Ways we Serve Students

Handshake is the career management platform at the University of Arkansas. Students can use this platform to make appointments with our office, view upcoming events, follow employers, and search for jobs/internships. Employers also use this platform to register for career fairs, host both in-person and virtual events for students, and post jobs/internships. Employers and jobs posted are vetted through the combined efforts of Handshake and Career Connections offices at the university.

How Students Make an Appointment with Walton Career Connections

1. Login to https://uark.joinhandshake.com/.
2. Navigate to “Career Center” and the “Appointments.”
3. Select “Schedule a New Appointment” and then choose your college from the categories.
4. Choose the appointment type that is most appropriate for your needs.
5. Then choose the appointment time that works best for you. Remember to include your reason for requesting a visit when requesting an appointment.
6. Show up for your appointment at your designated time and location.

Appointment Types

• Major Exploration
• Internship/Job Searching
• Cover Letter Development
• Mock Interviews/Interview Preparation
• Offer Evaluation/Negotiation
• Career Fair Preparation
• Professional Photo Session
• Graduate School Coaching

Career Fairs

Handshake houses the student and employer registration component of the career fair. Students have access to a list of all registered organizations through the fair in Handshake. Students also have the opportunity to filter and search for employers which are relevant to their major, determine what jobs/internships are currently available, and start their company research with information posted directly in Handshake.

VMock is an AI generated platform where students can complete resume reviews, mock interviews, LinkedIn profile reviews, and more virtually without making an appointment with our office. A student must be enrolled in the Sam M. Walton College of Business to use this software.

Students can sign up for VMock or login by going to vmock.com/walton and signing in with Single Sign-On. If they don’t have access to VMock at the time of sign-on, they will request an account and the request will be processed through the Walton Career Connections Office. Use this resource for more information about VMock.

Assessments are a great way for students to begin their career exploration and gain a better understanding of who they are. The University of Arkansas provides several self-assessments to students. Send students to this link in order to take the listed assessments:  https://career.uark.edu/students/explorecareers/ 

• Focus2: The FOCUS 2 is an intuitive tool to help students select a major and explore occupations. Students can complete five assessments including the Interests-Holland Code, Personality, Values, Skills, and Leisure Interests. Assessment results are matched to University of Arkansas majors and career options with over 1200 occupations and up-to-date career information.
• Career Readiness Assessment: Students can complete a survey to assess their career readiness score (based on the NACE Career Readiness Competencies – link here) and provides suggestions for improving relationship building skills, professional communication, career planning & exploration, career & self-development, and internship/job search & interview preparedness.
• Type Focus: TypeFocus™ Careers assesses students personality type and incorporates it into seven personalized reports to answer, “What career choices fit with my personality?” and “How can I improve my chances for getting a job?”
• Spark Path Challenge Cards: The Challenge mindset is an approach to career exploration focused on finding challenges to tackle instead of ever-changing job titles. This interactive card sorting experience is designed to help students find a career path based on exciting, real-world challenges that go beyond majors and job titles.

The Walton Career Connections office in partnership with Iris provides complimentary professional photographs for LinkedIn Profiles or other professional headshot needs.

Location: Willard J. Walker Hall 226, the Walton Career Connections office

Hours of Operation: The Iris Air photobooth is open Monday – Friday 8am-5pm, unless the office is closed for events.

How It Works: Walk-ins are welcome, however, it is highly encouraged to make an appointment in Handshake.

The Walton Career Closet opened in August 2010 as a resource of upscale, gently used business casual and business professional attire available, free of charge, to all currently enrolled Walton College students. The Career Closet can help students with their professional dress needs whether it may be for an interview, a career fair, office visit, or on the job.

For more information on the location, times of operation, or how to donate to the career closet please use this link.

Walton Career Connections provides many workshops and events for students to prepare for and network with companies on campus. Workshops are held several times weekly and have a variety of topics, while events held are relevant to the timeline of career path management and needs of students. All events and workshops are posted in Handshake for students to view and register for prior to the event. Registration is typically not required to attend but may be encouraged if food is provided.

Workshop Topics

• Resume Development
• Career Fair Preparation
• LinkedIn Profile Optimization
• Job/Internship Searching
• Interview Preparation
• Job Offer Evaluation/Negotiation

Events

• Career Fair: Our office hosts the on-campus Business Career Fair each semester. This is the premier time for students to network with employers and have 1:1 conversations with company recruiters. Career Fair happens at Bud Walton Arena, view more information here.
• Corporate Comes to Campus: This informal career fair type event happens outside on Shollmier Plaza each fall. This is typically a students first connection with employers of the semester. Please see more information here.
• Resume Rescue: Held prior to the career fair, students can bring their resume to this event and get feedback from corporate recruiters and industry experts. More information can be found here.
• Pitched Perfect: Held in conjunction with resume rescue, the Business Communications Lab hosts this speed networking style event. Students will give their elevator pitch to corporate recruiters and receive feedback to take with them to the career fair. More information here.
• Signing Day: This event is held to celebrate graduating students or students who have obtained an internship for the following semester. Students get to take a picture with their company logo and let us know about their post-graduation plans. More information can be found here.
• Company of the Day: Employers are highlighted during this event which occurs various weeks in the semester. Typical schedule includes an organization tabling in WCOB, eating lunch with department leaders, and hosting a workshop for students after lunch.

Employers host various information sessions, case interview development workshops, coffee chats, and more on campus each semester. Students should check Handshake for updated event information.