Career Engagement Office Offers In-Person or Virtual Appointments
Students – All students have a Handshake account. To schedule appointments with a staff member, login to your Handshake account and schedule your career development appointment. You can choose an in-person or virtual appointment, Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Effective August 12, 2024 – The Career Engagement Office is located in the Plass Learning Resources Center, suite 219.
What to Expect from Us
Career Engagement provides assistance to Washburn University students in two major areas:
- Deciding on majors and careers, including career counseling
- Job search preparation and execution
It is the goal of Career Engagement to help students learn about and develop lifelong skills, techniques, and resources that will help them with career development. Career Engagement is not an employment agency; we refer all qualified candidates, but do not recommend individual students to employers, nor individual employers to students.
Our services are free to Washburn University students. Alumni services are free as well, with the exception of fee-based advanced career assessments. Services to community members are available, with the exception of advanced career assessments and Handshake.
Services For Students
What is Handshake?
Washburn University's new job and internship board and scheduling system. With this customizable online tool, you can discover new opportunities, connect with great companies and non-profits and showcase your best self to employers.
One of the great things about Handshake is that it can be a totally personalized experience. Based on the preferences that you set, Handshake will show you the type of internships and jobs that you are qualified for and might interest you. You can browse by location, industry and many other categories based on what you are looking for.
- You'll discover awesome jobs and cool companies, both in the Midwest and all over the country.
- You can connect with employers and apply for jobs directly through Handshake.
- You can customize your dashboard and "favorite" jobs that you're excited about.
- You can schedule appointments directly with Career Engagement staff, if you want to go over your application materials or anything else career/calling-related.
If you're reading this as a current student, then guess what? You already have an account in Handshake - all you need to do is activate it!
What is Focus 2 Assessment?
Take the FREE FOCUS 2 career assessment to find out more about occupations that might be a good fit for you. [Use ACCESS CODE: ichabods]
Career Engagement Events
On-Campus Jobs Fair
Students, attend this Weeks of Welcome event to explore on-campus job opportunities for the fall! August 22, 10am-1pm, in Washburn B (Memorial Union).
Suit-Up Event at JC Penney
Part of Career Week @ WU – In partnership with JC Penney, this event allows students to purchase business attire at a significant discount. Check out the events section in Handshake for details about the event on September 5 from 4-7pm at JC Penney’s in Topeka!
Fall Resume Roadshow
Part of Career Week @ WU – Quick resume reviews by local employers or Career Engagement staff. Students, there’s no appointment needed! Drop by with your resume on September 9, Morgan Hall Fireplace, between 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Career & Internship Expo
Part of Career Week @ WU – Students, attend this event to explore career opportunities, look for internships, and network with employers to find your next opportunity! View attending employers in your Handshake account and make your plan for September 11, 2024: In-Person @ Lee Arena, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Majors & Minors Fair
Students, attend this event to engage with faculty from academic programs across campus. It’s a great opportunity to explore academic majors, possible minors, and to learn about WTE options!
September 25, 10am-2pm, in Washburn A/B (Memorial Union).
Health Care Career Fair
- Students interested in a career in health care, attend this event to explore career opportunities and network with employers to find your next opportunity! View attending employers in your Handshake account and make your plan for October 9, 2024: In-Person in Washburn A/B (Memorial Union), 10 a.m. – 1p.m.
Career Fair Strategies That Work
by Kathy DouglasIf you are in a Google group, are a member of a family, or have met someone at your college or university orientation who is still your friend, you already know how to network. We meet, form bonds, text, and call our friends to share good news. As a species, we are natural networkers—our survival depends on it.
Schmoozing at career fairs and events is what most people think of when defining networking—standing out in a crowd, making a lasting impression that will land you a job or internship. The reality for most mortals is, however, that although it is important to practice small talk and have good interpersonal skills, most of us do not exude extraordinarily magnetic personalities.
Working magic in a crowd, in fact, is not the most important part of networking.
