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Hiring & Onboarding

Recruiting high-caliber talent is critical to fulfilling Northwestern's strategic priorities and the advancement of the university's mission. 

This section provides helpful information, tools and resources to help you navigate the hiring and onboarding processes at Northwestern. Those involved in the hiring process vary by type of employee. 

Announcements

Position Approval Process: Effective October 8, 2021, the Position Approval Committee (PAC) will be discontinued. Process updates will be posted this week. PAC will meet for the final time the week of October 11 to review any outstanding requests in its queue. If you have any questions, please continue to use the PAC email address at positionapprovalcommittee@northwestern.edu.

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Salary History Ban: On July 31, 2019, an amendment to the Illinois Equal Pay Act of 2003 was signed into law, which prohibits employers from inquiring into a job applicant’s salary and benefit history. The law became effective September 29, 2019. For more information on what is, and is not, allowed under the law, visit our Salary History Ban page.

Regular staff

  • Includes executive, managerial, administrative, professional, research, technical, maintenance and clerical positions — both union and non-union roles.
  • HR Talent Acquisition supports hiring activities in partnership with the schools and units.

See the process for hiring staff.

Research staff

  • Postdoctoral fellows - The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs advises on the process for postdoctoral fellow appointments and hiring activities are coordinated by the schools and units.
  • Research associates - The Office for Research approves research staff appointments and hiring activities are coordinated by the schools and units.

Learn about hiring research staff.

Temporary workers

Temporary workers are hired for occasional or casual employment and work less than 1,000 hours in a 12-month period:

  • Sourced Temps - HR Talent Acquisition sources, screens and recommends individuals for temporary assignments in schools and units.
  • Direct Temps - HR Talent Acquisition conducts pre-employment checks on individuals identified by the schools and units.

Explore the process for hiring temporary staff.

Unpaid interns & volunteers

  • Non-employees who donate their time and services to Northwestern.
  • Individuals must meet the criteria outlined under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to qualify as an unpaid intern or volunteer.

See procedures for working with interns and volunteers.

 

Information about faculty hiring is available on the Office of the Provost website.

Northwestern Medicine has its own hiring process. Contact your Department/Business Administrator for more information on Northwestern's hiring process.