Career and Leadership Development

Common Questions

What can Career & Leadership Development do for me?

The Career & Leadership Development office, located in the University Center, Room 146, provides services and programs that you will want to use at one time or another while attending the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Our programs and services are designed to assist all students, from the time they begin their career decision-making process until they find that important job following graduation. Alumni can also take advantage of these services when they decide to change employers or careers.

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How can I get help choosing a major or a career direction?

The Career & Leadership Development office offers individual counseling, as well as a credit class, to assist students, alumni, and others with these important decisions. From choosing a major to thoroughly planning a career, Career & Leadership Development can help you at any level of career development. With an emphasis on self-awareness, our individual counseling and credit class all include: some assessment of values, personality, skills, and interests; the opportunity to research alternatives; the decision-making process; and goal-setting/planning.

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How can individual counseling help me?

Throughout the year, counselors conduct individual counseling appointments. The benefit of this service includes a focus on you, the individual, helping you become more self-aware and guiding you in beginning your research. To set up an appointment, call 262-472-1471 or visit the office, UC 146.

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Are there courses I could take to help me decide on my career?

Yes! Through the Counselor Education and Continuing Education departments, there is a three-credit course offered each year. This semester-long course offers the opportunity for you to take an in-depth look at, and get an assessment of, your personality, interests, skills, aptitudes, and values. You can also match yourself to alternatives, research opportunities, and learn more about decision-making and goal-setting. It's all about taking charge of your life and your future. The course is titled Life/Work and Career Planning and can be found in the undergraduate/graduate and continuing education timetables of classes.

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Are there tests I can take to help guide me?

Yes! There are several inventories available through Career & Leadership Development that could prove helpful. Career inventories available include the most popular in use today. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is a personality inventory used worldwide. The Self-Directed Search is one of the most well-known interest inventories in the world. The CAPS/COPS/COPES helps students assess their abilities, interests and values. All of these inventories help students match themselves with majors and careers. To explore this area, make an appointment with a counselor at Career & Leadership Development, UC 146.

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What other resources are available to help me?

The Career & Leadership Development office is proud to offer state-of-the-art computer guidance systems that add a dynamic dimension to our services. The Wisconsin Careers System is available on-line to help Whitewater students explore the exciting world of work. Also available:

  • Opportunity to research major/career paths via the Internet;
  • Career & Leadership Development web site that contains resources to assist in the career planning process.

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How can I find an internship/coop?

Employers and students know the value of an internship/coop these days. Career & Leadership Development is prepared to help you in your search! We receive information directly from employers throughout the year about internship/coop opportunities. You must be registered with Career & Leadership Development to interview on campus, have your name in a referral database, or search jobs via Career & Leadership Development's Internet Job Bank (Hawk Jobs).

  • Apply directly to companies advertising through Career & Leadership Development. The originals of the most recent internship opportunities posted in Hawk Jobs is available in the Richald L. Bailey Career Resource Center, UC 146. The entire current and prior years of internship opportunities are compiled in a group of white, three-ring binders for students to contact employers directly. This is an excellent resource and researching tool when looking for the types of opportunities that are sent to Career & Leadership Development . (Remember to also check with the department of your major for any further information that they might have, as well as what they will accept when taking an internship/coop for credit.)
  • Interview with employers coming to campus. Employers are invited and encouraged to interview prospective interns and coop students in Career & Leadership Development .
  • Have your name in a Resume Database. Employers search resume folders in our Hawk Jobs database to fill their positions.
  • Career & Leadership Development 's Internship Web Site features great resources.

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What do I need to do to prepare for graduate school?

If you are planning on going to graduate school, the graduate school information on our website can be very useful for your research. The Richard L. Bailey Career Resource Center houses many graduate school catalogs for student use. We highly recommend an appointment with a counselor to cover the step-by-step process of applying to graduate school.

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How do I prepare for the senior job search?

Take advantage of all the services and programs Career & Leadership Development has to offer. First, you'll want to take a class, either your junior year or very early in your senior year, to help you with the whole job search process. Then you will want to register with Career & Leadership Development and take advantage of the services available to help you throughout your job hunt.

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Why should I register with Career & Leadership Development?

To assist yourself in the best way possible with your job search while you are still in school.

  • Each semester, more than 100 employers visit Career & Leadership Development office for on-campus interviews. These college recruiters have targeted UW-Whitewater as an excellent resource for filling current and expected openings. Annually, Career & Leadership Development hosts over 1500 interviews for students/alumni. Opportunities exist for a wide variety of majors/minors and backgrounds to fill the employers' schedules.
  • Each year employers who cannot visit the campus, but who have needs to fill, will send job postings to place on the Career & Leadership Development Internet Job Bank (Hawk Jobs). Registered users are able to access this 24-hour service from any computer with internet access.
  • Employers also access resumes through the Hawk Jobs database to fill the vacancies they have. Only registered users who have their resumes uploaded into the Hawk Jobs database are referred to employers in this way.

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How can individual employment counseling help me?

By assisting you with your particular needs and questions as you approach and conduct your job search. Students in the past have been particularly interested in assistance with fine-tuning their resumes/cover letters, working on their interviewing skills through mock interviews, and exploring job search strategies. To take advantage of this service, stop in or call Career & Leadership Development office (262-472-1471) for an appointment. Each Fall and Spring semester Career & Leadership Development offers days for "Counselor on Duty." Students may come into the office during specific hours, without an appointment, and have quick questions answered (time should be limited to 15 minutes per student). Check at the main service counter in UC 146, for current days and times each semester.

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Are there courses I could take to help me with my job hunt?

Yes! There are excellent courses available for you at UW-Whitewater that will prove very helpful in your job search. We suggest taking these courses the first semester of your senior year or second semester of your junior year. Each of the courses listed below is offered each fall and spring and can be found in the timetable.

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What other resources are available to help me with my job hunt?

There are many. For example:

  • Direct Links to Employer Web Sites through Career & Leadership Development web site.
  • Job Listing sites linked through Career & Leadership Development Internet site. Many of these listing services can be searched by the user to target his/her interests and are some of the best.

At Career & Leadership Development, we are confident we have the tools to assist you with all of your career planning and job search needs. We encourage you to take advantage of the services and programs outlined here. We look forward to assisting you. ~The Career & Leadership Development Staff

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