WCU's Center for Career & Professional Development has been named a 2021-2022 Career Development College of Distinction recipient for our work integrating career exploration into the curriculum, providing accessible services, having highly trained staff, providing career four-year career plans to students, and cultivating employer and corporate partnerships.
Welcome to the Center for Career and Professional Development at Western Carolina University! We are here to help you find potential resources, gain skills, and plan your future career path. Please see below for some potential places to start. Remember you can always reach out to us at 828.227.7133, careerservices@wcu.edu, or by visiting us at our office in the Reid Building Room 150. We are on the backside of the building, and our entrance faces the small, metered parking lot (Lot 30).
Get lost? You can now GPS the Center for Career and Professional Development using your favorite GPS app! Or, give us a call at 828.227.7133.
Don't wait until you are ready to graduate to explore the types of careers WCU's majors will prepare you for. Use your time in school to test out different fields, jobs, and career paths to find what fits best with your skills, abilities, and interests.
DegreePlus is designed to give you opportunities to get involved in extracurricular activities that can provide the transferable skills you need to reach your goals for employment, graduate school, professional school, and other post-graduate plans.
Participation in career building experiences can help you to gain hands-on experience and make you a competitive candidate for future opportunities. It is important to supplement your academic learning with these types of activities.
Internships are one of the best ways to obtain real-world experience and skills. Often these opportunities can lead to full-time job offers and will increase the likelihood of securing a job by graduation and receiving a higher salary.
The presence of job and internship announcements provided through our JobCat system does not indicate an endorsement or recommendation from WCU or the CCPD. Students should remain vigilant to fraudulent postings and use discretion when applying (see our handout below for common red flags). If you see any posting that may be fraudulent or discriminatory on JobCat please call CCPD at 828.227.7133.
Often, the most important step toward securing your first job is a professional resume and effective cover letter that showcases what you can add to the organization where you hope to work. Don't underestimate the importance of a carefully written and professionally presented package.
After impressing your future employer with your resume, you'll need effective interviewing skills. We highly recommend participating with us in mock interviews or using our Big Interview system to practice prior to a job or internship interview.
Use this link If you are interested in on-campus job searching.
Job search strategies should be multifaceted and tailored to each individual student's goals. We help students identify the variety of job search tools and resources that will help them achieve their next steps.
The presence of job and internship announcements provided through our JobCat system does not indicate an endorsement or recommendation from WCU or the CCPD. Students should remain vigilant to fraudulent job postings and use discretion when applying (see our handout below for common red flags). If you see any posting that may be fraudulent or discriminatory on JobCat please call CCPD at 828.227.7133.
Choosing to further your education is an important step in broadening career options. For some, a graduate-level degree is a requirement in their field of study; for others, a graduate degree will make them more marketable and competitive in today’s ever-changing world of work.