HYPE Workshops

  • Fort Steilacoom: March 4, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. , Cascade Building, 4th floor Performance Lounge
  • Puyallup: March 5, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., College Center Building, 1st floor Multipurpose Rooms

Our HYPE Winter Workshops include:

  • Panel of current Pierce College students and staff who started as students.
  • Resource tables on Work Study, resume reviews, practice interviews, and campus jobs.
  • Presentation on what a job search in 2026 looks like including impacts from Artificial Intelligence (AI), navigating Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) systems, what happens to your application once submitted, and employer trends.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to have personal business cards printed, network with panel members and other college staff, and enjoy snacks.

Save the Date – 2026 Spring Job Fairs!

YOUR Career Center would like to invite you to attend our annual Spring Job Fairs. Open to students, community, faculty, and staff - free for job seekers!

May 12, 2026 – Fort Steilacoom Campus, Cascade building 3rd floor

  • 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. – dedicated to veterans, active duty and military connected students and community members.
  • 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. – Open to all

May 20, 2026 - Puyallup Campus, College Center 1st and 2nd floor

  • 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. – dedicated to veterans, active duty and military connected students and community members.
  • 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. – Open to all

The Spring Job Fair is for YOU. Attending job fairs early in your education connects you with recruiters who can answer questions about your career pathway and provide insights that may change which courses you choose. These events can also lead to possible internships, job-shadowing, informational interviews, volunteer opportunities, and more! View registered employers in Handshake and note that some employers may attend one or both days.

Not sure what to expect during a job fair? Need to make a resume or update an existing resume? Unsure of what to say to recruiters?  Stop by or schedule an appointment with Career Center staff to review your resume, talk through how to prepare for a job fair, and practice your elevator pitch or other questions you may have about job fairs.

The Financial Aid Priority Timeline for Summer Term is May 4

If you plan to attend summer term, now is a great time to complete your 2026-2027 Financial Aid Application.  Additionally, many scholarships have early deadlines ahead of the next academic year.

Assistance completing your FAFSA or WAFSA application is available at no cost. MDC collocated staff are available to help in person or remotely! See staff directory for contact information.

Resume Tips to Stand Out from the Crowd!

Employers often receive dozens if not hundreds of applications for a single posting. Ensuring your information shows you are a top candidate is key in distinguishing yourself from the rest of the applicant pool. Here are some tips to help you build a resume that will stand out from the crowd:

Convert Duties to Accomplishment Statements

It is important to “show” and not just “tell.” In the most concise way, you want to convey the impact you had on an organization, demonstrating that you have the required qualifications they are seeking. Rather than describing your job duties as “called attendees and recruited volunteers,” instead say, “recruited 950 volunteers to complete 49 community-based projects over a 2-day weekend resulting in increased access to parks, educational programs, and local businesses.” That will sell them on your skills and showcase the impact of your work. Achievements have a greater influence over tasks or responsibilities.

Make it Keyword Rich

Make a copy or printout of the job description. Highlight the key words, skills, abilities, knowledge areas, software and competencies listed. Identify those that you possess and then ensure those words are all included in your resume or cover letter. The majority of organizations use applicant tracking software (ATS) that screen applicant documents for specific words including your essential skills and competencies along with technical and hard skills. Note that ATS systems do not read graphics or tables. Don’t let your documents get ruled out before you have an interview!

Show Evidence of Competencies

Based upon your job description audit, consider what evidence from your past work history or involvements demonstrates each competency. Think through different life experiences: school, volunteer work, paid work, leisure activities, etc. For any skills you do not yet possess, consider proactively learning these skills, particularly if they come up repeatedly on job postings in the field you are targeting.  The Career Center can help you talk through those past experiences to identify and name transferable and job specific skills that you may want to include on your resume.  They can also help you to research learning opportunities to gain new skills.

Investing time to curate your resume will increase your chances of becoming an ideal match for employers, rather than sending the same resume out for all applications.