WGU Handshake is a career platform that connects you with employers specifically seeking to hire WGU Night Owls for jobs, internships, and participation in career education and employer connection events.
Find your next career step
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Start Your Job Search Today
When you know what you want, it’s easier to find the right opportunities.
- Identify your SMART Career Goal to guide your job search.
Help employers and your network quickly understand what makes you unique and qualified by fine-tuning your personal brand.
- Before you start applying or networking, create or update these materials to reflect your brand and career goal:
- Résumé
- Cover Letter
- LinkedIn Profile
- Portfolio (if needed).
Endlessly applying to jobs on job boards gets few results. A better strategy is to focus on companies that match your goals and values.
Start here:
- Find at least 10-15 companies that align with your career goal and values.
- Use the Find Target Companies handout to find companies for your list.
- Want a faster way? Click the “Use AI to Build Your Target Company List” for quick, personalized suggestions.
Then, organize your list:
- Complete the Companies Tracker to organize and prioritize your target companies.
- If you see a job at a company not on your list:
- Do a little research on the company.
- If it seems like a good fit, add the company to your list, apply, and start networking.
👉 Next up: Start connecting with people at the companies on your list—relationships are the key to getting hired.
You’re 4x more likely to get hired with a referral. That’s why networking matters! The goal of networking is to learn more about a company or career path and build relationships that can open doors.
Start here:
- Find at least 2-3 contacts at each of your target companies, especially your high-priority (⭐) ones.
- Use the Find Key Contacts Handout for tips on how to find people.
Then, reach out:
- Send your contacts a short message on LinkedIn, Handshake, or via email. Ask for advice about their career path and what it’s like to work at their company.
- If someone agrees to chat, check out CPD’s informational interviewing resources to help you have a good conversation.
- Track your outreach in the Contacts Tracker.
🤖 Need help writing your networking messages? Get quick, easy suggestions powered by AI.
👉 Next up: Once you’ve made some connections and learned more, it’s time to start applying.
Explore CPD’s networking resources for more tips and tools!
If you find a job that’s a good fit, apply within 96 hours to boost your chances. Research shows people who apply within this “golden window” are up to 8x more likely to get an interview.
- Prioritize jobs at your high-priority target companies (⭐).
- Tailor your résumé and cover letter to match the job description. Use keywords from the listing to show you’re a strong fit.
- Use Jobscan to quickly customize your résumé to each job description, optimizing it for ATS.
- Keep reaching out to people at the company. Even after you apply, a referral can still help: “Hi [Name], I just applied for [Role] and would love to hear about your experience with [Company].”
- Use Jobscan to keep a detailed record of your job applications and interviews.
- Have an interview? Congrats! Check out CPD’s Interview Prep resources.
Our CPD Career Advisors are here to support you through every stage of your job search. Whether you’re exploring career options, tailoring your resume, practicing for interviews, or leveraging AI tools, we’re ready to help make the process easier and more effective.
Connect with Us Your Way:
- 📅 Schedule a 1:1 Appointment
- ☎️ Call Our HelpLine: Get quick answers and guidance at 801-274-3280
- 🎤 Attend a Live Career Event: Join career education webinars, workshops, and employer connection events.
No matter how you choose to connect, we’re here and ready to help you move forward with confidence.
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