There are a number of resources that are still available to students virtually, one of them being Career & Professional Development (CPD).
CPD is committed to supporting students during this time, including those who are graduating this year.
“This is the perfect time for graduating students to get serious with our office,” said Dr. Megan Walters, associate director and career coach. “We can take this time to make sure all application documents are in great shape, and that students are prepared to market themselves.”
Since moving online, more than 1,750 students have logged onto Handshake and applied to more than 1,200 jobs and internships. CPD has also held over 100 virtual career coaching appointments.
Here are some of the resources available to students virtually:
One-on-one career coaching
CPD staff are here to help you navigate every step of the process of finding an internship, landing a job, changing career paths, and more. If you need coaching on strategizing or planning your career, you can make an appointment with a career coach. They can help you strengthen your resume and cover letter, decide on a different career path, prepare for interviews, plan for graduate school, and more. Virtual appointments can be made at cpd.uncg.edu/students/.
Mock interviews
“One of the things we are really excited about as a result of everyone moving online is that so many employers have introduced a virtual interview component into their hiring process, and we feel like students will now be more familiar and comfortable with that than they were before,” said Walters.
The mock interviews that were previously offered in person are now done virtually or over the phone. CPD has also introduced a platform called InterviewStream where students can create their own interview by choosing to practice certain questions or choosing a general interview tailored to the career or job they want to interview for. An avatar asks the questions and records the answers, so students can see what they look and sound like, giving them the opportunity to reflect on their answers. The recorded interview can also be sent to a career coach to go over with the student afterward. Students can create a free account with their UNCG email address at uncg.interviewstream.com.
Handshake
Handshake is CPD’s career management platform. This software is an integrated one-stop university recruitment platform featuring over 400,000 employers posting internship and job opportunities. The software promotes jobs to students whose profiles match the job description. Students can also access virtual workshops by corporate partners. Students can log into Handshake at handshake.uncg.edu.
“There are thousands of job opportunities on Handshake, and companies are posting new jobs every single day. This hasn’t stopped, and that is an indicator to us that students are going to be able to find the jobs that they are looking for, even in the current climate,” said Walters.
VMock
This virtual resume review system allows you to upload your resume and receive real-time feedback to improve your resume score. VMock scores and feedback are focused on presentation, competencies, and impact. Students can log into VMock at cpd.uncg.edu/vmock/.
Going Global
Going Global is a resource for those living in the United States who want to complete a job search abroad. The platform helps manage logistical issues, like visas and work authorizations, and provides students with a guide to what the professional culture looks like in the country they are seeking employment in, like hiring cycles, resume formats, and more. It is also a great resource for international students trying to navigate the job search in America. Going Global can be accessed through the Resources tab on Handshake.
CareerShift
CareerShift allows students to search, select, and store job listings from all job boards and all company job postings. They can get up-to-date contact information, including email addresses, for millions of companies, and access in-depth information about contacts and companies posting jobs.
Biweekly newsletters with job opportunities
Undergraduate students can be on the lookout for a newsletter in their email inbox from Handshake that highlights job and internship opportunities specific to his or her academic discipline. Now that many students have left the Greensboro area, these newsletters will also include jobs in Raleigh, Charlotte, and other areas.
Walters encourages students to take advantage of the convenience of their office being virtual.
“If students can spend some time with our office and other campus resources while they’re social distancing, I think that can pay off big time.”
Story by Alexandra McQueen, University Communications