Great networkers know what any career fair recruiter will tell you: At the end of the day, recruiters’ feet hurt, their voices are raw, and aside from a few exceptional interactions, they have spoken with so many individuals they don’t remember who they spoke with about what.
This is why the real art of job-search networking comes in after the actual fair—the follow up.
When advising students on strategies for two major annual career fairs (one for 1,300+ students from eight universities; one for 250 students from two universities), I emphasize four things:
- Strategically select top employers to visit: Quick Internet research provides information to help determine which employers align best with your career goals. Arrive early and visit your top choices while you (and the recruiters) are fresh.
- Ask good questions: Advanced research will help you prepare smart questions. After a quick introduction, ask a question about recruiting level or specific practice areas to be sure you are not wasting your time or theirs—Are you hiring at the master’s level? Are you interviewing for your renewables practice? If you already know what they are recruiting for, start there—“I’d like to learn more about the project areas for the policy internships.”
- After discussions, find a place to stop and take notes: Notes don’t have to be extensive. I use business cards and/or a small notebook to write the reason I want to follow up, contact information, and content of conversation.
- Follow up within a few days: Decide which leads are of interest and follow up with an e-mail that picks up where the discussion left off. If you have been directed to an online application, complete it, send the recruiter a thank you and let him or her know you applied. If you connected personally with a recruiter, but there is no immediate opportunity for you, send him or her a thank you note and a LinkedIn request. There is no need to follow up on every single contact. It’s OK to be strategic.
If you have taken good notes after a productive conversation, it is easy to follow up. And most often you are doing the recruiter a favor. The work you put in to making the recruiter’s job easier, whether it results in an immediate outcome for you or not, is a positive and generous act.
And you never know where follow-up will lead. Through courteous follow-up and strategic networking, job seekers get interviews, discover the hidden job market, and learn the inside scoop on organizations.
Kathy Douglas is the associate director in the Career Development Office, Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. She works with a global population of dynamic graduate students interested in high-impact, solution-based environmental careers, advanced research, and thought leadership.
Courtesy of the National Association of Colleges and Employers
Here's another article about Career Fair Success! http://www.careerealism.com/job-fair-tips-acing/
Four Steps to Career Fair Networking
by Kathy Douglas
Career Fair Prep
- Perfect your resume.
- Get your professional dress ready (typically business casual or business dress).
- Practice introducing yourself.
- Find out which employers are attending.
- Research the employers you want to meet with.
- Prepare specific and general questions.
What to Bring
- Business cards
- Padfolio, notepaper, and pen
- 10-15 resumes (depending on fair size)
During the Fair
- Walk around to meet employers alone—you might have friends at the fair who you check in with, but don't travel as a posse.
- Limit your give-away item collecting.
- Introduce yourself with a smile, a handshake (if recruiter offers a hand), and a few relevant details about yourself, your education/experience, and/or interest in the employer.
- Speak slowly and confidently.
- Be strategic—talk to your top three employers first, others if you have time.
- Take quick breaks between rounds of visits to freshen up and take a breather.
- Don't dominate recruiters, be mindful of other students waiting in line.
- Ask about opportunities and next steps if there are specific openings.
- Wait for cues from recruiter regarding resumes—some will be collecting them, others might direct you to follow up by e-mail, or apply online.
- Get the appropriate contact information and/or ask for a business card.
- Thank recruiters after speaking with them.
- Take notes as soon as you walk away from a table.
After the Fair
- Take a few minutes immediately after fair to sort through your notes and make a list of follow-up items.
- Follow up and thank recruiters of particular interest. (You don't have to follow up with everyone.)
- Follow up with online applications, or by sending a resume and cover letter to the appropriate contact.
- Reach out via e-mail or by telephone to reps who were not at fair, but who work with your level of education/field.
- Set up informational interviews with individuals at companies/organizations of particular interest to you, and with alumni in these organizations.
- Check in with your career office with specific questions.
