- Update your resume(s) and cover letter(s) in Handshake
- Verify your coursework requirements for graduation
- Attend career fairs and professional development events throughout the year
- Consider registering for ORIN 252 - Professional Development: Learn to leverage your knowledge and skills to build your professional brand
- Consistently be searching for employment on Handshake, CareerShift, company career pages, and other sources
- Invest at least three hours per week in your job search beginning nine months prior to graduation
- Schedule a practice interview
- Meet with a career development specialist for help evaluating or applying to graduate school
- Connect with your faculty and current/previous employers for potential references
- Broaden your network by reaching out to alumni, increasing presence on professional online networks, and joining organizations within your industry
It’s your future, so finish strong. Your plan is working, so don’t stop now. There are still plenty of opportunities to ensure your success after WVU. Career Services can provide information on subjects like, how to be successful your first year on the job, how to negotiate your salary, or adjusting to a new workplace. Even after you graduate, you can come back to us for additional training in areas like changing your career or working toward a leadership role with your employer.
You have some great networking opportunities in your WVU family. You can benefit from utilizing personal, social, and professional networks in the job search. Professors, employers, classmates, family members, and the Career Services team are rooting for you to land a great job. Ask people in your network about opportunities they are aware of that might interest you, and maybe they will have someone in their network to add to yours.
How to succeed in your first year on the job
Mountaineers go first, so go make a great first impression. How you perform and behave on your first year on the job sets the tone for the rest of your career. You should keep a positive attitude, dress professionally, and take initiative. Be sure to listen to the people around you, take notes, and learn what you can from the other people in your workplace. Don’t get involved in the office gossip, and remember to keep your personal life separate from your professional life. Always be looking for ways to grow and improve, and don't forget to keep up the good work.