Twardowski
Career Development Center (CDC)
           West Chester University
Becky Ross, Director
225 Lawrence Center
West Chester, PA 19383
General: cdc@wcupa.edu
Employers: recruit@wcupa.edu
Phone: 610.436.2501
College Central

Overview of Services

The Twardowski Career Development Center is committed to supporting the success of all students in identifying and exploring options as well as building the skills necessary to develop rewarding careers. The Center provides a full range of career development services and special programs as well as hosts employers for interviews and career fairs to give WCU graduates a competitive edge in the job market.

The Center is located on the 2nd floor of Lawrence Hall. Our hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and 8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. during summer sessions.

Students may drop by the Center any time it is open to ask a staff member a question, use the extensive collection of resources in the Career Resource Library, or pick up free magazines and literature to help with job search or graduate study.  We encourage students to schedule appointments in advance for more in-depth career planning assistance by calling 610-436-2501.

Individual Career Planning

Career planning is a lifelong process of learning about one’s interests, skills, and values, exploring options, making decisions, and implementing a plan to pursue a goal. Students may schedule appointments to explore majors and careers, evaluate choices, and develop job search skills. In addition, self-assessment and career exploration tools are available on this web site.

Career Exploration Resources

Students may access comprehensive online career information and profiles via resources such as the Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook, located on the Student Menu.  The Vault Career Library with over 90 career and industry guides, company research and “day in the life of” profiles on careers, is an excellent resource provided by the WCU Library and the Career Center.  The Center’s library houses a variety of career exploration books, files, and job postings. Resources include directories of schools, businesses, social service agencies, and overseas employment. Computers are available to make Internet research convenient for students. We have also partnered with the WCU Library to develop a "Subject Guide" on their website:  http://subjectguides.wcupa.edu/tcdc

Classroom Presentations, Workshops & Events

The Center offers workshops to help students learn how to write resumes, prepare for job interviews, get ready for career fairs, and more. Special events bring alumni and prospective employers to campus to talk about specific careers. Use the online Program Request Form to request a speaker for your class.

Resume Writing & Job Search Preparation

To maximize the impression students can make on potential employers, encourage them to take advantage of resume critiques by a staff member.  Students can start by reviewing the Resume and Cover Letter Writing Guide online, develop a draft and then upload it into College Central Network for an automatic critique. Students may also schedule one-on-one appointments to review resumes and cover letters, prepare for interviews, and develop an individual action plan for the job search.

On-Campus Recruiting & Job Postings

The On-Campus Recruiting Program hosts representatives from a variety of organizations to interview students for career opportunities. Jobs are posted within College Central Network (CCN) and students may upload resumes and apply for interviews that take place within the Center. Students must register for on-campus recruiting within CCN online. Hundreds of additional job and internship postings just for WCU students are also available within CCN.

Employer & Graduate School Information Tables

Representatives from various organizations visit WCU to host Information Tables at Sykes Union and in Lawrence Hall.  Students can visit these employers or graduate school representatives to learn about career opportunities or the interview process of the presenting organization. See the Events listing for a list of upcoming visits.

Career Fairs

The Center hosts a number of career fairs each year to expose students to various industries, employers and opportunities in various fields.