Resources for First-Years
It’s never too early to start thinking about your future! While graduation may seem far away, first-year students can use this valuable time to gather information, find your strengths and passions and consider the endless possibilities for your life after Mary Washington.
Let’s Talk Life After Mary Washington
Just getting started on your career journey? The CCPD career coaches are here for you! You may be wondering about how to start a resume, find a job/internship for next summer, or something else…just call the office at 540-654-5646 or go to Handshake to set up an appointment!
If you have a quick question or need some eyes on your resume/cover letter right away, a drop-in visit might be the answer. Our trained Peer Career Consultants staff these hours in the CCPD suite, and the schedule varies by semester.
If you spot a table with employers behind it, we probably set up their visit! Take a moment to say hello and learn what opportunities they are offering. Employers who come to UMW love to interact with all our students, so don’t be shy!
The CCPD also tables; you’ll usually find us in the CRUC, but sometimes we land in other campus locations. Stop by, we usually have swag to give you, sometimes we have free food to share, and we are always happy just to chat with you!
Events
Leading up to each Career & Internship Fair, we offer a week of prep! Extra resume drop-in hours, tables where you can prep your elevator pitch, find out what to wear to the fair and much more are all featured!
It’s never too early to check out our Career & Internship Fair. You can get a feel for what a fair is like, pick up some employer swag, and even talk to employers! You may even learn of a great internship or part-time job!
Tools for First-Years
Focus 2
Perfect if you are undecided on your major. Complete the 5 assessments and visit the Career Center to explore career options for all the majors/programs offered at UMW.
(New user access code: eagle)
Handshake
Log into Handshake using your UMW username and password, complete your profile and make public when ready. Make an appointment with the Career Center to help with the completion of your profile.
Big Interview
Log into Big Interview using your UMW username and password. Browse through the library of questions or look at the video and written tutorials.
Forage
Access Forage to participate in simulations designed to give you a realistic preview of jobs in a range of industries.
V-TOP Courses
Take free, online, self-paced training courses developed by the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership to prepare for successful internships and jobs.
Coursera Career Academy
Coursera Career Academy offers UMW students, faculty, and staff free access to courses and microcredentials from industry leaders like Google, Microsoft, IBM, Meta, and Salesforce. Topics include computer science, business, IT security, project management, and communication skills.