Career Services for Students

Supporting your next journey.

The Office of Career Services is here to help you achieve your academic and career goals. Our services and resources are designed to encourage successful post-graduation work and continuing education.

Contact

Student Career Advisor: Julie Winter
Appointments: Schedule via Handshake
Location: 202A Ponzio Campus Center
Hours: 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Phone: 715-682-1232
Email

Find jobs, internships, work study, and volunteer opportunities through Handshake. Claim your free student account using your Northland email and password. You can also schedule and manage appointments with career services, tutors, and the library.

Resources

Handshake for Students

Registering Your Internship or Field Experience for Credit

So you’ve secured an internship or field experience, and are ready to register it for academic credit—fantastic! Once you’ve reviewed this information to ensure you understand all the requirements and your expectations, you will begin the registration process by requesting an experience through Handshake. You can reference the step-by-step resources available here as you’re submitting your experience to ensure you’re completing everything accurately. If you get stuck, contact the student career advisor for help.

While requesting an experience, you’ll be asked to review and acknowledge you agree with the information listed on this Internship/Field Experience Responsibilities Agreement.

Job and Internship Search Sites

Handshake

Northland College’s primary search platform for student jobs and internships is Handshake. For help with claiming your student Handshake account, check the resources here.

Microsoft Teams

It is common for opportunities to be secured through your own network (faculty, alumni, staff, friends, co-workers). Northland faculty and staff share positions that are forwarded to them from their professional networks through field-specific Microsoft Teams accounts. Any current student can join these teams by logging into their Microsoft Teams account, and entering the related team code after clicking the “Join or create team” button in the upper right.

Outdoor + K-12 Ed Jobs & Internships (Team Code: e1sbx5s )
Business + Related Jobs & Internships (Team Code: 4kas24u )
Social, Culture, Humanities Jobs & Internships (Team Code: ax0t5k4 )
NRS, Science + Math Jobs & Internships (Team Code: h8hkg8n )

Other Job Boards

Beyond Handshake and Microsoft Teams, employers use many other sites to promote their opportunities as well. Below are some examples based on specific fields, interests, populations and regions.

Natural Resources and Science

Outdoor-based

Federal Employment

Research

Diversity

Neurodiverse & Disabled Applicants

Education

Humanities

Social Responsibility

Local/Regional Resources

Career Development

Resume templates
What to include in a federal resume
Bureau of Labor Statistics information
Explore your strengths and interests
- TypeFocus provides online personality assessments and personalized reports for students. This free resource analyzes your personality, interests and values to help you develop a better understanding of yourself. Northland-specific majors and careers aligning with your unique results will be presented after you’ve taken a few short assessments. Click on the link above to register with your Northland email address and password. You’ll also need the “access code”, which can be obtained by emailing the student career advisor.
Northland College alumni and student LinkedIn

For more articles, including information about green careers, graduate school, and interviewing skills, visit our growing resource library on Handshake.

Graduate and Professional School

Learn how to research graduate and professional school programs and associated costs, effectively submit a competitive application, and enroll in the program that best fits your needs.

Searching and preparing

Best Graduate Schools (USNews)
Global Universities for Chemistry Programs (USNews)
Grad School Hub: Biology Masters Programs (USNews)
Graduate Application Guide for Psychology Students (Psychology.org)
Graduate Management Programs (GMAT)
Graduate School Directory (GradSchools.com)
Law School Ratings (USNews)
Medical School Admissions and Programs (AAMC)
Organizing Your Grad School Search (spreadsheet) (Northland)
Peterson’s Guide for Graduate School (Peterson’s)
Princeton Review Graduate School Preparation (Princeton Review)
Science Graduate Schools (USNews)
Steps to Becoming a Physician’s Assistant (PA) (AAPA)
Veterinarian School Admissions and Programs (AAVMC)

Writing your personal statement

Testing

Getting Support

TRIO McNair Scholars
The TRIO McNair Scholars program is a nationally recognized program aimed at increasing graduate degree enrollment and attainment for low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented minorities in graduate education. Our program is a comprehensive research program which provides support to underrepresented students in graduate education in the form of hands-on instruction and support. Through our program students participate in courses to guide them in completing an independent research project and graduate school applications.

Video Event Recordings

Find helpful recorded alumni panel discussions, networking events, and more.

Ask Our Alumni: Business Careers
April 14th, 2022

Ask Our Alumni: Career Entry as a Diverse Learner
March 31, 2022

Ask Our Alumni – Social Science Careers
March 24, 2022

Ask Our Alumni: BIPOC Career Entry
February 17, 2022

Ask Our Alumni: Natural Resources & Science Careers
January 21, 2022

A Career of Change-Making: Environmental Policy & Conservation
January 20, 2022

Ask Our Alumni: Grad School Series (Social Sciences)
October 21, 2021

Ask Our Alumni: Grad School Series (Humanities)
October 14, 2021

Ask Our Alumni: Grad School Series (Natural Sciences)
October 7, 2021

Federal Resumes: Search and Apply Workshop
September 28, 2021

Ask Our Alumni: Arts and Humanities
September 23, 2021

Ask Our Alumni: Career Entry as an LGBTQIA+ Person
September 16, 2021

Ask Our Alumni: Nature & Culture Careers During COVID
March 31, 2021

Northland Alumni Present: Chris Case ’74: A Lifetime in the National Park Service
March 11, 2021

Ask Our Alumni: Humanities Careers During COVID
February 24, 2021

Branding Yourself: Creating a Professional Online Presence
January 28, 2021

Ask Our Alumni: Environmental Science Careers During Covid
January 27, 2021

What You Need to Know: From an Upperclassman
September 9, 2020

Ask Our Alumni: Natural Resources Careers During COVID
September 30, 2020

Ask Our Alumni: Education Careers During Covid
October 28, 2020

Grad School Forum: Natural & Physical Sciences
October 29, 2020

Federal Resumes: Search and Apply Workshop
November 5, 2020

Federal Jobs: Search and Apply Workshop
November 17, 2020

Ask Our Alumni: Social Responsibility Careers During Covid
November 18, 2020

Opportunities

Get professional work experience to grow your workplace and leadership skills, and help leverage your success for your next opportunity. Build the professional training and experience that will make you stand out from the crowd when seeking graduate school admission or employment after graduation.

Internships and Off-campus Jobs

An internship is a learning opportunity in the work place that allows you to apply academic curriculum in a career-related setting. Interns report many benefits from these experiences, including clarifying career goals, building skills, references, and resumes, gaining a competitive advantage for graduate school, and in some cases, receiving a job offer after college.

Internships can be paid or unpaid, for-credit or not. The most important aspect of an internship is that it provides students with skills and experiences related to their academic or career goals.

Almost every type of organization or business offers internship opportunities, from the National Park Service, to public schools, to law firms. Northland works with alumni, friends, and organizations to develop internships which are exclusive to Northland students.

Searching and applying for an internship requires the same techniques one uses to find a permanent job. Interview, resume, and cover letter guides resources are available on handshake and from the Offices of Career Service in the Dexter Library.

To receive academic credit for an internship, and for more information about what experiences can count for credit, visit the internships registration information section.

Campus Jobs

Some jobs on campus, especially leadership positions, are offered outside of work study. These jobs don’t rely on a financial aid award. Take a look at the various positions that fall outside of the work-study postings.

Search campus job opportunities on Handshake»

Research Positions

Northland faculty are engaged in a variety of research opportunities, which offer undergraduate students outstanding research experience. Generally speaking, faculty engaged in the various research options will recruit/promote their positions via their respective disciplines. Remember to check with your faculty member as to these opportunities as well as the application process and associated timelines.

Beyond Northland to a national perspective, the National Science Foundation funds a variety of competitive summer research programs in the United States for undergraduates studying science, engineering, and mathematics.

Most programs are hosted by colleges and universities and provide funding for students to engage in a faculty member’s research project. The Office of Career Services recommends that any student with the goal of entering graduate school should consider an REU for the summer before their senior year.

A directory of active REU Sites, along with contact information and how to apply, can be found here.

Volunteer

The Northland Volunteer Program (NVP) assists individuals and campus clubs and organizations in their efforts to become engaged in the community through a wide variety of service opportunities. Service and volunteer experiences are essential components of healthy, vibrant communities and can deliver great personal satisfaction. This is a great way for clubs and organizations to address their community service hours. Email us to learn more.

Work Study

What is Work Study?

Student employment is divided into two categories: work study and non-work study. The difference between these two is the funding source. Work-study positions are funded through the Office of Financial Aid.

Get your questions answered »
Submit your timecard »

How Do I Apply?

Interested in a work-study position? You can search for open positions that are posted on Handshake, but you need to claim your pre-loaded account first, and be sure to read the Student Employment Manual for all requirements. Not completing required forms will delay your authorization.

Work Study FAQ

How do I know if I’m eligible for work study?
On your financial aid award letter, you will have listed either Federal Work Study or Northland Work Award and the amount. This is your eligibility. If you never received an award letter or have no work study, please contact the Office of Financial Aid for steps to complete that.

Can I have more than one work-study job?
No, students are only allowed one work-study position at a time. You can, however, leave your job and search for another at any time.

Do I have to use my work-study earnings for tuition?
No, your earnings will be paid in your name and can be used for any necessary school expenses. You can use the campus earnings form to indicate your preference. You can choose to have your work-study earnings applied directly to your tuition bill.

How do I stop having my work-study earnings applied to my tuition bill?
You can use the cancel campus earnings form to stop applying your wages.

How do I know how much my work-study award is?
Log in to view your financial aid award.

How do I know how much of my work-study award is remaining?
Contact the Office of Human Resources.

How do I find a work-study job?
Open positions are updated regularly on Handshake.

What if I don’t like my job?
If you find your job isn’t the right fit, you are able to search for another position on campus. We encourage you to inform your supervisor with a two-week notice. You must submit a job termination form, and a new work-study contract will need to be completed for any job change.

What is the difference between FWS and NWA?
FWS refers to Federal Work Study, and NWA refers to Northland Work Award. Students who are federally eligible are awarded FWS, but having NWA doesn’t restrict you to any specific job position or type.

How do I get paid?
You record and submit your timecard online by logging in with your Northland credentials. Your supervisor is responsible for ensuring you get your hours in on time. You are paid on the fifteenth and on the last day of the month.

Can I exceed the amount awarded to me?
No, you are not allowed to work more than what you are awarded. You can use the work-study earnings worksheet to see if you’re on track to earn all of your hours and ensure you don’t work too many.

Do you have any tips on finding a work-study position?
Be aware that some work-study jobs can be competitive. Teaching assistant and research positions are oftentimes secured by juniors and seniors. Talking with a professor you are interested in working with may open up a job opportunity. Take advantage of any resume and interview skills workshops available.

What happens if I don’t use all of my work-study award?
Since work study is an earned award, if you don’t use it, you lose it.

Search and Apply for Work Study

Here are steps to get your work study started.

After claiming your Handshake account, search for a work-study job that interests you via the Northland College Jobs and Internships employer Handshake account. Listings provide contact information and steps to apply.
Print off a work-study contract and bring that, along with your financial aid award letter (to determine your work-study amount), to the supervisor listed on the job you are interested in.
If you are a new student or haven’t ever worked on campus before, you must complete an I-9 form in person with either the Office of Financial Aid or the Office of Human Resources to be eligible to work.
Submit your work-study contract with your supervisor and student portion completely filled out to the Office of Financial Aid.
You will be authorized to begin working once you’ve received confirmation from the Office of Financial Aid via email.

Where an Internship Can Take You

Mapping the Mountains of Venus

“In planetary evolution, Venus and Earth started out the same,” said senior Frank Wroblewski. “We want to understand why Earth is ‘nice’ and Venus is

Mapping the Mountains of Venus
Three Lessons for Making Change

“Change goes beyond hashtags, parades, marches, and dedicated months,” said EmmaMarie Hammond.

Three Lessons for Making Change
Saving Cranes

Senior Mary Sellars Interns at the International Crane Foundation.

Saving Cranes
Working with Animals

Gretchen Hamernik-Winters is a pre-veterinarian student at Northland College, who has set big goals for herself.

Working with Animals