Career Development

The CCD, in conjunction with UC faculty members, has developed a Professional Preparation model designed to help students with the transition from the classroom to the workplace.  The activities, tools and programs of the CCD compliment the model and expose students to the following six components:

Applied Learning– Applied learning encompasses situations where students can apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings.  This includes internships, employment opportunities, job shadowing, and academic capstone projects performed in partnership with local employers.

Mentorship– Many students at UC are paired with mentors from the professional and academic communities.  The CCD encourages mentoring and supports the students and faculty members by providing referrals to potential mentors.

Certifications– Industry-specific certifications can enhance graduates’ employability by demonstrating specialized knowledge and skills.  It is also commonplace in many industries to obtain certifications above and beyond a college degree.  The CCD provides resources and information to aid students who are interested in pursuing certifications across a wide variety of industries.

Leadership and Networking– Networking and leadership skills are indispensable in today’s workforce.  The CCD hosts several events to give students the opportunity to build their professional networks.  There are also a number of student organizations, athletic teams, student government, fraternities, and sororities where students can practice their leadership skills.

Exploration and Development– Through the CCD, students can take personality and career assessments and receive personal career coaching to help them discover career paths in which they can excel.  The CCD also provides resume-building tools, mock interview software, and a job posting site for the benefit of students and alumni.

Innovation– The University of Charleston is a leader in innovation and entrepreneurial thinking. Students can hone their innovative skills at the Russell and Martha Wehrle Innovation Center or participate in the I-3 Innovation Showcase, held every April at UC.

We strive to ensure that our online students have access to the same level of services as our “in-seat” students.  Online students can always contact the CCD for personal career coaching.  When possible, we run live-streams of our on-campus events or host videoconferences with WebEx software to allow our online students to interact with guests, just like in-seat students are able to do.  The schedule of virtual career development events is listed below:

Virtual Fall Career Fair. Online students will be able to view participating employers in advance and request interviews over Webex or phone (depending on recruiter preferences).  Just like in-person interviews, time slots are limited and you may not be selected.  You will need to work through the CCD to deliver your resume to the recruiter to be considered for an interview.

Graduate School and Study Abroad informational sessions.  Online students are able to view the participants of our grad school and study abroad fair.  Then, students may request information from specific schools and study abroad providers.  The CCD will arrange informational sessions via Webex or conference call.

Career Development Week Livestream. The sessions from career development week will be livestreamed and made available as recordings after the sessions are over.  Check back for a detailed schedule of presentations.

Virtual Spring Career Fair. Similar to the Fall Career Fair, students will be able to see participating employers ahead of time and request interviews via Webex or conference call.

Etiquette Workshop Livestream.  Online students will be able to watch the Etiquette Workshop portion of the Etiquette and Networking Dinner held in the spring.

Virtual Networking Session. Online students who are nominated by their program directors will be able to participate in a virtual networking session with the professionals who participated in the Etiquette and Networking Diner.  The session will be conducted with Webex software.

Exclusive career development seminars for online students. From time to time, career development sessions will be conducted exclusively for online students.  Topics will include resume development, writing cover letters, getting into grad school, and more.

As a graduate of UC, you have the same access to resources and programs of the CCD as our current students. You are welcome to attend our career fairs and seminars, and we encourage you to utilize Handshake, our online job board. Browse the links on the left for more information.

Personal career coaching

It can be difficult to find resources geared toward career changers. There is a plethora of career resources available for new graduates, but not as much for those in mid-career. The CCD staff is experienced in coaching adult students, and we encourage you to make an appointment if you are planning on making a career move. If you do not live in the Charleston area, no problem! The CCD can arrange a videoconference or conference call with you.

Share your knowledge with a current student

Our alumni frequently return to UC to serve as mentors or speak to classes. Our most valued mentors are alumni because they can relate to current UC students better than anyone. Several programs pair students with professional mentors, so we are always searching for more people who are interested in sharing their time and knowledge with students.

The CCD also works with faculty members to find guest speakers. In accordance with our Professional Preparation initiatives, we give students the opportunity to interact with professionals from their respective fields of study as often as possible.

If you are interested in being a mentor or guest speaker, please contact Travis Kahle, Director of the CCD, today!

Post a job

As alum with professional work experience, you may be in a position that requires you to recruit and hire new employees. Remember the CCD when it comes time to post a new job. We can put the job on our Handshake job posting system at no cost to you. We can also work with faculty members to identify viable candidates for your organization. Remember that current students and alumni have access to Handshake, so even if your job posting requires work experience, the CCD can still help you identify candidates.

