Northwestern University Career Toolkit

NCA is Northwestern’s centralized career office, but multiple schools have dedicated career teams with deeper industry connections: McCormick School of Engineering (Engineering Career Development), Medill School of Journalism (Medill Career Services), and School of Communication (EPICS). Always use both your school-specific office and NCA. Each has distinct employer relationships.

• Book a Career Advising Appointment

  Schedule in-person, virtual, or phone appointments via Handshake: Career Center → Appointments. Covers career exploration, job search strategy, networking, resume and cover letter review, interview prep, and offer negotiation. Send materials 24 hours in advance for document review appointments. Note which school or college you belong to in the appointment notes — some advisers specialize by school.

• Walk-In Hours — Quick Questions Without an Appointment

  Walk-in advising: 12pm–2pm Monday–Friday during the academic year. In-person Tuesdays and Thursdays at 620 Lincoln Street, Evanston. Virtual via Live Chat Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Live Chat is a shared forum — do not share confidential information in the main thread. Each session is 15–20 minutes. For longer questions, book a full appointment.

• Engineering Career Development (ECD) — McCormick Students

  Dedicated career office for McCormick School of Engineering students. Specialized advising for engineering, computer science, manufacturing, and design recruiting. Runs its own career fairs, employer recruiting events, and OCI separate from NCA. Also manages access to Interstride for international students navigating US engineering job searches. McCormick students should use ECD as their primary office and NCA as a supplement.

• Medill Career Services — Journalism & IMC Students

  Dedicated career team for Medill students in undergraduate journalism and Integrated Marketing Communications. 16,000+ Medill alumni — a tight-knit, loyal network. Medill offers a Journalism Residency (10-week internship experience for undergrads at a news organization) and a Global Residency (10–12 weeks at an international news organization). Employers in journalism, digital media, advertising, public relations, and product management recruit specifically through Medill. Internship credit available via Medill Career Services’ dedicated internship course.

• EPICS — School of Communication Career Services

  External Programs, Internships & Career Services for School of Communication students across radio, television, film, communication studies, dance, human communication sciences, performance studies, and theatre. The EPICS Internship Award provides a $3,500 stipend for SoC undergrads in unpaid or low-pay summer internships (application merges with SIGP — SoC students are automatically considered for both). Access career coaching, alumni networking, and SoC-specific employer connections through EPICS.

• Health Professions Advising

  Northwestern Health Professions Advising supports students pursuing MD, DO, PA, DDS, nursing, and other health professions programs. Advising covers academic planning, clinical experience strategy, personal statement development, and application timelines. Access through NCA — HPA has a dedicated subpage linked from the NCA guidance section of the website.

Handshake is Northwestern’s primary platform for all job and internship opportunities, career fair registration, employer event sign-ups, and advising appointment booking. Access requires Northwestern NetID. The NCA podcast ‘Career Tea in 10’ is available through the programs page — episodes on specific career topics served in 10 minutes.

• Handshake @ Northwestern — Effective Use Guide

  Log in via Northwestern NetID. Complete your Career Interests profile immediately — this drives personalized job alerts and event recommendations. Use the Events tab to find employer info sessions and career fairs. Attending a company’s information session before applying to their job postings is one of the most consistently effective ways to stand out. The Appointments tab schedules all advising sessions.

• Internship Credit Programs — Full List

  Multiple programs allow students to earn academic credit or transcript recognition for internship experiences. The full list is available on the NCA Resources page. Policies differ significantly by school — confirm credit eligibility with your school’s registrar and academic adviser before starting. Credit-based internships include Chicago Field Studies, Engage Chicago, Journalism Residency, SESP Industry Practicum, and SoC EPICS Internship Seminar (CMN 340).

• International Student Career Resources — Interstride & Guide

  Interstride (available to McCormick and Weinberg students via ECD and NCA) helps international students navigate US visa sponsorship, employer identification, and career development. The International Student Career Planning Guide (PDF) — a joint collaboration between NCA, ECD, Medill Career Services, EPICS, Chicago Field Studies, and OISS — covers how to navigate the US job and internship search process as an international student. LockinU covers opportunities in China and surrounding countries. All available via the NCA Resources page.

