Frequently Asked Questions Webster University I Career Planning & Development Center

What services does the Career Planning & Development Center offer?

Who We Serve

The Career Planning & Development Center assists all current undergraduate and graduate students in their comprehensive career planning and development. Career advising appointments are available to currently enrolled students and recent graduates within one year of their graduation date at Webster University's campuses in the United States. Career advisors are available to meet with students and recent graduates virtually through Zoom or in-person at the university's Webster Groves Campus. Students at international campuses typically have a specific contact at their institution who provides this service and offers expertise on the local labor market.

Services for Students

• Individual career coaching in the areas of major and career exploration, resume and cover letter writing, job and internship search strategies, interview preparation, and graduate school decision-making
• Career development programs and events
• Handshake, Webster University's online career management and recruiting platform

Our Location

The Career Planning & Development Center is centrally located in Webster Groves, Missouri. Visit us in-person at 568 Garden Avenue, Webster Groves, Missouri, 63119, #9 on the campus map.

Parking is available at Garden Park Plaza, 568 Garden Avenue, Webster Groves, Missouri, 63119, Lot P on the Campus Map. There are some limited street parking options for those without a parking permit. Recent graduates may park in any available visitor spaces on the first floor of Garden Park Plaza and check in with Public Safety upon arrival (next-door to the Career Planning & Development Center).

How do I schedule an appointment with my career advisor?

A career advisor can help you engage in career exploration, figure out the right career path for you, and guide you toward developing the resources you need for a successful job search.

Career advisors are highly skilled in a variety of career development topics including major and career exploration, job/internship search strategies, resume/cover letter optimization, interview preparation, and graduate school decision-making.

Career advising appointments are available for currently enrolled students and graduates within one year of their graduation date.

Request through Handshake

Handshake is Webster University's online career management and recruiting system used by students and alumni. Learn how to schedule an appointment through Handshake below.

• Visit webster.joinhandshake.com or download the Handshake mobile app at app.joinhandshake.com
• Access your Handshake account by entering your Connections username/password credentials

• Select "Career Center" from the main navigational tab (under "Account" in the mobile app)
• Click "Appointments"

• Click "Schedule a New Appointment"

• Select your school/college as career advisors are determined by your academic program
• If you are affiliated with more than one school/college then choose the one that is most related to your current career goals

• Choose the appointment type that most accurately reflects your reason for meeting with a career advisor
• Appointments are either 30 minutes, 45 minutes, or 60 minutes depending on the type

• View a listing of available appointment days/times with a career advisor
• Note that appointments must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance
• The first available appointments will populate, but you can use the filters to find the best time for you
• While career advisors offer their schedule based on local St. Louis time (Central Time Zone - US & Canada), Handshake will display the available appointment times in the same time zone that your computer is set to

• Complete the required information and click "Request"
• Provide a brief description of what you want to discuss such as explore career options with an English major, information about searching for a summer finance internship, review personal statement for graduate programs in counseling, etc.

• The assigned advisor will review your request and approve it or request an alternative meeting day/time
• Manage your appointments anytime through your Handshake account (re-scheduling, cancelling, etc.)
• You will receive a confirmation e-mail indicating that the appointment has been requested and when it has been approved by the career advisor

Request by Phone

If you're having issues with scheduling through Handshake, call the Career Planning & Development Center at 314-968-6982 from Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM (Central time) to coordinate schedules with a career advisor. Be prepared to provide your Webster University student ID number and several dates/times that you are available during CPDC business hours.

What are our appointment expectations for students and no-show, late, & cancellation policy?

The Career Planning & Development Center (CPDC) requests that Webster University students and alumni honor their scheduled appointments and, if circumstances permit, cancel them in a timely manner. We understand that unforeseen emergencies, such as medical or family issues, may arise, and we accommodate these situations with understanding. However, cancelling an appointment in advance is considered a professional courtesy and allows us to offer the time slot to another student in need of assistance.

A "no-show" occurs when an individual does not attend their appointment or cancels it mere minutes before the scheduled start time. We want to emphasize that consistently missing appointments, cancelling on the day of, or arriving significantly late may have consequences, including the potential loss of access to Handshake and CPDC services.

