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Counseling Resources

COVID-19 Helpful Tips From The Counseling Department

We can all get through this difficult time together. Checkout our helpful tips and watch our video below! 

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  • It’s okay to be scared- It’s a scary time for everyone right now between the news and its future effect on job prospects, we all face uncertainty.  However, it is important for all of us to work to keep ourselves busy and well.
  • Accentuate the positives- If you find yourself with more free time or having to find things to do try to do something you have been meaning to do that involves active engagement. Netflix marathons are great, but engaging in activities that keep you actively engaged is very positive. Some examples are learning guitar, playing a board game, learning to bake or working on a crafting project all allow you to engage in a positive activity that ends with a result.
  • Reach out- If you are feeling scared and lonely, talk to someone. Calling someone, setting up a Netflix watch party or any form of reaching out can remind us we are in this together. Counseling is still here but online; we would love to talk to you about any issues you are having. We have the capacity to help with counseling, career and resources.
  • Limit your news- It can be important to feel like you are in control of the situation. However, in a constantly evolving situation it can be tough to stay on top of the news and events are often very fluid. Remember to look for sources for your information, CDC, WHO and information provided by local governments has all been reliable.
  • Coping skills-Practice or start practicing coping skills to deal with stress. Here are two ideas that serve as a good start.
    • Box Breathing-
      • Close your eyes. Breathe in through your nose while counting to four slowly.
      • Hold your breath inside while counting slowly to four. Try not to clamp your mouth or nose shut.
      • Begin to slowly exhale for 4 seconds.
      • Repeat steps 1 to 3 at least three times.

        This exercise can be used to reduce anxiety and calm in the more stressful moments. It is good to practice these activities daily to help it be the thing that comes to mind during stressful moments

    • Exercise- Finding exercise that fits your fitness level and allows you to maintain social distancing. Yoga with Adriene is good for beginners and has over 500 videos on YouTube. Team Body Project has many home workouts available with positive and uplifting tones. Exercise has proven positive benefits for mood and mental health. We may be losing a lot of the movement we do in a day unless we seek it out, any movement or stretching will help brighten your day.
  • Your resume is a living document. It should be changed to represent the different skills employers are looking for in the job description and the different verbs they use in their descriptions. If the job description looks for leadership and technical skills in a certain area, make sure you do what you can to demonstrate you have that.
  • Make sure your grammar and spelling are correct. If you make a mistake in this area, it can be the difference between getting an interview and keeping searching.
  • Sell yourself! If you all you did was flip burgers, you aren’t selling yourself well enough. I worked with a team to provide fast and accurate customer first service in a food service environment. This shows teamwork, communication and attention to detail. These skills are essential for any employment and chances are you really did learn them working at a restaurant.
  • Keep it simple! Black and white, Times New Roman and straight forward formatting are essential to having a professional looking resume.
  • If you aren’t certain, ask for help! Find someone you trust or reach out to Will Kirschner for career assistance at (859) 442-1160. We often don’t see common mistakes we make, so it can be essential to get a second set of eyes on things.
  • You got the interview! The first thing that you should do is make sure you are prepared for some of the more common questions. What do you know about this company? What would make you a good candidate for this position? Have an answer in your head to these questions so you can be better prepared for the difficult questions.
  • Be prepared. Know how to get where you are interviewing and know what you need to be bring. Always aim to arrive at least 15 minutes before an interview, that way if something happens you have a built-in buffer to help get you to the appointment on time.
  • Dress one level above what you will be expected for the job. If you will be wearing a uniform, a dress shirt and dress pants would be best. If you have to wear a dress shirt, a dress coat or more formal dresswear would work best here.
  • Show that you would be an asset to the workplace culture. Warmly greet administrative assistants and remember that the interview starts the second you walk in the door and not just when the questions start.
  • Scared of interviews? Always get tripped up by certain questions? Don’t forget that career services at Gateway can provided you with a mock interview followed up by more tips and tricks to ace the real thing.