Career Development
Student Career Services
Samantha Anderson
208.467.8617
sanderson02@nwnazarene.wpengine.com
Student Career Services
It is our goal to help you succeed in your future career! At NNU, we are proud to provide career services ranging from career planning, resume/cover letter assistance, job search opportunities, graduate school applications and more. Please see below for more information about the services we offer.
Your Future
Career development is more than finding a job—it’s about discovering how your strengths, interests, values, experiences and faith connect to meaningful work and a life of purpose.
At Northwest Nazarene University, we believe your career is an important part of your calling. Whether you’re exploring majors, searching for internships, preparing for graduate school or launching your first professional position, Career Development is here to support you every step of the way.
No matter where you are in your journey, we’re committed to helping you gain clarity, build confidence and take intentional steps toward your future.
Schedule an Appointment
Meet one-on-one with Career Development for personalized support.
Handshake
Search jobs and internships, register for events, connect with employers and schedule appointments.
Indeed Job Search Academy
Indeed Job Search Academy is a free online learning platform designed to help students build confidence throughout the job search process.
Topics include:
- Resume Development
- Cover Letter Writing
- Interview Preparation
- Networking Strategies
- Personal Branding
- Job Search Techniques
- Workplace Success Skills
Build your professional network, explore career opportunities and strengthen your professional brand.
O*NET OnLine
Research occupations, salary information, career pathways and workforce trends.
Career Development Resource Library
Access downloadable guides, flyers, worksheets and resources covering:
- Resume Writing
- Cover Letters
- Interview Preparation
- Networking
- Career Fair Preparation
- Job Search Strategies
- Graduate School Planning
Career Success Webinar Series
Join monthly webinars focused on career readiness, professional growth and life after graduation.
Career Fairs & Events
Connect with employers, explore opportunities and expand your network.
Career development is not a one-time event
It is a process that unfolds throughout your college experience.
The Four-Year Career Roadmap provides recommended action steps to help you intentionally prepare for life after graduation. Whether you’re a first-year student exploring majors or a senior preparing for full-time employment, the roadmap can help you stay on track and make the most of your time at NNU.
Topics include:
- Career exploration
- Resume development
- Networking
- Leadership experiences
- Internships
- Graduate school preparation
- Job search readiness
Students are encouraged to review the roadmap annually and meet with Career Development to create a personalized plan for success.
We’re Here To Help
- Resume & Cover Letter Support
- Interview Preparation
- Job Search Support
- LinkedIn & Professional Branding
Ready for Personalized Support?
Career Exploration Course
STSK 1820: Career Exploration
Not sure what comes next? This course is designed to help students move from uncertainty to intentional direction.
Many students discover that uncertainty about their future is not a lack of ability, but a lack of clarity. Through guided assessments, career research, reflection activities, and professional development exercises, students gain a deeper understanding of themselves while developing practical tools for career success.
STSK 1820: Topics Include
- Strengths, interests, values, and personality assessments
- Career and major exploration
- Career as Calling
- Understanding transferable skills
- Labor market and occupational research
- Networking and informational interviewing
- LinkedIn profile development
- Resume development
- Cover letter writing
- Interview preparation
- Career decision-making strategies
- Goal setting and action planning
By the End of the Course, Students Will Have:
- Greater confidence in their career direction
- A professional resume
- A tailored cover letter
- An optimized LinkedIn profile
- Increased interview confidence
- A personalized career action plan
Offered:
- Quad 2 (Fall Semester)
- Quad 1 (Spring Semester)
Learn More About STSK 1820: Career Exploration Class
How do I locate an internship or field experience opportunity?
- Search Handshake for on-campus and off-campus internships
- Attend Career Development events/fairs to network with employers and graduate schools from across the region.
- Schedule an appointment to discuss internships – The Career Development staff can introduce you to various resources, facilitate alumni connections and assist you in effectively branding yourself.
Career Services
Career Planning and Exploration
Career/Personality Assessments – A great way to gain insight into your skills, strengths and personality traits and how they fit into your career planning and exploration. All of the assessments listed are free:
- Myers-Briggs Career Type: See which jobs match your personality, strengths and aptitude and the key factors of your ideal career.
