“Less than 20 percent of people get jobs from the web. The best way to get a job is to network: make connections, go to events, call companies. Your network is your best job resource.” – Jessica Witte, UWEC Career Services

“When writing a résumé, don’t use a template. Know what the company is looking for and change your résumé to fit it. There is no standard, so personalize it.” – Jessica Witte, UWEC Career Services

“Don’t limit yourself. Look for nontraditional ways to use your degree.” – Scott Hodek, Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

“One of the biggest mistakes people make is making career choices out of desperation. Don’t lower your standards. Try something new. Look long term.”
– Jessica Witte, UWEC Career Services

“One of the best things you can do is intern. Internships offer you experience that you just can’t get anywhere else. They may not pay at first, but they definitely pay off in the long run.” – Scott Hodek, Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

Career Services at UWEC offers career counseling for community members, alumni, and students. Career counseling is an opportunity to work individually with a counselor on all aspects of the career search process. A counselor can provide you with an assessment of your skills, interests, values, and personality, as well as help people adapting to fit new technologies. Career counselors can be used by students trying to figure out what they want to do when they graduate, graduates looking to maximize their potential, people hoping to make career switches later in life, or for those recently laid off and looking to become more valuable or to reassess their skills to apply them to a new industry.

Jump-Start Downtown is a competition for entrepreneurs looking to open a business or relocate an existing business to downtown Eau Claire. Though open to any type of business, participants must be 18 years or older to compete. Grand prize winners have received start-up capital funds, a DECI membership, entrepreneurial classes, and advertising space in TV, print, and radio. Applications must include a business plan of the proposed business to Downtown Eau Claire, Inc. This year’s competition closed in June, but start planning for next year! The award ceremony is usually held in August. Past winners include Smiling Moose Deli, Dessert First, Willow Creek Women’s Clinic, Body Focus, Just Local Food Cooperative, and Café 420.