To cancel your appointment, you can conveniently navigate to the "Career Center" tab in Handshake. Within the mobile app, you will find it under "Account." Once there, click on "Appointments" and select your upcoming appointment to cancel. Alternatively, you can also cancel by directly emailing your career advisor or contacting our office at 314-968-6982. After cancelling, should you wish to reschedule, you can easily do so through Handshake.

Please be aware that appointment requests will appear as pending until they are approved by a CPDC advisor. It is important for students and alumni to anticipate that their appointment will be approved and make sure to attend their scheduled appointment, even if the status does not change to "approved" before the requested appointment time.

For students requesting video conference appointments, CPDC advisors will provide Zoom access instructions through the appointment comments in Handshake and/or their webster.edu e-mail.

What is the difference between career advisors and academic advisors?

Career advisors and academic advisors have different functions, but often work in tandem to serve students. For instance, a student who is exploring options for their major will likely want to meet with both their academic advisor and career advisor. See some key differences below between the services that academic advising and career advising provide so that you have a sense of what would be the best fit for your current concerns.

Academic Advising

• Reviewing your degree audit and determining which courses you need to take for GCP and particular majors
• Discussing scheduling and registration for classes
• Creating an academic plan to help you achieve your educational goals

Career Advising

• Discovering your values, interests, personality, and skills and connecting those to options for majors through discussion and career assessments
• Exploring tools to familiarize yourself with career paths related to your potential majors
• Learning about internship and job search strategies and resources
• Preparing for graduate school
• Providing feedback on application materials like resumes and cover letters
• Practicing interviewing skills

If, based on the information about our services, you believe your concerns are better addressed by an academic advisor, you can schedule an appointment with an academic advisor by contacting Academic Advising at (314) 968‐6972.

What is Handshake?

Handshake, Webster University's online career management system, enables you to manage your job or internship search process and many aspects of your academic and professional career electronically.

Specifically, you can search for student employment positions, internships, or jobs, access our employer contact directory, make an appointment with a career advisor, and more!

Students are preloaded into the Handshake system, so you already have an account under your Connections credentials. If you are a new student at Webster, you will be able to access Handshake after you are enrolled in classes. Please sign in at webster.joinhandshake.com using your Webster email address to access Handshake. Complete your profile and get started today!

If you have any questions, you can reach out to the Career Planning & Development Center at 314-246-6982 or careercn@webster.edu.

How do I find on-campus employment?

The Career Planning & Development Center does not oversee student employment. Each department at Webster manages their own student employee hiring and will post on Handshake as they have positions available.

On-campus student employment positions are posted on Handshake, Webster University’s online career management and recruiting platform. Students automatically have a Handshake account created with their Webster email after enrolling in courses. Follow the directions below to view current on-campus student employment positions.

• Log in to your Handshake account with SSO/your Connections login
• Select Jobs from the main navigation bar
• Click all filters and select "On-Campus" (under Job Types) to view current on-campus student employment positions
• For those students who have a current Federal Work-Study award, they can view work-study positions by clicking the "Work study" box
• For graduate students, select "Graduate School" (under Job Types) and specify "Webster University" (under Employers) to view any graduate assistant positions
• Select show results to see the positions matching your search filters

Review the openings and submit applications to those positions of interest to you following the application procedures listed. Note that student employment is competitive as there are a limited number of opportunities on campus. There are very few graduate assistantships available so there may not be any active job postings at any given moment.

You can find more information about seeking student employment in Connections.

Make an appointment with your career advisor for assistance with job search questions, developing application materials, and interviewing techniques.

How do I know if I have a Federal Work-Study award?

Every student who applies for financial aid receives an award letter listing the programs and award amounts for which they are eligible. Students who are awarded Federal Work-Study will receive an award letter from the Financial Aid Office.

If students are not sure whether they have Federal Work-Study, they may contact the Financial Aid Office at (314) 968-6992.

How is Federal Work-Study awarded for current student employees?

Eligibility for Federal Work-Study, or any type of financial aid, must be re-evaluated each year. As a result, Federal Work-Study eligibility is not guaranteed each year as a student’s financial status may have changed over the course of the year.

Additionally, Financial Aid is awarded on a first come, first served basis. Supervisors can help by encouraging their student employees to submit their FAFSA and Webster University financial aid forms as early as possible. Students can submit an appeal for an additional Federal Work-Study award through the Financial Aid Office.

Students can contact the Financial Aid Office at (314) 968-6992 with any questions.