• Undergraduate Summer at Northwestern — Research & Internships

  NCA’s Resources page links to the Undergraduate Summer at Northwestern website, which covers enrollment, enrichment, employment, and enjoyment opportunities across campus during summer. Students can take summer courses, conduct research, complete credit-bearing internships, and access academic support. Access via the NCA Resources page.

NCA provides resume and cover letter resources through the NCA Career Guide PDF, VMock AI-powered feedback, and scheduled or walk-in advising appointments. VMock is free for all Northwestern undergraduates and master’s students and provides instant feedback 24/7.

• VMock — AI Resume & LinkedIn Feedback (Free for NU Students)

  Free AI-powered tool providing instant, personalized feedback on resumes and LinkedIn profiles. Available to all Northwestern undergraduates and master’s students. Access via the NCA Resources page. Use VMock before scheduling an in-person review to come in with a cleaner document and use advising time for higher-level strategy. If SSO login has issues, use the VMock troubleshooting link on the Resources page.

• NCA Career Guide — Resume Samples & Cover Letter Templates

  The NCA Career Guide PDF (downloadable from the Resources page) includes industry-specific resume samples and a detailed cover letter guide. Use as your starting template before a 1:1 review. Samples cover engineering, journalism, communication, arts, business, government/nonprofit, and other Northwestern-specific career paths.

• Generative AI for Career Readiness — NCA Guide

  NCA’s guide on using AI tools effectively in the job search — covering career exploration, networking outreach drafting, cover letter assistance, resume improvement, and interview prep. Available via the NCA Resources page. Useful for understanding what AI does and doesn’t do well in career contexts, and for specific AI prompt strategies.

• Resume Review — Walk-In or Scheduled Appointment

  Resume reviews available during walk-in hours (12–2pm, Tue/Thu in-person; Mon/Wed/Fri virtual) for quick 15-minute feedback. For deeper, industry-specific review, book a full advising appointment. If you’re a McCormick, Medill, or SoC student, your school-specific career office may give more targeted feedback for your field.

NCA offers mock interviews via scheduled appointments and walk-in hours. Skills Discovery by Cappfinity helps identify and articulate skills before interviews. The Career Ambassador program trains undergraduate peer advisers who can also provide practice feedback.

• Mock Interview — Career Advising Appointment

  Book a mock interview via Handshake. Specify your target industry, employer, and interview format (behavioral, technical, or case) in the appointment notes. For school-specific interview preparation — engineering technical interviews (ECD), journalism portfolio reviews (Medill), or communication/performance auditions (EPICS) — your school’s dedicated office may be more targeted than NCA.

• Skills Discovery by Cappfinity

  Free platform for measuring and articulating skills, available to all Northwestern students via the NCA Resources page. Helps you identify strengths and translate them into compelling interview answers and resume language. Good first step before a mock interview if you’re unsure how to articulate what you’ve learned from your experiences.

• Career Ambassadors (C.A.s) — Peer Interview Preparation

  NCA’s trained undergraduate peer advisers organize presentations, workshops, and events across campus. C.A.s are an additional resource for interview preparation beyond professional staff — often more available for informal practice sessions and candid feedback about what worked in their own recruiting. Find C.A. events via Handshake.

• Career Tea in 10 — NCA Podcast

  NCA’s career advice podcast, with episodes on specific career topics served in approximately 10 minutes. Available via the NCA Programs & Opportunities page. Episodes cover topics including interview preparation, networking, salary negotiation, and industry-specific guidance. Good for on-the-go preparation between appointments.

Northwestern’s 200,000+ alumni network and NCA’s Career Trek program are the two most powerful employer-connection tools available to NU students. NCA also runs the Northwestern Externship Program (NEXT) for job shadowing, and the Our Northwestern alumni directory for informational interview outreach.

