Campus Life

Career Services

Student Information and Resources

Career Development Requirement

Three units of career development coursework are required for all undergraduate students. This requirement was developed to assist students to successfully transition from college to career. If a student has three or more years of full-time work experience and a current resume, the requirement may be waived by the Director of Career Services or a Department Chair/Program Director. Please note that waiving the career requirement does not grant units of credit. See your academic advisor no later than the start of your junior year to determine your career development requirement plan. (Note: the Career Development Requirement does not apply to evening intensive students.)

Options for meeting the requirement include:

  1. Taking Career Development courses at NDNU (see below).
  2. Doing an internship for credit at NDNU. The following courses count toward the Career Development Requirement: ART2990; ART2635; BUS2990; BUS2991; CAR1990; CAR2990; EDU2006; ENG2990; IDS2109; PSY2149;PSY2309; SOC2201; SOC2205; SOC2357; SOC2365; SOC2765;THE2990, and any Teaching Assistant courses.
  3. Pursuing relevant career development experiences designed in collaboration with a Department Chair/Program Director or the Director of Career Services.

Career Development Courses

CAR1000 Career Process and Decision Making(1)
Students explore careers, occupations, and the career decision-making process. Course includes self-assessment and occupational research.

 CAR1016 Scholarships (0.5)
Students learn research strategies and techniques to locate and obtain financial resources to support educational goals. Students learn key criteria for competitive applications, how to design powerful personal statements, and how to target both merit and financial need-based funding sources. Interactive class.

CAR1986 Special Topics in Career Development (1-3)
Students explore current issues in the workplace and/or career planning topics. May be repeated for credit.

CAR1990 Career Development Internship (1-3)
Students participate in internships that provide opportunity to gain career-related work experience. Internships are available in a variety of career areas including business, community service, government, and the arts. Students work 50 hours per semester for each unit. Prerequisites: by permission of program director.

CAR2000 Career Planning and Job Search (3)
Students explore and assess career values, occupational interests, skills, personality style, and work preferences. Students learn and practice job search strategies and tools, including career research, resumes, interviewing, networking, self-marketing, and goal-setting. Interactive class.

CAR2008 Career Portfolio (1)
Through portfolio development, students gain self-awareness and assess accumulated learning from their academic courses, work experience, and extracurricular activities. This process and the resulting portfolio help students to identify and obtain satisfying jobs and careers.

CAR2016 Etiquette for the College Graduate (0.5)
Students learn the key elements of workplace etiquette and gain knowledge to apply basic professional skills to the world of work. Included in this course is a formal business etiquette luncheon.

CAR2986 Special Topics in Career Development (1-3)
Students explore current issues in the workplace and/or career planning topics. May be repeated for credit.

CAR2990 Career Development Internship (1-3)
Students participate in internships that provide opportunity to gain career-related work experience. Internships are available in a variety of career areas including business, community service, government, and the arts. Students work 50 hours per semester for each unit. Prerequisites: senior status and by permission of program director.

CAR2999 Independent Study in Career Development (1-3)
Provides an opportunity for independent study under the direction of an instructor. See Undergraduate Policies and Procedures on Independent Study.

Career Success Plan

NDNU provides a number of services, events, and academic courses designed to assist students in transitioning from college to successful and satisfying careers. Below you will find our "Career Success Plan" that serves as a model for making the student to career transition. Contact the staff in Career Services for more information.

Summer Before Starting College - Research Majors

Choosing a college major is an important decision, but your choice does not dictate what careers or jobs you will have the rest of your life. Selecting a major does not mean that you are stuck in only one career path. So, just relax and get started on exploring a variety of majors.

  • Focus on things that you enjoy doing (writing, painting, solving problems, working in a lab, doing research, helping people)
  • Assess and discover your strengths, skills, personality style, values, and interests (contact Career Services for more information)
  • Find out how majors relate to potential career options (resources are available through Career Services)
  • Talk to your parents, family friends, mentors, and current students about their college majors
  • Discuss a variety of majors with the faculty at the university you'll be attending in the fall
  • Review the courses and programs offered at the university
  • Don't let anyone pressure you to settle too quickly
  • Remember, you can always change your major if needed

Freshman, Sophomore Year – Discover and Explore

  • Attend the Campus Activities Fair in September
  • Join a club or become involved in campus activities
  • Take career assessments to explore your personality, interests, values, and skills (available in Career Services)
  • Research a variety of careers
  • Visit Career Services to learn about resources
  • Participate in community engagement and volunteer activities
  • Attend Job and Internship Fairs
  • Explore careers by meeting with a career counselor and faculty advisors
  • Choose a major
  • Start building your career portfolio
  • Take CAR2000 Career Planning and Job Search
  • Get a summer job

Junior Year – Experience and Decide

  • Review academic program with your advisor
  • Discuss career direction with a career counselor
  • Develop leadership skills through campus clubs and activities
  • Do an internship and take CAR1990 for credit
  • Identify at least three career options
  • Prepare a resume
  • Develop a mentor relationship
  • Attend Job and Internship Fairs
  • Participate in community engagement activities
  • Do Informational Interviews to research jobs and careers
  • Continue building your career portfolio and track accomplishments
  • Get a summer job or summer internship

