As the westernmost institution in the UNC system, Western Carolina University provides
educational opportunities to residents of the state’s western region and attracts
students from around the globe to explore the area’s vast resources.
At Western Carolina University, we view our admissions process as our opportunity
to build the community that defines our institution. We look for people eager to explore
and ready to redefine success.
Programs and courses at Western Carolina are designed to provide hands-on, applied
experience. Students engage with communities across the region as they practice their
profession in real-world environments.
Western Carolina’s unique mountain location helps fuel a vibrant campus community
with more than 170 student clubs and organizations as well as a busy performing arts
calendar and the campus’s own adventure guide service.
Western Carolina is home to 16 Southern Conference athletic teams with more than 375
student athlete competitors. WCU strives to inspire student-athletes to compete like
champions on the field and in the classroom.
Western Carolina was founded to serve the region it calls home, and that has not changed.
WCU continues to focus on regional development initiatives, engaged service and community
programs. It also partners with alumni and donors to ensure access to higher education
for deserving students in the region and beyond.
These are uncertain times and the Center for Career and Professional Development is here for you - current students, soon to be graduates, and alumni. We are offering appointments
via Zoom and quick resume reviews via our email, careerservices@wcu.edu.
Job and internship postings have slowed as employers focus on retooling their services
and strategies as a result of COVID-19. You may be aware that unemployment is on the
rise as companies make difficult financial decisions. However, some companies are
still searching for new employees and interns now and we know that hiring will begin
to increase again, we just don’t know when.
This page has been created specifically to support your job and internship search
during COVID-19. Whether you are looking for full-time, part-time summer jobs or internships,
these strategies and resources will help you make your next steps.
Center for Career and Professional Development Resources
Virtual Appointments: Students schedule via myWCU. Click Advising/Tutoring in the Quicklinks > Get Assistance > Select our office > Complete
topic/staff/time/date selection > Receive an email from your counselor with Zoom meeting
information.
Drop-Ins: Virtual drop-ins are replacing our 10-15 minute in person sessions. If you need a
quick resume or cover letter review, or have a career-related question, email careerservices@wcu.edu.
Live Chat for Seniors: Log in to JobCat2.0 and look for “Chat with Career Center” on the right-hand side. Chat is available
Monday - Friday, 8am-noon and 1-4pm.
JobCat 2.0 - Job and internship board (Alumni, use this link) Big Interview - Video curriculum on interviewing, resumes, and negotiating; practice interviews; answer builder; and more - many interviews are being conducting over video platforms,
Big Interview is a great resource to help you prepare Vault - Explore career fields via career guidebooks, day in the life articles, video interviews
and more Focus2 - Self-assessment to help with major and career exploration - use access code: Catamount Professional Handbook - Developed by the CCPD as your guide to resumes, cover letters, interviewing, LinkedIn,
and more Resources for Diverse Students - Job boards and resources focused on specific identity groups
In the current climate of uncertainty, finding a job, internship, or other opportunity
could be challenging. These seven strategies will help you move forward with your
search and use this time well to both find and prepare for opportunities. Keep in
mind that if you aren't finding opportunities in your field, you can use this time
to become more competitive when opportunities do open back up. If you need resources
at this time, please see these compiled lists fromCenter for Service Learning and Community EngagementandWCU's COVID-19 page, particularly under Additional Resources.
Strategies
Details
Resources
1. Habits and routines
Create a schedule for your day and your job/internship search. Routines build certainty
and help you break your job search into smaller tasks and goals. Make a schedule and
stick to it. Dedicate time most days to focus on executing your strategies.
Clarify your skills and work interests. Be flexible. Think beyond job title to the type of work you enjoy, such as creating, researching,
project/event planning, educating, or coding. Look into unexpected industries to find
the kind of work you want. Be creative. What opportunities exist now that didn't before? What does your industry need most
now? Use tip #6 to help you find some answers for these questions and to gain more
insight into your field.
Now is the time to develop and polish your materials - resumes/CVs, cover letters,
etc. Focus on developing your professional brand. Practice your interviewing and video
interviewing skills with the CCPD or withBig Interview. (First time using Big Interview? Click the green register button and be sure to
use yourWCU emailaddress to sign up.) Be sure you are ready when hiring ramps back up.
Use this time to build your credentials and fill in gaps in your skillset. Use online
sites and keep an eye out for current free trials. Be sure to include these new skills
on your resume (we can help!). Lastly, build your expertise as a productive remote
worker.
Continue to gain valuable experience now through remote work, virtual volunteering,
and micro-internships. Use the resources to the right and on the other tabs in this
section to find opportunities. Reach out to your faculty and offer support on academic
projects or classes.
Develop your online presence to engage with professionals in your field. Build your
online marketing tools, such as LinkedIn or digital portfolios. Join conversations
on LinkedIn/Facebook, Twitter feeds, and professional discussion boards. Post articles
or resources. Reach out to ask for informational interviews.
The CCPD is here for you! Counselors are available during the semester and summer
- and seniors, you have lifetime services as alumni. As always, we are here for individualized
support while also offering online resources via our web site and social media platforms.
See the previous section for resources from our office
During COVID-19, use your traditional job search strategies: networking (digitally!),
targeted job boards, professional association job boards, JobCat2.0, proactive outreach
to companies, LinkedIn Job board, etc. Given the remote nature of most work places
right now, you may have more success looking for remote work, and we've compiled a
list of remote job boards below. Check out this great article from The Muse, "How to Find (and Land) a Remote Job That's Right for You." We also highly recommend LinkedIn's video series "Finding a Job during Challenging Economic Times."
For assistance with your job search, including help creating a customized search strategy
and tailored list of resources, make an appointment with one of our counselors. Finally,
when you do receive an offer, remember to negotiate your salary when possible. Use
Big Interview'snegotiating curriculumto help you prepare for that conversation.
The CCPD surveyed our employer contacts in NC regarding their current and projected
hiring plans. This is a comprehensive list of employers who reported currently hiring
as of late March 2020.
This is a crowdsourced up-to-date list of companies that are currently freezing any
hiring decisions. Given that it's crowdsourced, verify the information on a company's
page.
New remote jobs added daily dedicated for remote workers includes a blog to help remote
workers gain the information they need to find opportunities and specialized information
to help graduating seniors and college students find remote work.
Unfortunately, many companies are canceling their summer 2020 internships and research
opportunities while others are looking to shift to remote internships or still waiting
to decide. During COVID-19, use your traditional search strategies: networking (digitally!),
targeted job boards, professional association job boards, JobCat2.0, proactive outreach
to companies, LinkedIn Job board, etc. Given the remote nature of most work places
right now, you may have more success looking for remote internships, and we've compiled
a list of remote internship boards below. If you are seeking an internship for academic
credit, be sure to contact your faculty for guidance. Find more internship guidance
and resources on ourinternship page.
For assistance with your internship or summer research search, including help creating
a customized search strategy and tailored list of resources, make an appointment with
one of our counselors.
Crowdsourced list of up-to-date information on tech/developer internships (companies
still hiring listed at the bottom). Since this is crowdsourced, be sure to verify
information on company's page.
Comprehensive list maintained by Cornell University of opportunities across the country.
Be sure to check posting date and double check if older postings are still available.
List of summer research and internship opportunities for social sciences and humanities
Job Market Data and Implications for WCU Students
This presentation highlights COVID-19 relationed job market trends and predictions,
as well as possible implications for WCU's students. For speaker's notes, please download
this PDF version of this presentation.
