Welcome

We recognize there are unique needs of our graduate, school of adult learning and alumni. It is our goal to assist you in meeting those needs by providing you with resources to help you be successful. It is important to remember that your professional future is a matter of individual responsibility and you must be willing to devote substantial time to career exploration, networking, self-assessment and the job search process. We can provide resume and cover letter review and insights regarding the job search process. In addition, a variety of career-related workshops are scheduled throughout the year to aid students with their professional development during this phase of their career. For more information contact the Center for Career Development by email or by phone at (773) 244-5737.

General Resources

Ask-the-Career Counselor:

Colette Hands

The Center for Career Development's online career counselor, Colette Hands , will assist you in the following via email:

• Basic Career Counseling
• Resume and Cover Letter review
• Occupational Resources

Career Investments LLC

Career Investments LLC is a job placement and career management firm with offices in Indianapolis and Chicago. During its team's 12 years in the industry, hundreds of talented individuals have been helped to advance their career progression through job placement and direct career consulting services. North Park students and alumni are eligible for a 10% discount on services.

Indianapolis Corporate HQ
WFYI Building
1830 N. Meridian St.,
Indianapolis, IN 46202

Chicago
100 E. Walton St., Ste. 600W
Chicago, IL 60611

(317) 496-8475
Toll-Free: (866) JOB-PLAN (502-7526)
Website

Graduate Career Club

The Graduate Career Club (GCC) was created to provide career services support for current graduate students and all alumni of North Park University.

The GCC operates as a student and alumni led, volunteer-driven club that connects students, alumni, staff, faculty, employers and related communities through career events.

Membership will be open to all current NPU graduate students and alumni of both undergraduate and graduate programs. All members will be responsible for hosting or co-hosting career events and there is no minimum or maximum level of required participation.

As a graduate student club, the GCC is a self-governing student club housed in the School of Business and Nonprofit Management which operates under the supervision of the dean of the school and is subject to all NPU rules and regulations. The GCC will remain an ongoing source of career support for graduate students and alumni through the ongoing involvement of student leaders and GCC leadership.

The overriding goal of the GCC is to enhance the graduate and alumni experience at North park University by helping students and alumni position themselves as leaders with distinct value in the marketplace of their choosing.

For more information contact Tim Hargesheimer or Elizabeth Lamberti.

Actively Managing Your Career

Whether you are firmly planted in your career, considering a career change, recently been laid off or fearful of a possible layoff, or getting ready to graduate, now more than ever is the time for you to begin actively managing your career.

Top 10 Things You Can Do Now to Actively Manage Your Career

1. Start your search now. Traditionally job search efforts took 3-6 months, but now, career professionals recommend you being at least 6-9 months in advance.
2. Revisit and redefine your career goals.
3. Keep your resume up to date. Look at it at least once a month and make sure it's ready to go at a moment's notice.
4. Make sure employers and recruiters can find you by posting a "keyword searchable" or "scannable" resume on several internet job sites. Emphasize your strengths - show tangible results.
5. Know where to focus your efforts. Research the job market. A healthy understanding of industry job markets will make it much easier to research potential opportunities.
6. Be flexible. You may need to widen your scope. Consider a job outside of your chosen field or consider temporary or volunteer work.
7. Brush up on your skills. Take a class or two if needed. Update your certifications and credentials.
8. Take every job seriously and show initiative - apply for multiple jobs.
9. Create a 60 second infomercial about yourself. Your infomercial also called an "elevator speech" is a short description of who you are, when you are graduating or ready to work, the university you are graduating from, your major/minor/concentration, the work you've been doing, what skills you have and how you learned them along with the type of position you are seeking. This infomercial is designed simply to get the employer to invite you to share more. Be creative and memorable.
10. Get Connected! It is easier to land a job if you know someone on the inside. Network like crazy... let everyone know what your interests are.

Networking

Your network will consist of individuals you want to contact for career-related information. This could consist of family, friends, current and previous co-workers, current and former classmates, social acquaintances and those you have met in professional organizations, church and civic groups.

Ten Tips to Follow When Networking

1. Keep in mind that networking is about being genuine and authentic, building trust and relationships, and seeing how you can help others.
2. Ask yourself what your goals are in participating in networking meetings so that you will pick groups that will help you get what you are looking for. Some meetings are based more on learning, making contacts, and/or volunteering rather than on stricktly making business connections.
3. Visit as many groups as possible that spark your interest. Notice the tone and attitude of the groups. Do the people sound supportive of one another? Does the leadership appear competent? Many groups will allow you to visit two times before joining.
4. Hold volunteer positions in organizations. This is a great way to stay visible and give back to groups that have helped you.
5. Ask open-ended questions in networking conversations. This means questions that ask who, what, when, and how as opposed to those that can be answered with a simple yes or no. This form of questioning opens up the discussion and shows listeners that you are interested in them.
6. Have a clear understanding of what you do and why, for who, and what makes your doing it special or different from the others doing the same thing. In order to get referrals, you must first have a clear understanding of what you do that you can easily articulate to others.
7. Be able to articulate what you are looking for and how others my help you. Too often people in conversations as, "How may I help you:" and no immediate answer comes to mind.
8. Follow through quickly and efficiently on referrals you are given. When people give you referrals, your actions are a reflection on them.
9. Respect and honor that and your referrals will grow.
10. Call those you meet who may benefit from what you do and vice versa. Express that you enjoyed meeting them, and ask if you could get together and share ideas.