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West Virginia University John Chambers College ofBusiness and Economics
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Search and Network for Opportunities

Create Your Strategy

Once you know what you are looking for, it is time to find it. The strongest searches combine two things: smart use of the right tools and a growing network of people who can point you toward opportunities, many of which are never posted publicly.


Build Your Network

Your network is one of your most valuable search tools. Start with the people already around you and grow outward. For more information on networking, visit our Networking resource.

  • Think professors, colleagues, alumni, and professionals you meet on LinkedIn.
  • Reach out for short informational conversations with people working in roles you want. These build relationships and often surface openings before they are advertised.
  • Treat every connection as a two-way relationship, not just a favor you are asking for.

Create a Strong LinkedIn Profile

LinkedIn serves two purposes at once. It is a job board where you can search and apply, and it is a professional network where you can connect with alumni, recruiters, and people in your target field. A complete, polished profile makes both work in your favor.

View tips for creating an impactful LinkedIn profile.


Know Where to Look

There are countless places to search, and that can be part of the problem. Start with the resources built for you and your goals, then expand outward.

  • Handshake is WVU's premier job portal and the best place to begin. Thousands of internships and full-time positions are posted there every year, many from employers specifically recruiting WVU and Chambers College students. Complete your profile, upload your resume, and make it your home base.
  • Company career pages are worth visiting directly once you have target employers in mind. Some roles appear on a company site before anywhere else.
  • Industry specific resources can surface opportunities the big boards miss. Professional associations and niche job boards often list roles tailored to a particular field. If you are not sure where to look for your industry, the CCD can help you identify the right resources for your major and interests.

A good rule of thumb: start with the most targeted resources first. A source aimed at WVU students or your specific industry will almost always serve you better than a broad search across the entire internet.


Search Smart: Use the Right Words

Here is something many students learn the hard way. Not every employer uses the same title for the same job. If you only search for one term, you will miss a large share of the roles that would actually fit you.

Consider how one type of work can appear under many names:

  • A finance role might be posted as Financial Analyst, Investment Analyst, Finance Associate, or Corporate Finance Analyst.
  • A marketing role might appear as Marketing Coordinator, Brand Associate, Marketing Specialist, or Communications Associate.
  • A technology role might be listed as Software Developer, Software Engineer, Application Developer, or Programmer.

To make sure you are seeing everything, search by the work itself, not just one job title:

  • Search by skills and keywords, not only titles. Try terms like "data analysis," "financial modeling," or "social media," which appear across many differently titled roles.
  • Build a list of search terms before you start. Brainstorm every title and keyword that could describe the work you want, then rotate through them.
  • Read the description, not the headline. A title can mislead in both directions. Judge a role by the responsibilities and qualifications listed, not the name at the top.
  • Use filters and saved searches. On Handshake and LinkedIn, narrow by location, industry, job type, and experience level to keep your results relevant.
  • Adjust as you go. Too few results means broaden your terms. Too many means add detail. Searching is something you refine over time.

Let the Search Come to You

Once you have searches that work, set them to run automatically.

  • Turn on job alerts in Handshake and LinkedIn so matching postings come straight to you.
  • Save your searches so you can rerun them with one click.
  • Follow companies you are interested in to catch new openings and stay current on their news.

Attend Events

Events put you face to face with employers and ideas. Make a habit of attending career fairs, workshops and lectures, conferences, and similar opportunities.


Grow Your Experience

The more experience you build, the stronger your candidacy. Take on part-time jobs during school, participate in internships, volunteer, and join student organizations.

Don't Put All Your Eggs in One Basket

The bigger your network and the more roles you apply to, the better your chances of success. Cast a wide, intentional net rather than pinning your hopes on a single opportunity.


Stay Organized and Keep Going

A search loses momentum when it gets disorganized. A few simple habits keep you moving.

  • Track your applications. A simple list of where you applied, when, and the status is plenty.
  • Build a weekly rhythm. Set aside regular time to search, apply, and follow up.
  • Stay consistent. A quiet week or a few rejections does not mean you are doing it wrong. Keep refining your approach, and the right opportunity will come into view.