Are you Arch Ready?

The Arch represents UGA’s time-honored traditions and the boundary between campus and the professional world. At the UGA Career Center, we want to equip students to succeed in their career development journey of choosing a major, building relationships with employers, applying to graduate school, and much more. Being “Arch Ready” means being prepared for life after graduation.

This semester, we are offering both in-person and virtual Arch Ready Programs, which will be indicated via our event calendar on the Career Center website or through Handshake. All virtual programs will be conducted either through Zoom Webinar or Zoom Meeting, and can be accessed through Handshake, so be sure to log into the Handshake event on the day/time of the program.

The Arch Ready Professionalism Certificate is designed to develop a strong sense of professionalism in students. In that light, we ask students to respect the following guidelines when attending an Arch Ready event:

  • Join the workshop on time and stay for the entire presentation or event. Students who show up more than 5 minutes late will not receive credit for attending.
  • Be mindful of your professional brand on Zoom. While we understand the casual nature of online learning, we encourage you to display a professional profile picture on your Zoom account or dress in a respectful way should you leave your camera on. For in-person events, consider how you would like to present yourself to a potential new contact (employer or alumni).
  • If you are attending an Arch Ready event for class credit, you will receive a confirmation email after completing each post-event survey. This email can serve as your record of attendance for the program.
  • For all virtual programs, registration for each event will be required through your Handshake account. You will not receive Arch Ready credit towards the certificate if you do not register for the Arch Ready program via the Handshake event link.

"What’s in it for me?"

The Arch Ready Certificate program covers professional development topics, ranging from resume writing and interviewing to choosing a major and pursuing your dream job. Aside from enhancing your professional skills, Arch Ready Certificate recipients also receive a formal digital “Arch Ready” certificate!

Which Arch Ready Programs are best for you?

Take this short Arch Ready Buzzfeed Quiz to find out which Arch Ready programs will help you the most this semester!

Need help tracking your attendance?

Download this Arch Ready Program Self-Tracker Fillable Form.


Obtaining the Arch Ready Certificate

To support the professional development of UGA students, the Career Center offers an “Arch Ready Certificate” program each semester. Obtaining the certificate is easy!

  1. Make sure to register for each virtual event via the Handshake event link, or check-in to the in-person event. You will not receive Arch Ready credit towards the certificate if you do not register or check-in for the Arch Ready program. For virtual programs, you must log into Handshake and access the program through Handshake on the day/time of the event.

  2. Complete a brief survey after each presentation. You must complete the survey within one hour of the event.

  3. After attending 5 or more events, click the button below to complete the final Arch Ready survey by Friday, April 28th at midnight. A UGA Career Center staff member will verify your attendance and contact you prior to finals to confirm your completion of the program.

  4. COMPLETE THE FINAL ARCH READY SURVEY

  5. You will receive an email with your digital Certificate by May 3, 2023.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to participate?

All UGA students are eligible to pursue the Arch Ready certificate program.

How do I sign up to pursue the certificate?

There is no official sign-up process. Simply attend 5 or more eligible events, complete the short assessments after each event, and complete the required final survey which is linked on this page.

Is this program for academic credit?

No. The Arch Ready Professionalism Certificate is a non-credit program intended to enhance your degree through professional development.

Can I put this certificate on my resume?

Yes! Completion of the certificate indicates you are serious about your professional development.

Can I substitute other events or count a meeting with my career consultant toward the certificate?

We cannot make any substitutions for this program due to the large number of participating students. However, there may be additional events that count toward the certificate – visit the Career Center's online "Arch Ready Programs" calendar or contact your Career Consultant to learn more.

What if I need an accommodation for this program?

The Career Center is committed to providing access for all people. If you have accessibility concerns, please contact us at career@uga.edu at least 2 weeks prior to the event to arrange reasonable accommodations.

How many programs have I already completed?

Please track your own attendance throughout the semester. Career consultants may not be able to respond to attendance inquiries in a timely manner.

Additional questions?

Please contact the front desk of the UGA Career Center at (706) 542-3375 or email archready@uga.edu.

Quotes from Previous Program Participants