Senior Year – Take Action

  • Take CAR2016 - Etiquette for the College Graduate
  • Attend the annual Etiquette Lunch
  • Conduct mock interviews
  • Attend regular meetings of an appropriate professional association
  • Design a detailed job search plan
  • Complete the senior audit
  • Prepare a resume
  • Do Informational Interviews to research jobs and careers
  • Research and visit potential employers
  • Take relevant graduate school entrance exams
  • Do at least one internship
  • Attend Job and Career Fairs
  • Apply for a minimum of 10 positions for which a college degree is a qualification

Alumni – Career Management

  • Share your career successes and progress with Career Services staff
  • Register to become an advisor to students and fellow alumni on the NDNU Alumni - Student Network
  • Start a financial management plan, including saving regularly in your employer's retirement plan or an IRA
  • Maintain your career portfolio and an updated resume
  • Keep active in at least one professional association
  • Track your career accomplishments
  • Build and maintain your network of contacts

 

Job and Internship Postings

Career Services receives many part-time, full-time, internship, and work study job listings. Job postings received from employers are filed in job binders and placed on our job board.

Online job and internship postings are available through NDNU CareerConnect (see privacy policy) . Registered students can search for jobs and internships, post multiple resumes and cover letters, and search for employers.

Additional online internship postings are available through Internships.com - www.internships.com. Contact us for the Internships.com password - careercenter@ndnu.edu.

Top Entry Level Employers for College Undergraduate Seniors

We have partnered with OneWire Finance - OneWire.com, a leading online Career Management Tool that creates precise connections between individuals and opportunities. Top financial services firms are currently using OneWire to hire candidates. To be considered, create a profile at www.OneWire.com.

Employers on Campus

Career Services sponsors "Find a Job/Internship at Lunch." Companies and organizations set up a table outside the Dining Hall from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm during the fall and spring semesters. Watch for flyers and emails with specific details.

Job and Internship Fairs are held each year. Watch for flyers on campus and emails.

For a list of current off-campus job fairs in Northern California, go to JobStar.

Career Counseling Services

Individual career counseling is available on an appointment basis for all residential, commuter, Intensive, and graduate students as well as alumni. Call 650-508-3667 or email us for an appointment - careercenter@ndnu.edu. A visit with a career counselor can help you to:

  • Assess your personality style, skills, interests, and values
  • Choose a major
  • Explore career options
  • Develop job search strategies
  • Create or improve your resume
  • Practice interviewing skills
  • Explore options for graduate school

Resume Writing

Students can access Susan Ireland's Ready-Made Resumes Website at Resume Help Online. Contact us at 650-508-3717or careercenter@ndnu.edu for the password. This comprehensive site is composed of a Resume Writing Guide, Cover Letter Writing Guide, and templates for resumes and cover letters. Students can also make an appointment in Career Services for resume assistance. Here are a few quick pointers to help your resume stand out:

  • A good resume is a marketing tool. Its main purpose is to help you get a job interview.
  • A good resume focuses on the future - not on the past.
  • A good resume emphasizes your skills and accomplishments rather than descriptions of your previous work experiences.

View Susan Ireland's cutting-edge tips and resources:

Sample Resumes

Sample Cover Letters

Sample Thank You Letters

View videos on Resume Tips- http://education-portal.com/video_library/Resume_Videos.html

Career Portfolios

Portfolios are a great way to show off your academic work and extra-curricular activities during a job interview. Students can enroll in CAR2008 Career Portfolio to learn more. This one unit course will show you how to create a career portfolio that works for you.

Graduate School Information

We have both library and online resources to help you choose a graduate program or school and to find out how and where to take graduate school exams. We have information on writing a personal statement or essay and are available to proofread. Stop by or call for an appointment with one of our staff members. We also sponsor (with Kaplan) Practice Graduate School Admission Tests.

GradSource.com - a comprehensive resource for students exploring graduate school and studies.

Internships

Internships are essential for testing career and major choices, and for acquiring practical experience that makes you competitive in the job market. Taking CAR1990 provides a structured internship that allows you to apply your classroom knowledge to realistic business and community service internships. Career Services provides a binder of internship opportunities and other resources. Departments also offer specific internship experiences. To learn more about the Career Development Internship experience, contact Carrie McKnight at 650-508-3667 or cmcknight@ndnu.edu.

Search for internship opportunities online at Internships.com - www.internships.com. Contact us for the NDNU password - careercenter@ndnu.edu.

Career Resource Library

Career Services offers students a wide variety of resources that include:

  • Employer information
  • Graduate and professional school literature
  • Career books and information
  • EUREKA, the California Career Information System - www.eureka.org (Contact us for password - careercenter@ndnu.edu)
  • Computers available for job search, career research, and resume writing
  • Resume, interview, and job search handouts:

              Resumes

              Cover Letter Format

              Interviews

              References

              College Graduate Checklist

             More materials available in Career Services.

View videos on Job Interviewing Tips - http://education-portal.com/video_library/Job_Interviewing_Videos.html

View videos on Networking Tips - http://education-portal.com/video_library/Job_Networking_Videos.html