Just months before graduating with degrees in psychology and biology from Northeastern University, Shanthi Hegde was thrilled to receive an opportunity to serve as a postbaccalaureate research assistant at the National Institutes of Health. But then the administration in Washington changed, budget cuts followed, and Hegde’s job offer was paused because of cuts to NIH-funded postbaccalaureate programs.
For Hegde, who has both von Willebrand disease and factor VII deficiency, the experience was extremely deflating. “It’s been very challenging as a new grad, especially to go into this job market,” she says.
Hegde is not alone. The employment landscape is changing with many entry-level jobs being replaced by artificial intelligence. Recent grads may need to look longer and even rejigger their career dreams. Hegde had planned to work in a lab, but her chronic conditions have disrupted her ability to be in the lab full time. Now, she hopes to get a remote or hybrid job in patient advocacy. “It’s a really tough situation to be in,” she says.
Adapting Career Dreams
Job searching can be psychologically draining, says Jessica Selingo, LSW, a medical social worker at the Cardeza Foundation Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center in Philadelphia. “It takes a toll on your self-esteem. You think, ‘Why am I not good enough?’”
Selingo counsels people who are looking for a job to stay patient with themselves and the situation, and to keep working at it. Here are some other tips:
- Don’t limit yourself. If a job listing says one to two years of experience, apply anyway. “The worst they can say is no,” Selingo says.
- Tailor your resume to the job listing. “The company is probably running your resume through a program to see if it has words that match the description,” she says. Edit yours to have those words.
- Look for mentorship. Hegde has found many people willing to help. “These are key people that I will be forming connections with, and they’re kind and willing to help,” she says.
- Nail the interview. If you’re invited to interview, bring your passion and determination and make it clear you’re willing to learn along the way, Selingo says.
- Consider the work environment. If you’ve got a bleeding disorder, where you work matters just as much as the job, Selingo says. “Ask yourself, ‘What does this company stand for, and will they support me?’” she says.
- Seek support from your hemophilia treatment center. Social workers like Selingo are available to help you with all kinds of issues — including job hunting and management of your condition once you start work. “I’ve talked to HR for patients, written letters for them, and advocated for them. No one should have to face this alone.”