Centralized web application for University Students' internship placements: a technological approach to career readiness

Abstract

University students often face significant challenges in securing internships and job placements due to a fragmented and inefficient job search process. This research project aims to develop a web application addressing the need for a centralized, user-friendly platform that consolidates job search efforts. The proposed web application leverages modern web technologies to provide real-time updates, efficient filtering options, and a comprehensive repository of job opportunities, streamlining the job search process. The current lack of a structured and efficient approach to finding internships and job placements leads to missed opportunities and increased frustration among students. This project tackles these issues by creating a dedicated web application designed to simplify and centralize the job search process. The front end poses real-time updates and interactive features like autocomplete and infinite scrolling. The back-end is powered by the Laravel framework, chosen for its robust features, including the Blade engine and its MVC architecture. The usability testing generated key findings confirming the platform's usability. Most student users successfully navigated the interface and completed the primary job/ internship application task independently, demonstrating that the system is effective in enhancing the job search process. The project is significant in its potential to enhance the career readiness of students by providing a reliable platform that connects them with potential employers, improving the overall job search experience and increasing the chances of securing suitable internships and job placements.