Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

• Individual career planning and exploration
• Connecting students and alumni with companies and recruiters
• Help finding full-time and part-time jobs, work-study positions, and internships
• Résumé and cover letter reviews
• Practice for interviews
• Presentations and workshops for classes and student organizations
• Posting of jobs and internships on our social media @NAUFrankeCDO
• Weekly newsletter with tips, opportunities, fairs, and events
• Recommend internship/job search tools
• Review your offer letter
• Navigate offer negotiations
• Internship for academic credit
• And, more!

The CDO fulfills its educational mission through our individual career coaching sessions with students and our programming which emphasizes a diverse range of career fields and topics. We believe it is important to be informed and knowledgeable about the world outside of NAU, one in which our students will actively participate as leaders making a difference in their chosen fields. Career exploration is a vital part of students’ career development and we are committed to providing students with a vast array of opportunities to test their assumptions about careers and gain valuable experience.

Once you connect with a Career Coach, they will be able to provide you with custom career-planning assistance to help you reach your career goals. This assistance can include one-on-one coaching, résumé reviews, and interview preparation. We can also help brainstorm with you concerning your career path, assist with job search strategies and help with your internship/externship exploration. To schedule a virtual appointment visit Handshake, choose a Career Center and then select an appointment.

We are here to help when you are ready! Ideally we would like to see each student during freshman/sophomore year to help plan how to build connections with companies and their career path. Career Services can assist with every step of your career – from exploring different career paths, to document preparation, and mock interviews to help you land the job. Additionally, all our services are available to alumni as well! Appointments can be scheduled online through Handshake.

Important upcoming important events and information sessions happening at NAU and with our business partners, can be found on our social media accounts Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest and Handshake.

Career Development can help you with anything internship, job, or career related. However, we cannot answer questions about your degree plan, class registration, or academic holds; these are questions for your academic advisor.

Visit the Academic Advising website for more information about academic advising and to find your academic advisor. They will assist you with your academic progression plan, signing up for classes, changing your major and more!

Yes – The Career Development Office (CDO) is here to help with your internship or job search! We do not offer job placements but provide opportunities to meet with companies and recruiters. Students find jobs in different ways.  Some secure positions on their own, through faculty, friends, family members, or others they know.  Some students will find and apply for positions through our Handshake database of job and internship opportunities, which is updated daily by employers.

Students also receive field experience by directly contacting organizations for whom they would like to work, while others work with their career coach to strategize an internship search process.  Students can participate in field experiences either part-time (or even full-time!) during the academic year, in addition to the summer months. Make an appointment today with a Career Coach to assist you with your search.

Websites to search for an internship:

• Handshake – Work with college recruiters who post these opportunities and really understand college students and your skill level.
• LinkedIn
• Internships.com
• Idealist for nonprofit, sustainable, causes, and grad schools 
• Visit websites directly for companies you are interested in and view their career page
• There are also niche websites for each industry which the Career Development Office can assist you to find!
• Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram! As the semester begins, bookmark these links to find virtual events/fairs and jobs/internships.

Micro-internships

• Parker Dewey
• Forage

We have partnered with Parker Dewey and the Forage to provide opportunities to pursue a Micro-Internship. Through Micro-Internships, students can demonstrate their skills, explore career paths, and develop their professional networks. These paid and up-paid opportunities typically range from 5 to 40 hours of work, and students can be selected for multiple Micro-Internships.

These opportunities are: 

• short-term
• professional
• paid work experience (Parker Dewey)
• completely remote!

Students and employers have an opportunity to work with one another before committing to an internship or full-time role.

Opportunities can be found on our website. Find your major, click on the “Build Skills & Experience” tab, and search for opportunities.

Networking—building personal connections and relationships within your preferred industry—gives people an opportunity to get to know you and open the conversation for internships and job prospects.

We offer a wide range of opportunities to interact/build connections with employers and each can be an opportunity to open the door to an internship or full-time job. To stay up to date with virtual networking events, fairs, jobs and internships, follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram! Bookmark these links to find in person and virtual events, fairs, and jobs/internships.