Kathy Douglas is the Associate Director Career Development Office, Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies.
Courtesy of the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
Good Questions To Ask at the Interview
You've probably heard it a million times: A job interview should be a two-way conversation. You may assume that means someone asks questions and you offer answers. But that's only half of the conversation. Interviewers expect you to ask questions, too—and asking thoughtful questions can polish your image as a job seeker.
Asking questions is one way to show that you are interested in the job. It shows you've researched the organization and you've heard what the interviewer has told you about the job. Your questions also will help you see how the job and the organization fit into your career goals.
When preparing questions before the interview, your first stop should be the organization's website—don't want to ask questions that are already covered online. Next, pay close attention to details that come to light during the interview—you'll want to include questions on information you hear.
Here are examples of questions you can ask (and why you should ask them):
What does a typical work day look like? What is a typical week like in this job?
(You're showing interest in life on the job in the organization.)With whom would I be working? Who would be my supervisor?
(You're looking seriously at your potential place in the organization.)What are the challenges facing the person in this position? What are your expectations for this role?
(You're asking about your fit within the company and your future with the organization.)Why did you choose to work for this company?
(Ask this question of anyone you meet during your interview. It gives the interviewer a chance to "sell" the company and gives you insight into what others think about working for the organization.)How would you describe your company culture?
(Are you and the company are well matched? Is this the environment you want to join?)What is the natural career progression for employees with my skill set?
(You're demonstrating that you're thinking about a long-term future with the company.)Does this organization have a formal mentor or coaching program? How is it structured?
(This illustrates that you are interested in being a good employee and improving on the job.)What kind of internal and external training do you provide?
(This question illustrates your desire to excel in the job.)After you've asked your questions, restate your interest in the organization.
Then, ask for the job—this reiterates your interest in joining the organization.
Finally, ask these few last questions:
- What is the next step in the hiring process?
- When will you make your decision?
- May I call you?
- When is a good time?
Courtesy of the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
Five Tips for the First Day of Your Internship
by Chaim Shapiro
Internship season is about to begin. As most colleges begin to wind down their academic year, companies across the country are getting ready for the influx of interns that will work for them over the summer.
Career Engagement professionals will spend a lot of time over the next few weeks helping their students prepare for their internships. To that end, please feel free to share Top 5 Tips for the First Day of Your Internship with your students!
Internships are an incredible opportunity, and you need to hit the ground running to take full advantage.
1) Understand the Opportunity There are plenty of jokes about interns spending their summer making coffee and wasting their time with busy work. Don’t fall for that misconception. Companies have no need to waste their time or your time, and they don't need cheap labor.
Companies have internship programs so that they can test drive the talent. They want to see you and how well you work in a professional setting. Take your responsibilities seriously from day one. A successful internship is the best way into many companies!
2) Recognize that They WANT to Hire You Most interns don’t realize that the company is invested in your success. If you were hired as an intern, that means they believe you have the right skills to make an excellent full-time employee. The human resources professionals who run the internship programs are judged based on their “conversion rate” from interns to full-time employees.
From the company’s perspective, a higher conversion rate means that the internship program was well recruited and well run. That means they want to hire you. Give them what they want!
3) Know the Company This may seem obvious, but employees tend to be passionate about their company. Make sure you know everything there is to know about the company before you start. Your knowledge and expertise will help you stand out compared to less-prepared interns.
4) Learn Your Role Most companies hire interns to work in a specific subdivision of the company. Learn the mission of that department and your role in it. Success begins with mastering your role and exceeding the expectations for your position. It is much easier to be successful when you know what you are supposed to accomplish.
5) Network, Network, Network! Network as much and as often as you can during your internship. Do not miss a company social or networking event. Attend the company barbecue, networking events, socials, etc. Try to make a positive impression on a large number of people. Your network will be essential for your future success, both at that company and beyond.
Chaim Shapiro is the Director of the Office for Student Success at Touro College.
Courtesy of the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
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