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On-Campus Recruiting Information

What Is On-Campus Recruiting?

On-Campus Recruiting (OCR) is a recruiting method used by employers seeking to hire interns and entry-level employees from some of the brightest and most talented college students. Each year, employers recruit on campus through:

On-Campus Recruiting (OCR)

Employers seeking to hire Northwestern students often decide to host their first round interviews for full-time and internship roles in the Fall, Winter and Spring Quarters at our Interview Center located at 630 Lincoln Street. Fall Quarter is the most common recruiting time for full-time hiring and only a few summer internship recruiting efforts. Winter and Spring Quarters on the other hand are more often used for summer intern recruitment and very rarely some full-time roles.

Applying for OCR

Students apply for on-campus recruiting positions through Handshake under the Jobs > On-Campus Interviews menu. The Handshake Help Center offers complete details on how to apply to on-campus interviews. (Please note: Preferred criteria are set by the employer and students should never unethically represent themselves.)

Please be sure to also follow the OCR policies if you are considering canceling your interview. If you have any questions please contact our office either via email at nca@northwestern.edu or phone 847.491.3700. Our office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30am until 5pm. We do not monitor email or voicemail outside of regular operating hours.

Career Fairs and Networking Events

Employers will often want to meet potential candidates in person at career fairs or networking events. Please be sure to research employers before visiting with them at these events. Employers appreciate when students are prepared, and this will also showcase your level of interest in them as a potential place of employment. Read through our tips for networking and how to work a career fair prior to attending at these events to set yourself up for success. The dress code for NCA career fairs and networking events is business casual. To learn more, visit our business casual webpage.

For a complete list of upcoming NCA career fairs, please visit the NCA career fairs webpage.

Employer Information Sessions

Another way that employers market their mission, values, culture and employment opportunities is by hosting information sessions on campus. Typically, these presentations will feature a recruiter and, at times, Northwestern alumni who currently work for the organization. Come prepared with questions to ask and dress in business casual attire. For current employer information session listings, log into Handshake and select Events > Event Search to filter by event type. The dress code for NCA career fairs and networking events is business casual. To learn more, visit our business casual webpage.

Preparing for OCR

Before applying to any posting, and especially with on-campus recruiting, it is highly recommended that Northwestern students prepare for success. You can do that simply by making an appointment with your NCA career adviser. During your appointment, your career adviser can help you: