does google search within words for keywords

I am creating a portal for my companies services as they are on a number of different websites, im am trying to SEO the portal by using as few key words as possible so it will just be images with alt text or one word for each service that will link to the relevant site for that service.

here is where my query begins

Careers and students are two words linking to the same page. If i create the link as careers_students will google be able to read both students and careers as keywords? or will it be able to pick out careers?

I think what i'm asking is does google search within words for key words?

I dont want to use a hypen as then it will count as another key word. I have it down to 13 on the portal.

bit of help here would be lovely!

Yes, Google should be able to read "within words". "careers_students" or "careers-students" or "careers+students" should cause Google no problem.

"careersstudents" or "careersStudents" might cause it some difficulties, but I doubt it.

Something sort of related..
When i search for Unmoderated forums Google highlights my domain name like so:
unmoderated-forum.com
It doesn't highlight "forum" though even though it is just the singular of my search phrase "forums".

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Web Design and Development Blog

Alex Perry
Technical Administrator.

Pretty sure it can at this point guys, cheers. it highlights Unmoderated Forums in the title but not the url must just be a qurk in the way it displays results.