Certificate students at UVA’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies now have access to resources that can aid in networking and job search endeavors. Located in Canvas, the UVA Certificate Career Resources Community enhances students' experience by providing additional opportunities to leverage their new skills and UVA education in the job market.
The Career Resources Community Benefits Students
Within the Career Resources Community, students are now able to:
- Benefit from curated job postings shared by certificate program coordinators
- Access interview, resume and cover letter tools
- Gain insight into industry and career-specific communities and job search platforms
- Understand industry-specific employment trends
- Expand their professional networks using discussion boards and the School’s LinkedIn community
- Attend industry-specific events led by experienced faculty and industry leaders
Leading the project was Cyrus Webb, a student success coach who has been with the School since 2022. In his role, Webb supports students in many of the School’s online certificate and degree programs, guiding them through the onboarding process, helping them develop individualized academic plans, and providing holistic support throughout their academic journey. His daily interactions offer keen insight into student needs and struggles.
“Over the course of the past few semesters, we have seen a definitive rise in the number of students who are seeking additional career resources to help advance in their career or transition to a new career. Since certificate students did not previously have access to a career center, I worked closely with our certificate program coordinators to compile industry-specific career resources in one community specifically designed for our certificate students,” Webb explained.
Students can now find support for each stage of their job hunt, from expert advice on where to find jobs within a given industry, to boosting their networks, to submitting a stellar resume, to how to prepare for an interview for a specific role. Webb has seen heavy use of the career resources community by faculty, who post industry-specific insights and job opportunities, and by students as they explore offerings. “I love seeing students connect with one another and faculty members to share thoughts, help one another, and even plan organic meetups,” Webb shared.
Career-Focused Conversations Offering Expert Insights
This past spring semester, Webb also began organizing industry-focused events which connect students with experienced professionals who can offer guidance on establishing and growing a career within their field of expertise. These will continue over the summer, with the first, focused on Project Management taking place on July 22, 2025. This event will feature Susan Parente, UVA Project Management Certificate Program Coordinator and Principal Consultant, S3 Technologies, LLC.
Join the Project Management career conversation
Additional conversations planned for the summer will include:
- Certified Financial Planning featuring Gary Roseman, UVA Certified Financial Planning Certificate program coordinator
- Accounting, hosted in partnership with UVA Northern Virginia, featuring a panel of experts from leading organizations
- Cyber Security and Information Technology, featuring Jim Lantzy, Cyber Security & Information Technology program coordinator and Director, Intel and Security Programs at General Dynamics Information Technology
If you'd like to join in the conversation and learn from industry experts, keep an eye on our events page for details and registration!