NORTHWESTERN CAREER ADVANCEMENT

Assess

• Reflect on which activities and experiences you’ve enjoyed in the past and why.
• Identify your interests, values, and skills by taking the career and personality assessments offered at NCA.
• Learn about the many opportunities, programs, and organizations Northwestern has to offer.

Explore

• Explore your interests by getting involved in student organizations or volunteer opportunities.
• Enroll in classes that allow you to learn about fields that interest you.
• Research multiple careers and industries using resources on the NCA website, including Vault and the Occupational Outlook Handbook.
• Attend programs and events sponsored by NCA, academic departments, and student organizations.
• Prioritize your goals, time, and commitments as you adjust to life as a first-year student.

Decide

• Meet with an NCA team member to create a personalized career plan.
• Complete the NCA Career Competencies Assessment to determine what skills you have to offer and which skills you want to develop.
• Consider opportunities to gain experience, such as research, study abroad, internships, part-time jobs, and volunteer work.
• International students: Attend international office walk-in hours to understand Curricular Practical Training (CPT) procedures

Act

• Convert your high school résumé into a professional document and enhance it using VMock.
• Activate your Handshake account  and choose your profile preferences.
• Create a LinkedIn profile and begin to build your network by con-necting with academic and personal contacts and joining groups.
• Request informational interviews with people you know whose careers interest you.
• Pursue summer opportunities that align with your skills and with experiences you want to explore.
• Talk with family and friends and keep them informed of your experiences

Assess

• Reflect on your first year of college, specifically on what you learned about yourself.
• Meet with an NCA team member to clarify your career interests.
• Think about how your skills, values, interests, and experiences intersect to shape your professional narrative—the story you want others to know about your career pursuits.

Explore

•  Use LinkedIn and Our Northwestern to view alumni in your major or who work in an industry of interest.

• Conduct informational interviews with alumni, industry professionals, and personal contacts.
• Create a profile in the Northwestern Network Mentorship Program and cultivate a relationship with an alumni mentor.
• Enhance your leadership experience in student organizations by chairing a committee, initiating a project, or running for a position. 

Decide

• Narrow the range of opportunities you want to pursue.
• Research industries and learn about their recruitment processes and timelines.
• Develop a search strategy with an NCA team member and explore opportunities (internships, jobs, volunteering).
• Declare a major and meet with your academic adviser if you’re considering changing your major or school.

Act

• Update your résumé, LinkedIn profile, and Handshake account to include first and second year experiences.
• Establish new contacts using LinkedIn and Our Northwestern.
• Participate in career fairs, career treks, and employer/alumni events to learn about different industries, jobs, and internships.
• Apply for opportunities using targeted résumés and cover letters.
• Seek guidance from family and friends as you navigate the search process.
• Connect with your professors to establish strong relationships, especially if you’re considering graduate school.

Assess

• Identify what you’ve learned from each internship, job, and student experience thus far.
• Enhance your awareness of your skills and values by completing a Motivated Skills or Values Card Sort with an NCA team member.
• Reflect on your strengths and weaknesses and how they impact your career goals

Explore

• Research industries, positions, and employers of interest using Vault, LinkedIn, and company websites.
• Identify the skills you want to develop and use in your upcoming internships and jobs.
• Connect with an NCA team member to evaluate opportunities for gaining experience.
• Talk with alumni and other contacts to learn about their career experiences.

Decide

• Determine “must-haves” and “must-not-haves” as they relate to opportunities you’re exploring.
• Select an experience that will provide relevant skill development for your desired career path.
• Identify two or three industries to consider for full-time employment after graduation and learn about their recruiting timelines and processes.
• International students: Meet with an international office adviser to understand Optional Practical Training (OPT), the STEM extension, and H-1B visa considerations.

Act

• Continue to network with alumni via LinkedIn, Our Northwestern, and the Northwestern Network Mentorship Program.
• Contact the Office of Fellowships for information about career-related fellowships.
• Polish the professional introduction you plan to use during events with employers and alumni.
• Practice interviewing skills in a mock interview with an NCA team member.

Assess

• Reflect on how your values and interests might determine your choice of work setting.
• Think about your college experience—both the defining moments you’ve had and the additional experiences you want to have before graduation.
• If you don’t have a clear career focus, meet with an NCA team member.
  

Explore

•  Research positions and employers of interest in your target industries.
• Network at employer information sessions, alumni events, coffee chats, and career fairs to expand your knowledge of job opportunities.
• Talk with peers about how they are balancing their search process with academics and extracurricular activities.
• Learn about and implement search techniques for your industry by meeting with an NCA team member.

Decide

• Give yourself permission to pursue what most interests you.
• Narrow your employment pursuits to one or two industries.
• Reach out to alumni and your contacts to inform them of your search, even if they work outside your target industries.
• Develop a list of alternatives should you need to consider options other than your top-choice career field or graduate program.

Act

• Tailor your résumé and LinkedIn profile to the industries and employers you’re considering.
• If you’re considering graduate school, complete required admissions tests and begin preparing applications.
• Apply for positions before their deadlines, and be prepared for rejection—a common occurrence in the search process.
• Strengthen your interviewing skills through a mock interview with an NCA team member.
• Identify references and request permission to use them in applications for jobs or graduate programs.
• Accept an offer for full-time employment or graduate school.
• Provide updates to your network contacts.