Office of Professional Development & Community Engagement

Job Search

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The first step in searching for a job is to know what you are looking for. The Office of Professional Development and Community Engagement (PDCE) helps you clarify your goals so you can conduct a focused, effective search.

Get Focused: Clarify Your Goals

A successful job search starts with setting goals and gaining focus around your interests, strengths, values, and preferred work environments. You can do that by:

• Researching career paths, industries, and roles that match your academic background and interests.
• Making an appointment with a career advisor to discuss your goals and identify job search strategies best suited to your interests and career readiness competencies.

Take Action: Launch Your Search

Once you start searching, you will want to combine multiple strategies rather than relying on a single source. Effective job seekers:

• Respond to posted and publicized opportunities through platforms such as Handshake, employer websites, and job boards recommended by the PDCE.
• Research and contact potential employers directly to express interest, inquire about opportunities, and build relationships before positions are posted.
• Establish and utilize a network of professionals, friends, family, faculty, and alumni —especially through LinkedIn and the Professional Networking Symposium—to uncover "hidden" opportunities and referrals.

Resume Ready? Build Your Professional Toolkit

Documenting your experiences is essential to a strong job search. As you prepare for internships and full-time roles, the PDCE helps you ensure your professional toolkit is packed and ready to go. You may be surprised at the skills you have developed through coursework, leadership, service, athletics, campus employment, and other involvements that can be woven into your resume, cover letters, and LinkedIn profile to make you stand out to employers.

Determine What Sets You Apart

Employers seek candidates who can demonstrate key career readiness competencies suchas career and self-development, communication, critical thinking, leadership,professionalism, teamwork, equity and inclusion, and technology. To highlight what sets you apart:

• Review the skill areas and competencies employers look for when hiring interns and new graduates, and identify where you already demonstrate these behaviors.
• Reect on experiences from student organizations and leadership roles, academicprojects, research, volunteering, service learning, athletics, and employment that show your strengths in these areas.
• Work with the PDCE to translate these experiences into strong bullet points,achievement statements, and examples you can use in resumes, cover letters,interviews, and networking conversations.

The PDCE is ready to partner with you at every stage—from clarifying goals and building your toolkit to applying, interviewing, and negotiating offers—so you can move condently toward your next step after Westminster.