• Our Northwestern — Alumni Directory for Informational Interviews

  Searchable directory of Northwestern alumni by name, class year, school, degree, industry, employer, and keyword. Use for informational interviews before recruiting season opens. Outreach strategy from the NCA Career Guide: 3-sentence message, one specific question, reference your shared Northwestern connection. Access via the NCA Resources page.

• Northwestern Network Mentorship Program — Ongoing Alumni Mentorship

  Formal ongoing mentor relationship with a Northwestern alumnus in your field. Request a mentor via the NCA Resources page. A structured complement to the one-off informational interviews you conduct through the alumni directory — best for long-term guidance through a recruiting cycle or career transition.

• NCA Career Treks — On-Site Employer Visits

  Small-group trips bringing Northwestern students on-site to visit organizations in target industries. Past treks include the Media Trek to New York City (open to students from Bienen, McCormick, Medill, SoC, SESP, and Weinberg with demonstrated media interest; limited to 25 students; $300 deposit covers hotel and local transportation). Attending a trek provides the relationship foundation to follow up with a firm before applications open. Treks are posted in Handshake — check at the start of each quarter.

• Northwestern Externship Program (NEXT) — Job Shadowing

  Shadow Northwestern alumni on the job to learn about their daily work and build a professional relationship. NEXT is organized by NCA and provides structure around the shadowing experience including pre- and post-shadow reflection. A low-commitment introduction to industries and employers before formal internship recruiting. Access via the NCA Programs & Opportunities page.

• Career Fairs & Employer Events

  NCA hosts multiple career fairs and employer events throughout the year. ECD, Medill, and EPICS run additional school-specific fairs and employer recruiting events with their own employer partnerships. All events are posted in Handshake. Attending employer information sessions before applying to their postings consistently improves outcomes — recruiters track attendance. Check Handshake events weekly during fall and winter quarters.

Northwestern has nearly 700 registered student organizations across all interest areas. The platform is Wildcat Connection (CampusGroups). Organization fairs at Norris University Center are held at the start of each quarter — the most efficient way to survey hundreds of organizations in one afternoon. The majority of NU organizations are open to all students with no barriers to membership.

• Wildcat Connection — Full RSO Directory (~700 Organizations)

  Browse and join all registered organizations, find upcoming events, and track your co-curricular involvement. Log in with your NetID. Filter by category (Academic, Cultural & Identity, Service, Arts & Entertainment, Sports & Recreation, Professional & Pre-Professional) or search by keyword.

• Student Organizations & Activities (SOA)

  SOA manages registration, funding, and support for all Northwestern RSOs. Starting a new organization requires a minimum of 7 members and must be open to all students. Proposals are reviewed each fall. Contact SOA for the current timeline and requirements.

This section is Northwestern-specific. SIGP is one of the most impactful internship funding programs of any university. Established in 2007, it has allowed hundreds of NU students each year to pursue unpaid internships they otherwise could not afford. In 2025, 282 students received $3,500 grants across 25 US states and 34 countries. 89% of recipients would have had to turn down their experience without SIGP.

• SIGP — What It Is & Who Qualifies

  SIGP provides a $3,500 stipend (up to $5,000 for students living away from home in an in-person/hybrid role) for undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need participating in unpaid summer internships. 2025 data: 282 students received grants; 89% would have had to decline or supplement with a second job without funding. Established 2007; funded by Northwestern alumni, parents, staff, and the Alumnae of Northwestern University and Council of One Hundred. Industries covered: nonprofit, government, arts, journalism, media, law, healthcare, and any other field that traditionally offers unpaid roles.

• SIGP Eligibility Requirements

  Eligible students must: be current full-time degree-seeking undergrads enrolled at least through the following fall quarter; demonstrate financial need; be in an in-person (not fully remote) unpaid summer internship; work a minimum of 250 hours between June–September with a designated supervisor; not receive money from the employer or other Northwestern summer grants (small employer stipends under $1,500 are permitted). Students do not need an internship secured at time of application — if selected without an internship, recipients must meet with an NCA adviser to develop their search strategy. Apply by the published spring deadline (2025 deadline: March 13).