• Events with companies can be viewed and registration completed on Handshake. Click on events and see amazing opportunities to network with our companies. (Follow us on Facebook!)
• Career Fair– Generally held each October and February, the fair is an opportunity for students to meet with employers and apply for internship and employment opportunities. Connect with over 100 companies who are looking to hire you! Details and registration each semester will be in Handshake. Follow us @NAUFrankeCDO for opportunities and details about companies attending, mock interviews, and ways to prep for the fair. Visit the CDO to prepare your résumé and yourself for the event.
• Pathway events – All FCB students must attend 6 of these professional workshop events of course, but these can be excellent ways to meet with companies and recruiters as well. Attending these even as a junior and senior can build your industry connections too! (Find in Suitable App)
• ProSell Speakers Series – These can be found in Handshake and are open to ALL MAJORS. The speakers from companies share career paths, interviewing skills, discuss pay and benefits, and more.
• Professional Selling Networking Mixer – The Professional Selling Networking Mixer is a combined workshop and reception that gives business students the opportunity to learn the skills needed to network with professionals at business gatherings and receptions. Registration in Handshake. Event generally held in November.
• Franke Leadership Week – Generally held in March/April. This is a series of speakers and panels discussing careers or the future and allows you to meet with industry connections.
• Cultural Events – There are many cultural and heritage events at NAU and in the community to attend as well! Follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn for details on events such as Hispanic Heritage, LGBTQIA, Veterans, Disability Awareness and more.
• LinkedIn Alumni Tool – Can assist you in connecting with NAU Alumni working in a field you may be interested in. Visit the Career Development Office to learn how to connect and what questions to ask our Lumberjack Alumni!

In addition to the above we have a networking Pinterest board and Forbes magazine has developed a list of the top 10 people that should be in your network.

LinkedIn is an exceptional tool for networking. Review these LinkedIn resources to get started:

• How to Network blog
• Join the NAU Alumni Association’s LinkedIn group
• Looking to get started with some LinkedIn best practices?

The Career Development Office (CDO) has resources to make your job search successful starting NOW – don’t wait. Visit us as a freshman and each year to prepare for the search and to build connections with companies.

The job search, as most students imagine it (networking, researching employers, sending résumés, etc.), should begin at the start of your junior year or the beginning of your senior year. You should start applying for internships in September of your junior year and full time jobs, in September of your senior year. Companies hire at this time for summer opportunities.

The fall semester is the primary recruiting season for externships, internships, and full-time employment. This means that companies are hiring in the fall semester (September) for summer internships and full-time employment. Many companies will attend the spring fair (February) as well, but the recruiting is not as heavy. It is typically somewhat of a shock to students that you need to begin this networking and interview process so early, but you must be very proactive in this process.  Many full-time offers are made to students who have participated in the company’s internships so, you can see the importance of starting early.

We do not offer job placements but provide opportunities to meet with companies and recruiters. Students find jobs in different ways.  Some secure positions on their own, through faculty, friends, family members, or others they know.  Some students will find and apply for positions through our Handshake database of job and internship opportunities, which is updated daily by employers.

Job search websites we recommend:

• Handshake – Work with college recruiters who post these opportunities and really understand college students and your skill level.
• LinkedIn
• Idealist for nonprofit, sustainable, causes, and grad schools 
• Indeed    
• Visit websites directly for companies you are interested in and view their career page
• There are also niche websites for each industry which the Career Development Office can assist you to find!
• To stay up to date with virtual networking events, fairs, jobs and internships, follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram! As the semester begins, bookmark these links to find virtual events/fairs and jobs/internships.

To search for student employment at NAU visit Handshake and use the keyword “NAU”.

NAU employs more than 3,000 on-campus student employees in hourly, part-time roles. On-campus student employees may work up to 30 hours per week when classes are in session and up to 40 hours per week during breaks (winter and spring break) or the summer session. Exceptions apply for Minors or International students based on Visa status.

For more information visit HERE.

The W. A. Franke College of Business Career Fair is a networking opportunity for students to meet with employers and apply for internship and employment opportunities. Professional dress or business casual is required for the event. The fairs are usually held each semester in October then again in February. You can view all of the fairs at NAU in Handshake. There are multiple fairs on campus each semester and the FCB fairs will always be noted with “W. A. Franke College of Business”. All majors are welcome to attend all fairs on campus.

The fall semester is the primary recruiting season for externships, internships, and full-time employment. This means that companies are hiring in the fall semester (September) for summer internships and full-time employment. Many companies will attend the spring fair as well, but the recruiting is not as heavy. It is typically somewhat of a shock to students that you need to begin this networking and interview process so early, but you must be very proactive in this process.  Many full-time offers are made to students who have participated in the company’s internships so, you can see the importance of starting early.

