Career Services

Welcome to Wilkes Community College Career Services! From initial assessment to career exploration and employability skills, we are your one-stop source for informed career planning and job search strategies.

Services within career counseling include career planning and decision making. Formal assessment tools, such as personality and interest inventories are available. Preparatory resources for employment opportunities, including workshops, a variety of events, and job search assistance are also provided.  Our goals are mutual – success equals preparation for and movement toward satisfying careers.

College Central Network
Focus 2

Career Services is located in the Student Services area on the first floor of Window World Hall (building 1 on the campus map). Our regular hours are:

  • Monday – Thursday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Friday, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
  • Summer hours may vary

Contact Information

Image of Mike Roope
Mike Roope, EdS, LCMHC
Director of Student Support Services/Counselor
Phone: 336-838-6147
msroope085@wilkescc.edu

Upcoming Events

Career Exploration

There are three basic steps in making a successful career decision:

Assessment

Knowing yourself involves looking inward.

  • Review your past experiences, skills, abilities, and hobbies.
  • Discover your work interests, leisure interests, skills, values, and personality through assessment inventories such as Focus 2.
  • Assess your goals and dreams.
  • Define success and adequate income for you.
  • Consider your lifestyle, relationships, finances, and geographical preferences.

Exploring Options

Gather information about career fields of interest.

  • Utilize books, internet career sites, career counselors, and masters of various professions.
  • Evaluate education and training requirements.
  • Conduct informational interviews and develop a network of professional contacts.
  • Explore internships, summer and part-time jobs, or volunteer to gain experience within your field of interest.

Decision Making

Compare and contrast career options.

  • Evaluate short-term and long-term goals.
  • Identify obstacles to achieving goals .
  • Consider solutions or alternatives.
  • Weigh costs and benefits.
  • Choose the occupation that best fits your individuality.

Need help? A Career Counselor is available to assist you in Student Services.

Resources

Job Listings

Need a part-time job while going to school or looking for a full-time position when you graduate? Jobs are posted through College Central, the official jobs board for all campuses of Wilkes Community College.

College Central Network
  • WCC students and alumni can search for local, state, and national jobs and access a variety of career resources, including resume and interview assistance, career podcasts, videos, and more.
  • Employers are encouraged to post job opportunities and search resumes via College Central as part of their recruitment efforts.

College Central resources are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at no charge.

Check out our Facebook and Twitter page for additional career and job information. Contact Career Services at 336-838-6147 for further assistance.

Job Alerts

  1. Sign-in to the Campus Alert Notification System with college username and password.
  2. From the Opt-in Lists, check the Subscribe box for Job Alerts.

For parents and community to receive WCC text alerts, text WCCALERTS to 226787.

Job Search Resources

Resumes are one of the most important marketing tools used during your job search. An effective resume will increase your chances of getting an interview. Use resumes as part of your ad campaign to market your skills, education, and experience to employers.

Employers may use resumes to:

  • Screen out applicants and determine who gets an interview
  • Identify your skills, education and experience
  • Evaluate your written communication skills
  • Use as an agenda during the interview

Employers appreciate applicants who take the time and effort to present a well written resume. Make sure your resume is easy to read, concise, accurate, and positive. Tailor your resume to fit the job description. Include the same key words, skills, and qualities that are used in the job description to make it easier for employers to see that you are qualified.

College Central Network provides WCC students and alumni with free user-friendly Resume Builder software, resources, and examples. You can also search the internet for free resume examples based on your specific career goals (example: “automotive technician resumes” or “medical assistant resumes”).

Resources

Cover letters give job seekers the opportunity to include more information about themselves to the employers and can help the job seeker stand out from the rest of the competition if well written. Search the internet for career-specific cover letters (example: “sales associate cover letter”).

Resources

Employers appreciate candidates who enclose a list of references along with their resume. Include references on a separate page with the same heading/contact info as on your resume and cover letter. Include at least three references. Be sure to ask permission before you list a reference. Current or former supervisors and instructors make better references than classmates or co-workers. See below for an example of references.

Resources

Interviews give you the opportunity to convince the employer that you are the best candidate for the position. This is also your chance to interview the employer and decide if you would be a good fit for their business or organization.

Preparation and practice are the keys to having a successful interview. Think of the interview as auditioning for an important role. You must prepare what to say, which questions to ask, know what to wear and how to act. Making a positive first impression is critical to the success of your interview. Contact Career Services at 336-838-6147 if you need assistance preparing for your next interview.

  • College Central Network: WCC’s official jobs board and career resources
  • NCWorks Online: Search jobs, create resumes, find education and training resources. Employers can find candidates, post jobs, and search labor market information.
  • Indeed: Search jobs from thousands of websites and access salary and career trends information.
  • Glassdoor: Company reviews, salary reports, interview reviews and questions, benefits reviews, office photos and more
  • Simply Hired: Find local jobs, salary comparisons and employment trends.
  • CareerOneStop: Career exploration, training, and job resources by Department of Labor
  • Occupational Outlook Handbook: Detailed career information, job search tips, and employment projections

Employer Resources

A variety of services are offered to assist businesses and organizations with their recruitment efforts.

Employers are encouraged to post jobs through College Central, which is the official jobs board for Wilkes Community College students and graduates at our Wilkesboro and West Jefferson campuses and the Alleghany Center in Sparta. Once registered and approved by our office, employers may post and edit jobs at their convenience. College Central resources are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at no charge. Job posted on College Central may also be advertised through our Job Alerts system (via email or texts) and our social media sites.

We are happy to provide employers the opportunity to come and set up information booths with career information and company materials to help recruit WCC students.  Our office can also provide space for meeting and interviewing prospective applicants. Employers have the option of reviewing resumes online via College Central and contacting applicants to set up interviews.

Job fairs are held periodically and provide employers the opportunity to market their company and help recruiters meet hundreds of applicants. All employers registered on College Central are automatically notified of upcoming job fairs.

If you have any questions or need further assistance with your recruitment efforts, contact:

Image of Mike Roope
Mike Roope, EdS, LCMHC
Director of Student Support Services/Counselor
Phone: 336-838-6147
msroope085@wilkescc.edu