• SIGP Application Process

  Apply via NCA’s SES One Form (linked from SIGP application page). Two-step process with a General Application and essays. Essay 1: describe the organization and experience. Essay 2: financial need statement. Essay 3 (optional): additional financial information not reflected in your aid package. Application also includes a summer expense budget — include all living and travel costs. If you do not receive Northwestern financial aid, you must address financial need explicitly in Essay 3. Contact sigp@northwestern.edu with questions.

• SIGP & Credit-Based Internships

  Students in credit-based internship programs (Chicago Field Studies, Engage Chicago, Journalism Residency, SESP Industry Practicum, SoC EPICS Internship Seminar/CMN 340) CAN apply for SIGP. However, SIGP CANNOT be combined with GESI or other programs that offer their own funding streams. SIGP also cannot be combined with any other summer grants from Northwestern — students must choose between SIGP and any other university grant.

• EPICS Internship Award — School of Communication Students

  SoC students are automatically considered for both the EPICS Internship Award ($3,500) and SIGP through a merged application. Both awards have the same value ($3,500) — students can only receive one. The merged application went live to eliminate redundancy. Must be in good academic standing. Internship must be unpaid or low-paid (approximately $1,500 or less total).

This section is Northwestern-specific. Medill students have access to one of the most distinctive journalism and communications career ecosystems of any university in the country. The Journalism Residency and Global Residency programs are genuinely unique — no equivalent exists at most peer schools.

• Journalism Residency — 10-Week On-Site Newsroom Experience

  Medill’s structured 10-week journalism residency at a news organization. Students complete assignments similar in quality and quantity to entry-level professional staff. Unpaid internships can earn academic credit through Medill Career Services’ dedicated internship course (recorded on transcript as a permanent part of your academic file). Employer partners include major print, digital, and broadcast outlets.

• Medill Global Residency — International Newsroom Experience

  10–12 week journalism internship at an international news organization in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Oceania, or the Americas. Assignments comparable to entry-level professional staff. One of the only programs of this scope at any undergraduate journalism school. Coordinate with Medill Career Services for current participating organizations and application process.

• Medill Job Outcomes — Where Medill Grads Go

  Employment outcomes for Medill undergraduate journalism graduates. Employers include major news outlets, digital publications, government agencies (US Senate, US DOJ), communications firms, and production companies. Data based on self-reported and verified sources (LinkedIn, X, company websites). Access the outcomes page to research specific employers and how current alumni landed their roles.

• Medill Career Services — Networking Events & Alumni Access

  Medill alumni network: 16,000+ strong in journalism and IMC. Faculty have deep industry experience and their networks are explicitly available to students. Medill Career Services organizes networking events connecting students with alumni and professionals hiring in journalism and communications. ‘Often these people will be the contacts who help you get your next job.’ Access all Medill career resources via the main Medill website.

This section is Northwestern-specific. Chicago Field Studies and Engage Chicago are two academic programs that combine Chicago-based internships with academic coursework. Both award credit, connect students to Chicago’s professional ecosystem, and have their own funding streams — they cannot be combined with SIGP but offer structured alternatives.

• Chicago Field Studies (CFS) — Credit-Bearing Chicago Internship

  Academic program combining a Chicago-based internship with coordinated coursework. Students earn academic credit while interning full-time in Chicago, integrating work experience with academic reflection. CFS has its own funding stream — students in CFS are not eligible for SIGP but may have access to CFS-specific support. Access details via the NCA Resources page or contact Chicago Field Studies directly.

• Engage Chicago — Chicago-Based Experiential Learning

  Separate from Chicago Field Studies: another credit-bearing Chicago-focused experiential learning program. Like CFS, Engage Chicago has its own funding stream and cannot be combined with SIGP. Access via the NCA Resources page. Both programs leverage Northwestern’s location between Evanston and Chicago — just 20 minutes apart — to give students access to one of the world’s largest job markets as a structured academic experience.