About Our Students

Our students will amaze you! Through our focus on outcomes-based education skills and abilities such as decision-making, problem solving, leadership and teamwork — critical for success in today’s market — are at the forefront of student education. UC students are uniquely prepared to move to the professional world.

Posting Jobs at UC

UC uses Handshake for its student job board. If your company already uses Handshake, simply add UC as one of your schools. If you’re new to Handshake, sign up at www.joinhandshake.com. You can also contact CCD Director Travis Kahle for assistance in setting up an account.

How Internships Benefit Employers

An “internship of quality” means much for quality employers. The UC intern you sponsor will be well prepared to meet the demands of professionalism you require.

From day one, a UC student is focused on two major goals:

1. To obtain an actual job education
2. To develop a favorable reputation regarding their job performance

They begin with the commitment to do their best.

UC interns are “employer-ready.” Through course and individual instruction, our students are familiarized with the requisites of professionalism as well as needed on-the-job skills. Indeed, with all course work focused on key skills such as critical thinking, ethical practice, teamwork, leadership, and communication, UC students offer much for top-notch recruiters.

Statistics repeatedly show that students hired from internship placement have longer retention rates, show more rapid advancement, and have higher quality performance than new hires off the street. Our Internship Learning Contract guarantees that both the intern and sponsor will gain from the experience of working together.

In sponsoring and mentoring UC interns, your selection as an “employer of quality” will be recognized as the deepening of community involvement it truly represents. You will be an active participant in the promotion of new ties between the academic and business communities.

The CCD hosts a variety of fairs, seminars, and other programs throughout the year that bring together students, employers, graduate school representatives, and community members.

UConnect

The CCD hosts an annual UConnect Career Fair. We know that both employers and students want career fairs to be valuable experiences, so we require students to pre-register through our Handshake software.  We also ask employers to provide a list of positions for which they will be hiring ahead of time.  This way, employers and students can be introduced in advance, making their interactions at the career fair much more valuable.

Graduate School and Study Abroad Fair

At the University of Charleston, we have a great tradition of preparing students for advanced levels of education.  The second annual Graduate School and Study Abroad Fair will be on September 26th.  Students will be able to explore a variety of graduate programs from schools all across the region and beyond.  This event is also an opportunity for students to explore study abroad programs.  We encourage study abroad as a way to gain new perspectives and learn how to adjust to unfamiliar situations.  Currently, the University of Charleston works with four reputable study abroad providers- KEI, CAPA, AIFS, and Semester at Sea.

If you are a recruiter for a school or program and would like to be included in our Graduate School and Study Abroad Fair, please contact Travis Kahle, CCD Director, at the number below.  Registration is free!

Career Development Week

Career Development Week features a series of seminars on various career development topics.  Recruiters, business owners, UC alumni, and other career development professionals typically conduct the sessions.  All sessions are recorded for those who are unable to attend but would like to brush up on specific areas of career development.

Etiquette and Networking Dinner

The Etiquette and Networking Dinner has become one of the most successful and well-received events conducted by the CCD.  Students are nominated by their program directors to participate in the event.  Community leaders are invited to attend and share their knowledge and experiences with the student nominees.  The evening begins with an etiquette workshop followed by a meet-and-greet with hors d’oeuvres.  The highlight of the event is a formal dinner in the beautiful Erma Byrd Gallery overlooking the Kanawha River and state capitol.

For many students, it’s their first experience with professional networking.  Networking is included as one of our six core competencies for professional preparation.  It is an invaluable skill in today’s job market, and it’s a necessity in many industries for business development.

UC Students have had internships with:

• American Cancer Society
• American Red Cross
• AMM Architects and Engineers
• Boone County Schools
• Brickstreet Insurance
• Chapman Technical Group
• Charles Ryan Associates
• Charleston Area Medical Center
• Charleston Ballet
• Chase Bank
• ESPN
• Geico
• Jackson Hewitt Tax Service
• Jackson Kelly, PLLC
• Kanawha County Schools
• Maple Creative
• Merrill Lync
• Mission Savvy
• Modern Woodmen of America
• National Travel
• Rainmaker, Inc.
• Spilman, Thomas & Battle Law Firm
• The Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences
• The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation
• The WV Power
• Thomas Health Systems
• Walt Disney World
• WV Dept. of Environmental Protection
• WV Insurance Commissioner’s Office
• WV Radio Corporation
• WV State Treasurer’s Office