EDASC connects employers to WWU Career Services

EDASC hosted a webinar in July introducing employers to workforce resources available through Western Washington University’s Career Services Center. The center provides services for both students and alumni looking for jobs and internships.

With workforce continuing to be a challenge, many employers are finding they have greater success hiring when they grow their own talent. The Career Services Center outlined specific tactics employers can use to attract more job applicants using WWU services.

“Depending on what your workforce needs are, we probably have a program to meet those needs,” Career Services Center Director Mindy Pelton said during the webinar.

WWU has more than 15,000 students and over 200 academic programs, Pelton said, so it’s likely there are students with the knowledge and skill set to match the needs of most Skagit County employers.

Career fairs are an easy way to get plugged into the Career Services Center and connect with students, Pelton said, with hundreds of students attending career fairs over the course of the academic year. 

Employers also can host an information table at any time or make use of on-campus interview rooms, said Career Services Center Event Coordinator Britta Eschete. Both services are at no cost.

“There is a lot of value in coming to campus,” Eschete said. “We have approximately 16,000 students who are eager to learn ways to apply their degree.”

Career Services offers two online platforms for employers to connect with students and alumni: Handshake and Parker Dewey. Handshake is a job database platform that WWU uses for posting full-time positions or long-term internships. Employers can connect with multiple schools via Handshake, and most universities in Washington use it. All of Handshake’s core functions are free. 

Eschete says the Career Services Center vets all employers applying to Handshake to make sure their offerings are a good fit for students and employers alike.

Parker Dewey is a micro internship platform. A micro internship is typically anywhere from 10 to 40 hours, and WWU opens the platform to students and alumni. The internships on Parker Dewey are paid opportunities, and Parker Dewey manages logistics, HR/payroll, and helps manage parameters for internships. Most internships are remote but can also be in person.

Pelton said using a micro internship can be a great way for employers to get a special project completed or they can use it to screen for a longer-term internship or permanent position.

If employers are looking to connect directly with specific WWU departments, Pelton recommends starting with the Career Services Center, and if employers want to learn more about connecting with the departments, be sure to attend EDASC’s Skagit Workforce Summit on Sept. 20. Along with WWU, Skagit Valley College, the Northwest Educational Service District 189 and the Northwest Career & Technical Academy will be on hand to discuss concrete ways to develop the workforce pipeline. 

Upcoming WWU Career Fairs

Recruit WWU students and alumni from all majors and academic programs at Western Washington University’s career fairs. Registration is open on Handshake, the recruitment platform utilized by WWU.  Organizations that have not established a free profile on Handshake can visit the Handshake Hub to register, then you will be able to view registration rates and amenities provided and consider signing up.

Virtual Employer Expo: Group Information Sessions on Handshake | Friday Oct. 13 | Noon-3 p.m. | Virtual, on Handshake
Spend some time providing 20-minute overviews about your organization, featuring a panel of staff discussing a day-in-the-life, or sharing what attributes you’re seeking on a resume. Then, encourage attendees to visit your booth at the upcoming in-person All Industries Career & Internship Fair on campus Oct. 20. Registration for this virtual event is open to all employers who have established a free profile and connected to WWU on Handshake.

All Industries Career & Internship Fair | Friday Oct. 20 | Noon-4 p.m. | Wade King Recreation Center 
Participate in the first Career & Internship Fair of the academic year. Participating employers receive complimentary registration for the Virtual Employer Expo: Group Information Sessions on Handshake, Friday, Oct. 13.

Technology & Engineering Career & Internship Fair | Thursday, Nov. 2 | 11 a.m.-2p.m. | Viking Union Multi-Purpose Room
Promote opportunities where a degree or experience in the following majors is desired:
Engineering: Industrial Design, Manufacturing, Polymer Materials, Electrical, Computer
Technology: Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Management Info Systems, Business Analytics

Please contact Britta Eschete in the WWU Career Services Center if you have questions about employer resources at WWU.