When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States, university life was completely disrupted. Students were sent home; clinical rotations were postponed or canceled, and career fairs went virtual. It has been nearly a year since these disruptions riddled university networks. Although a vaccine is here, virtual networking will likely remain prevalent for newly graduated clinical professionals.

Now more than ever, it is important for aspiring clinicians to make lasting first impressions with future employers. What does that look like? How have the expectations changed in this virtual space? Are we slowly losing standards for professionalism?

Before COVID-19, in-person career fairs were major events for most physical and occupational therapy programs and employers. At FOX, our team has traveled across the country to attend events to make connections with aspiring clinicians. The benefit of in-person events was, whether a conversation lasted two minutes or thirty—the first impression was made within the first 15-20 seconds. Things such as appearance, eye contact, handshake grip and overall composure were key indicators of a standout candidate. Even though in-person meetings have moved into the virtual space, most of these indicators are still observable. While the initial handshake is moot, your appearance, eye contact or attentiveness, and overall composure still resonate through a computer screen!

How Aspiring Clinicians Can Prepare for Virtual Career Fairs

As COVID-19 continues to impact daily life, it has negatively impacted student standards. Over the past several months we have seen a decline in student preparedness when engaging with employers. The solution to this is simple: we must ensure newly graduated professionals understand that virtual does not mean casual.

As aspiring clinicians, the virtual interview is still an opportunity to network and make lasting connections with future employers. In-person expectations are still applicable in a virtual setting. Here are a few simple items to focus on:

Research companies you plan to speak with ahead of time
Update your resume
Speak clearly and professionally
Dress to impress

All too often, we attend virtual events and students are dressed as if they just rolled out of bed. Little to no research had been done ahead of time, and in many cases, students are visibly distracted during events.

How Virtual Events Have Changed the Hiring Process

Even though many protocols remain the same, the pivot to virtual events have also presented some changes. One of the biggest being the increased number of distractions that exist virtually. While attending an in-person fair, the only true distraction is other people who may draw your attention away from a conversation. It is understandable that interviews conducted in a virtual setting make it easier to become distracted—things such as open browser tabs, a cell phone, background noise wherever you are set up and even the television can pull your attention away from your conversation. Although these distractions may not exist in person, the standards remain the same. Proactively removing these distractions before the event will set you apart from the masses. It is still possible to make a lasting impression in this virtual space!

These tips may seem elementary on the surface, but over the last six months, nearly 75% of virtual interactions exhibited at least one of the issues mentioned above. These events are a significant opportunity to set yourself apart. They are your gateway to that first job or clinical experience you need to graduate. Before COVID-19, there were a surplus of jobs and not enough licesnsed clinicians to fill the demand. The current job market is significantly more competitive and may require you to cast a wider net when searching for an organization where you can begin your career. The same applies to clinical rotations. The transition back to in-person events and& interviews will likely be a slow one. In the meantime, try to look at these virtual fairs as practice for your real interview.