Career Development and Community Engagement (CDCE) connects students, alumni, faculty, and employers, makes job opportunities easy to find and provides a wide variety of in-person and on-demand career-readiness resources. Find available resources and services at uwf.edu/career or by calling 850-474-2254.

CDCE Guidelines for Students & Alumni

These guidelines outline expectations for students and alumni regarding professional conduct, communication, and participation in career-related activities. Additionally, procedures for appointments, workshops, presentations, and career events, including guidelines for RSVPs, cancellations, and the consequences of no-shows are addressed. Adherence to these standards ensures a professional environment conducive to career development and networking opportunities.

Communication and Interactions

Be professional and respectful in all correspondence with CDCE staff, students, faculty, and potential employers, whether in person or virtual.

  • Be an active listener, pay attention to what the other person has to say, pay attention to their body language, and try to understand their perspective rather than preparing your rebuttal.
  • Openly receive, apply, and share constructive feedback.
  • Be optimistic, polite, courteous, and kind.
  • Be conscientious of your verbal and non-verbal behavior, and avoid negativity or foul language.
  • Be clear and concise in the message you wish to share
  • Do not be too casual in your communication, address correspondence using proper salutation until otherwise told and proofread your emails and other electronic messages to ensure standard grammar and punctuation guidelines are satisfied. When communicating electronically, use a professional email address.
  • Consider the most appropriate or effective medium to communicate your message (email, phone call, in person or etc.).
  • Dress appropriately. Career events and interviews typically require business professional attire unless otherwise noted.

Appointments, Workshops, and Presentations

  • Arrive on time and prepare for appointments and presentations with CDCE or employers.
  • If you arrive 15 minutes or more past your scheduled appointment time, your appointment will be rescheduled.
  • Arrive 15 minutes early and dress professionally for mock interview appointments.
  • Call our office 24 hours prior to your appointment/presentation if a cancellation is needed. 
  • Provide accurate and complete information on all career materials (e.g., Handshake, resume or cover letter).
  • Silence your cell phone and give your full attention to your career coach or presenter.

Career Events

  • For career events where RSVPs are required, RSVP through Handshake. If you can no longer attend an event, you must cancel your RSVP by the cancellation deadline listed in the event description on Handshake. Pay special attention to the Career Event No-Show Procedures and no-show fees for particular events.
  • Turn cell phones to silent and give your full attention to the employer.
  • Dress business casual or professional for all career events.

Career Event No-Show Procedures

UWF students and alumni are considered "no-shows" when they fail to show up or cancel their RSVP at least 24 hours in advance of the respective face-to-face or virtual career event, fair, or interview. Prior to registering, students and alumni should make informed decisions and only register for events, fairs, and interviews that fit into their schedules and that they plan to attend.

Late cancellations and no-shows reflect negatively upon both the institution and the entire university community. Therefore, there is a professional expectation that students and alumni will attend any career event, fair, and/or interview for which they RSVP. In the event of an extreme emergency that will prevent attendance, students and alumni are expected to email CDCE at career@uwf.edu as soon as possible.

Students and alumni who are no-shows for career events, fairs, and/or interviews will have their Handshake accounts deactivated until they meet with a Career Coach in CDCE. If they write and send a letter of apology/explanation to the employer (forward the email to career@uwf.edu), Handshake access will be reinstated immediately upon sending.

Employer Engagement

  • Respond promptly to all correspondence with employers.
  • Prepare for interactions with employers by researching the company and/or industry.
  • Provide accurate and complete information in all correspondence with employers.

Interviews and Job Offers

  • If you are invited to an organization for an interview and do not plan to attend, decline the invitation with the employer either verbally or in writing as soon as possible (preferably at least 24 hours in advance of the interview).
  • Always respond to every offer of employment, whether you accept or reject it.
  • If you accept an offer of employment, withdraw any pending applications when possible and cancel any upcoming interviews.

Technology Use

  • Be respectful and professional in your public comments on platforms such as Handshake, which allow you to engage with employers or other professionals.
  • Be conscientious of the nature and permanence of the digital world and of the long-term implications of your online behavior.
  • Through the utilization of the Handshake resource, you are agreeing to the terms outlined in the UWF Student and Alumni Handshake User Agreement.

Inappropriate Conduct Defined

All patrons are expected to exhibit appropriate conduct at all times in any interaction or correspondence with CDCE, whether in person or virtually. Conduct viewed as inappropriate or disruptive includes, but is not limited to, the following:

  • Conduct presents a danger to the health, safety, or welfare of self, staff, other students, or employers (physical or psychological) in CDCE.
  • Conduct presents harm to property (physical or virtual) in CDCE.
  • Conduct is disruptive to the orderly processes and functions of the CDCE office or program.
  • Conduct is deceitful, intimidating, or threatening.
  • Conduct is inconsistent with the practice of this office.

Consequences of Inappropriate Conduct

Failure to adhere to the aforementioned Guidelines could result in the following consequences:

  • Level 1 – staff can cease the meeting and ask students to leave, disconnect the call, or remove inappropriate comments online.
  • Level 2 – repeated (twice) inappropriate conduct that staff have had to address; will not schedule additional appointment pending meeting with Director/Executive Director
  • Level 3 – repeated inappropriate conduct, and the Director/Executive Director has addressed concerns. Non-compliant with directives from levels 1 and 2. Will send a referral to the UWF Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities (OSRR) and suspend all services pending the outcome of the OSRR Conduct Process.

UWF is committed to providing all students the opportunity to share concerns and complaints with the University community in order to assist in reaching resolutions that are fair. Please visit the UWF Dean of Students website for more information. 


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