How can I prepare?

• Schedule a résumé review appointment with a Career Coach through Handshake to prepare a résumé and to talk through what a fair is
• Complete and update your Handshake profile and upload your updated résumé for companies to view – all fairs at NAU are through Handshake
• Research attending companies
• Attend mock interview sessions with companies – details can be found on our Facebook page @NAUFrankeCDO
• Prepare an elevator pitch
• Attend the fair and find your career path!

Follow the CDO on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram for Career Week events, to sign up for mock interviews, and for information networking events. Start networking on LinkedIn, follow our social media for any upcoming events or tips, and visit our Pinterest page to learn more about professional dress and tips on your résumé, business etiquette, and more!

An elevator pitch—also known as an elevator speech—is a quick summary of your background and experience that show an employer how you might fit with their company. The reason it is called an elevator pitch is that it should be short enough to present during a brief elevator ride. The elevator pitch can be used any time you meet a company representative at a fair, a panel or speech, at networking events, and even at an interview.

Done right, this short speech helps you introduce yourself to career and business connections in a compelling way. It can help you build your network, land a job, or connect with new colleagues on your first day of work.

Telling a potential employer about your skills in a concise, convincing way isn’t as easy as it sounds! We have resources so you can prepare your elevator pitch in advance and be ready to speak about the important aspects of your background and what you hope to do in the future. The goal is for this pitch to be approximately 30-90 seconds in length.

For additional resources, examples and a worksheet to create your elevator pitch, visit our office or make an appointment with a Career Coach.

“The STAR interview technique offers a straightforward format you can use to answer behavioral interview questions—those prompts that ask you to provide a real-life example of how you handled a certain kind of situation at work in the past.

Don’t worry—these questions are easy to recognize. They often have telltale openings like:

• Tell me about a time when…
• What do you do when…
• Have you ever…
• Give me an example of…
• Describe a…

Thinking of a fitting example for your response is just the beginning. Then you also need to share the details in a compelling and easy-to-understand way—without endless rambling. That’s exactly what the STAR interview method enables you to do.” The Muse. Visit the Muse for the full article.

For examples and further information on the S.T.A.R. method, visit our office or make an appointment with a Career Coach.

YES! Graduate students (MBAs and our MS BAN students) may activate their Handshake account to use our online database of jobs and internships at any time.  They are also welcome to schedule an appointment with our Career Coaches for help at any time!

Make an appointment with a Career Coach to revise and update your résumé! We offer 1 on 1 appointments to talk through your specific experience and background and help you craft a document to be proud of.

A résumé is a one or two page document specifically tailored to the job or internship opening for which you are applying.  Most employers want only as much information as needed to demonstrate that your skills and experience match the needs of the job description.

There are several resources for writing résumés and cover letters, including résumé samples from different majors and a template for crafting cover letters, on our website in our résumés and cover letters under “Career Resources”.  You can revise an older résumé or start by simply making a list of your experience and skills. Make an appointment with a Career Coach to revise and update your résumé!

The Career Development Office does NOT recommend using free “résumé builder” templates that you may find online.  While they are easy to create, they are not easy to customize.  Using a résumé builder also increases the risk that your résumé will look just like other ones made from the same tool, when your goal is to stand out from other résumés.  Your best bet is to open a blank Word document and begin. 

Always send your résumé in a PDF file to keep the formatting you created.

A CV (Curriculum Vitae) is a specialized and extended résumé that generally has more extensive details about your work experience and your skills.  A CV is often multiple pages and includes publications, academic conference presentations, teaching experience, and public service.  Usually, a CV is only necessary if you have an advanced graduate or professional degree and you are seeking a job in academia, scientific research, or applying for grants and fellowships.  Most undergraduate students will have no need for a CV, and should instead focus on developing several targeted résumés.

A résumé is a one or two page document specifically tailored to the job or internship opening for which you are applying.  Most employers want only as much information as needed to demonstrate that your skills and experience match the needs of the job description.

Be aware that some people will use the terms CV and résumé interchangeably, which can be confusing. A faculty member may refer to your résumé as a CV when they really mean your résumé. Outside the United States, employers may refer to all résumé-like documents as CVs.  Make sure you know what kind of document is expected, and ask if necessary.

If you do need to create a CV, please make an appointment with a Career Coach specialized to your major.