format) directly to the coaches at fcob-careercoach@osu.edu.  They will review your resume/cover letter/LinkedIn profile and respond within 1-2 business days.  If you are a graduate student, do not hesitate to make a virtual appointment with a career consultant through Handshake.
 

The Office of Career Management is in regular communications with companies and their recruiting teams, and while there remains uncertainty regarding on-campus interviewing, companies are still scheduling interview dates for the Fall.  

For a majority of companies, they are planning to recruit and conduct interviews virtually if they are unable to do so in person.  As always, stay active on Handshake (especially as the Fall semester approaches).