Get Career Ready: Career Resources

Get Career Ready 

Our 4-Year career plan is a roadmap to help you discover your career possibilities, gain experience, and chart a path toward your professional goals! You should take specific steps to help you explore various career options. It takes time, reflection, and different experiences to help you define your goals. Just remember, selecting a major and finding a career is a process, and our team is here to help support you each step of the way. 

The Career Center team uses the Career Development Cycle and the Career Readiness Competencies developed by NACE as a framework to help support students through our coaching, programming, and educational resources. 

We encourage you to use this guide to help you build your roadmap to success at WP and beyond!

View our Complete Student Success Plan 

  • Our student success plan will help you identify key academic, co-curricular, and career development action items all in one place 
  • Find out who your specific student success team members are by logging into your Navigate App; these success team members will help you navigate your individualized student success plan

Plan your Journey with our Career Roadmap

The first step is all about self-discovery & exploration! Whether you are just starting to explore your career options or are considering a new path, these recommended activities will help you discover possibilities and identify your values, interests, personality, and skills (VIPS)

Explore Career Options & Self- Discovery 

  • Complete our PathwayU Career Assessment to discover your interests, skills, values & workplace preferences. You can also explore majors and careers connected to your areas of interest.  Learn more about PathwayU
  • Discover "What Can I Do with a Major In?  resource guide. Explore what careers connect to specific majors, explore employers and industries, and strategies for landing a job in your chosen industry 
  • Conduct Career Research! The workforce is evolving; discover some careers you may have never thought of and learn about skills, majors, salaries, and job outlook for the careers of your choice with: 

Join Handshake

Handshake is our virtual career center & job & internship hub! You can find opportunities for part-time, full-time, and internship opportunities, research employers, learn about upcoming events, and get access to resources.

  • Login into your student Handshake account & start building your student profile 

Start your Career Prep

  • Meet with your Career Coach at least 1 per semester to review your career options and work on crafting your career & experiential learning plan! Schedule an appointment with your Career Coach on Navigate
  • Create a Resume! Start building your resume with our resume toolbox & resources listed below. Make an appointment with your career coach to review your resume or attend an upcoming resume lab
  • Start earning credit toward your Career & Professional Success Badge! 
  • Attend at least two Career Center-hosted events or career fairs 

Get Involved 

  • Explore Campus Clubs & Organizations on Pioneer Life
  • Consider a part-time on-campus or federal work-study community-based employment positions 
  • Attend University events and explore our monthly cultural celebrations 

Focus on Your Academics

  • Meet with your Academic Advisor three times per semester to stay on course with your academic plan
  • Connect with your faculty to gain industry insight and learn how to apply the skills gained in your coursework to your goals  

Get Prepared

  • Meet with your Career Coach to begin identifying ways to gain relevant first-hand experience. This can include internships,  volunteer work, part-time jobs, research projects, and more.
  • Create or update your resume using our resume resources. Remember to start customizing your resume before applying for a specific role. 
  • Update your Handshake Profile and begin attending employer events to learn about industries and internship experiences 
  • Sign-up for LinkedIn - Use our LinkedIn resources to help you build your profile and networking connections 

Explore Career Interests 

  • Continue to research career paths, industries, job titles, and organizations that align with your interests. Learn about skill and education requirements for each path and consider minors, elective courses, or certifications to help build additional skills 
  • Utilize What Can I Do with the Major and our career guides on Occupational Handbook and O*Net to conduct research 

Start Building Your Network & Related Experiences 

  • Explore the LinkedIn Alumni tool and see where our WP Alumni work. Consider Connecting with them to build your network!
  • Join a campus club or organization 
  • Conduct Informational Interviews with professionals or alumni in your field of interest 
  • Gain work experience through a campus job or federal work-study community-based employment program 
  • Consider applying for a professional mentor with the Pesce Family Mentoring Institute
  • Attend career center workshops, networking events, panels, and career fairs to build your network 

Focus on your Academics

  • Meet with your Academic Advisor three times per semester to stay on course with your academic plan
  • Connect with your faculty to gain industry insight and learn how to apply the skills gained in your coursework to your goals  

Get Prepared

  • Meet with your Career Coach to secure relevant first-hand experience and earn credit for your experience. This can include internships, volunteer work, part-time jobs, research projects, and more. 
  • Create or update your resume & cover letter using our resume resources. Customize both before applying for a specific role. 
  • Update your Handshake Profile & upload your approved resume to your profile. 
  • Updated your LinkedIn Profile - add peers, faculty, campus staff, mentors, alumni, and employers to your connections
  • Develop your elevator pitch and practice your interviewing skills through our Mock Interview appointments and programs
  • Complete your Career & Professional Success Digital Badge 

    Start Building Your Network & Related Experiences 

    • Explore the LinkedIn Alumni tool and see where our WP Alumni work. Consider Connecting with them to build your network!
    • Get involved and take on a leadership role in a campus  club or organization  
    • Conduct Informational Interviews with professionals or alumni in your field of interest 
    • Gain work experience through a campus job or federal work-study community-based employment program 
    • Consider applying for a professional mentor with the Pesce Family Mentoring Institute
    • Attend employer events, including information sessions, meet and greets, and career fairs. View all upcoming events on Handshake.
    • Explore industry- and affinity-based resources on our Career Communities Hub
    • Complete a LinkedIn Learning Certification or course to develop skills employers want in new hires 
    • Considering graduate school? Begin prepping for entrance exams and researching programs

