Parents

Equipped to Succeed & Empowered to Lead

There are moments in your student’s life that thrill you like—taking their first step, holding your hand on purpose, volunteering to help those in need, graduating, moving into a successful career. Career and Leadership Development wasn’t there for those early moments, but we are here now to help your student move into a successful career. In partnership with you, the Career and Leadership Development team is committed to serving your student, and helping them to become true leaders in the workforce. We want to give them the tools and opportunities needed to realize their career potential.

You can help us achieve this goal by encouraging your student to explore our resources and services, beginning their first semester on campus and continuing after they graduate. Data shows that students connecting with Career and Leadership Development early have a 30% greater chance of securing jobs or graduate school acceptance than those that waited to be seniors.

The Career and Leadership Development team at Northwestern values your student and offers:

Resources and services to practically equip them for an ever-changing workforce
Tools and coaching to help them explore available opportunities
Internships and hands-on experiences to empower them to pursue a fulfilling career
Intentional networking with employers and alumni to discover career opportunities

The professors I had during my time at Northwestern helped prepare me. They challenged and taught me how to produce high-quality work that will benefit me throughout my career.

Olivia Raun

Corporate Affairs Communication Representative, US Bank, Mpls, MN – Class of 2020

Much of my desire to write in the academic realm of theology stems from being inspired by professors such as Drs. Randy Nelson, Ardel Caneday, Ed Glenny, Paul Helseth, and Larry Siekawitch. These five men have inspired me to strive to become a pastor-theologian for God's glory and the good of His people. During my time here at UNW, I've learned many things about theology, pastoral ministry, and the biblical worldview.

Isaac Karpenske

Graduate | Associate Pastor at Apple River Community Church, Amery, WI – Class of 2020

After trying unsuccessfully to find a decent paying job in my field (Biology) after I finished my degree in 2012, I went to the oilfield in North Dakota for a year. Based on that experience and in combination with my degree in biology I was able to get a job as technician at 3M working in Industrial adhesives and tapes, then drug delivery systems, and now as an engineer running the water purification Lab in the separation and purification sciences division, where most of what I do every day is wet chemistry. I never could have imagined at the time that all the lessons in stoichiometry, balancing chemical equations or titrimetric would turn out to be so useful one day!

Ryan Bradbury – biology, internship, work , career development

The biggest keys in getting this job were professor relationships and networking connections. Dr. Heather Peterson sent me a posting for a position in BHP’s editorial department. I didn't get that role, but the people I had interviewed with had been impressed, so they had passed my resume along to the hiring manager for the position I now hold.

Kelsey Pearson

Class of 2020

I greatly benefited from Career Development. I took full advantage of their resume & cover letter appointments. I also greatly valued the interview website that they utilized (Big Interview). My hiring skills (resume, cover letter, and interviewing) drastically improved because of Career Development.

Josiah Otis

Nuclear Engineer, Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C. – Class of 2021

How does Northwestern determine the employment rate of its graduates?

Following the standard practice of most colleges and universities, Northwestern obtains information about the employment status of students at exit and follows up with graduates between 6 and 9 months after graduation. Data from the follow up survey is reported in April of each year for the previous complete academic year (December and May graduates).

How reliable is the information?

Graduates give a self-report on their employment status. Northwestern works diligently to get a response rate for the follow up survey that meets or exceed standards for statistical reliability.

What does Northwestern do to help graduates find fulfilling work?

Career and Leadership Development provides a range of free services for students and alumni, including career coaching and professional development events, both on and off campus. Career coaches provide training in job search strategies, interviewing, resume writing, and other professional development topics. Northwestern also utilizes Handshake, an online job-posting platform where students and alumni can search and apply for jobs.