    Focus on your Academics

    • Meet with your Academic Advisor two times per semester to stay on course with your academic plan
    • Connect with your faculty to gain industry insight and learn how to apply the skills gained in your coursework to your goals  

    Get Prepared

    • Meet with your Career Coach to start your job search or solidify your graduate school plan
    • Consider another internship or experiential learning activity for the Fall or Spring of your final year
    • Update your resume & cover letter using our resume resources. Customize both before applying for a specific role. 
    • Update your Handshake Profile & upload your approved resume to your profile. 
    • Update your LinkedIn Profile - add peers, faculty, campus staff, mentors, alumni, and employers to your connections
    • Conduct at least one mock interview with your Career Coach
    • Be prepared for offer negotiation. Research location-based salary needs and average salaries for your industry. View our resources and attend career workshops related to salary negotiation 

      Build Your Connections & Apply for opportunities 

      • Begin actively applying for jobs on Handshake, company websites or industry job boards. Check out our list!
      • Explore the LinkedIn Alumni tool and see where our WP Alumni work. Consider Connecting with them to build your network!
      • Consider applying for a professional mentor with the Pesce Family Mentoring Institute
      • Expand your network, join the WP Alumni group on LinkedIn and connect with professional associations in your industry
      • Attend employer events, including information sessions, meet and greets, and career fairs. 
      • Explore industry- and affinity-based resources on our Career Communities Hub
      • Complete a LinkedIn Learning Certification or course to develop skills employers want in new hires 

      Focus on your Academics

      • Review, confirm, and plan for completion of graduation requirements with your advisor 
      • Apply for graduation on WP 
      • Connect with your faculty to gain industry insight and learn how to apply the skills gained in your coursework to your goals  

      First Destination Survey 

      • Once you know where you’re headed after graduation, complete our First Destination Survey in Handshake

      Resources you need for your Career Journey

       Explore Majors

      Your major doesn’t define your career path! Explore options using the below resources. 

      PathwayU What Can You Do With Your Major?
      ONETONLINE  Occupational Outlook Handbook 

      Resumes play a crucial role in the job search process and are often the first chance you have to make a positive impression on a prospective employer. This document allows you to showcase your skills, experience, knowledge, and background in an effective manner. By presenting clear, concise, and well-organized information, you can demonstrate your value as a candidate and increase your chances of landing an interview.

      General Format Guidelines 

      • Length: 1 page ideal, 2 pages Maximum
      • Font: Use standard 10-12 point font and use select font styles (bold, italic, all caps) to highlight important elements
      • Margins: 0.5-1 inch margins all around 
      • Descriptions: Use bullets to describe experiences, and avoid using paragraphs

      Resume Categories 

      Sections in a resume help keep the document organized and easy for readers to scan. The sections should be listed in the order of importance and within each section, items should be listed in reverse chronological order beginning with the most recent position or role. 

      Required Categories 

      • Contact Information

        • Place at the top of the resume and include name, email, and phone number. 

      • Education Section

        • Include degree name, university name, and graduation or expected graduation date. List schools in reverse chronological order beginning with the most institution. 

      Strongly Recommended Categories 

      • Related Experience
      • Skills 
      • Volunteer Experience 
      • Campus Involvement  
      • Honors & Awards 

      Additional Categories 

      • Academic Projects 
      • Research Experience
      • Publications 
      • Presentations
      • Teaching or Clinical Rotations  

      Cover Letter

      Cover letters serve as a bridge between your resume and the specific job to which you are applying. Its purpose is to introduce you and expand on the experience in your resume. It will also serve as a reflection of your writing skills, so be sure to proofread and review your document. Your cover letter needs to be specific to the organization and position.

      General Guidelines 

      • Keep your cover letter formal, polished, and written in active voice
      • Varied sentence structure– don’t begin all sentences with “I”
      • Should be grammatically correct with no spelling or punctuation errors
      • Targeted to the needs of the company and requirements of the position
      • The font and formatting should match that of your resume
      • Cover letters should be in a business letter format
      • Keep length to 1 page and 3-4 paragraphs at maximum

      Body of the letter 

      • First Paragraph (Why Them?): Introduce yourself, mention what role you are applying for, and state why are you interested in applying.
      • Second Paragraph (Why You?): State what qualifications you can bring to the position, and make connections to the qualifications in the job description and your skills. 
      • Third Paragraph (Next Steps): Reiterate your interest, express gratitude, and let them know what you want next: an interview or an opportunity to further discuss your qualifications.
      • Signature: Use "Sincerely" followed by your full name. 

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      With over 600 million users across the globe, LinkedIn is the go-to resource for building your professional networking, conducting career research, and managing your professional identity.  LinkedIn is an asset to your professional development toolkit. This platform is instrumental to your career development from your first year in college to retirement! 

      Below we have compiled a list of helpful LinkedIn resources for your career development journey that will help you build a dynamic profile, grow your network, and build your personal brand. 

      Get Started with LinkedIn