- 16 Personalities: The 16 personality types are unique, with each group defined by their traits and the behavioral tendencies that go along with them. Based on Myers-Briggs.
- Strengths Profile: Discover your unique strengths with a starter profile.
Research Career Options – Occupational Outlook Handbook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Major/Career Exploration Class – Enroll in the major and career exploration course offered during the second half of fall semester (Quad 2). Look for STSK 1810 on the NNU class schedule.
Meet with a Career Advisor – Schedule a meeting to discuss your interests, explore possibilities and make an action plan!
Career Fairs & Employer Connections
The Career Development Center hosts two career fairs each academic year, connecting students and graduates with employers seeking interns, part-time employees, and full-time hires.
Fall Internship & Career Fair
September 29, 2026
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Spring Career & Summer Jobs Fair
March 2, 2027
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Additional opportunities include:
- Employer presentations
- Networking events
- Industry panels
- Information sessions
- On-campus recruiting
Resume and Cover Letters
Resume: Format and Content
Your resume is your personal marketing tool—it showcases your skills, experiences and unique qualities to potential employers. Especially in a competitive job market, having a standout resume is key. The goal? To craft a tailored and professional resume that grabs attention and lands you that all-important interview.
Download these helpful resources to help you write your resume:
Avoid these Common Resume Errors:
- Using passive language instead of action verbs
- Using full sentences and narrative style, instead of action-driven bullet points
- Including a picture or personal information such as marital status, sex, age or religious affiliation
- Listing all positions and activities, instead of selecting those relevant to the position
- Making it visually cluttered: be aware of white space; make it concise and quickly readable
- Forgetting to demonstrate results—quantify results where possible
Cover Letter: Format and Content
The cover letter is your introduction to a prospective employer that outlines your interest in the position and expresses why you are qualified. While your resume lists your relevant experiences, skills and accomplishments, the cover letter makes an explicit connection between your most relevant skills and the position. Each cover letter should be tailored to a specific job description and organization. Demonstrate what you know about the organization/industry and why you are a good fit. Show how you meet the required qualifications for that position by emphasizing your strongest skills. Use confident language; write in an active voice. In most circumstances limit your letter to one page. Before you begin, ask yourself these four questions:
- What is the employer looking for in a candidate?
- What skills/attributes do you have that match the skills/attributes that an employer wants?
- Why do you want to work for them?
- Why this position?
Download these helpful resources to help you write your cover letter:
Need a free resource to write your resume? Check out resume.org.
Internships
Get more information about internships and where to find them.
Interviewing
The gateway to every job is performing well in the interview. A successful interview entails preparation, practice, strong performance and follow-up. It’s okay if the thought of an interview makes you nervous; it’s perfectly normal. You want to use that nervous energy to your advantage and put it toward your preparation and practice so that you can perform well.
Remember, the interview serves two purposes: 1) to evaluate you—the candidate—to make sure you’re qualified for the position, and 2) to give you the opportunity to evaluate the company and the position to make sure they’re a good fit for you. Both parties should be evaluating one another, so take the time to develop and fine-tune your interviewing skills so that you can set yourself apart from other applicants.
Tips for a Successful Interview
- Dress for success — Professional attire reinforces your image as a person who takes the interview process seriously. Your attire should be appropriate for the industry without drawing unnecessary attention from the interviewer. If you have any doubts about your interview outfit, lean toward the side of being over-dressed and more conservative.
- Follow the lead of the interviewer — The interviewer will guide the interview, therefore, follow his or her lead. You can establish a stronger connection with your interviewer by mirroring their verbal and non-verbal language without parroting or coming across as patronizing.
- Pep yourself up — Maintain a high sense of eagerness and enthusiasm, even if the interviewer does not appear markedly excited or interested. Rather than attempting to impress the interviewer every single moment of your interview, approach the experience with the intent of having a genuine, positive exchange with the interviewer for the purpose of sharing information and ideas.
- Set yourself apart from the rest — A common interview question is, “Why should I choose you over other candidates?” Be prepared to address this question even if it is not directly posed to you. Know your selling points and support them with evidence throughout your interview.
- Determine the next steps — Inquiring about the next step in the hiring decision process demonstrates initiative and interest. Appropriate questions include, “What is the next step in the interview process?,” “Are you available in case I have further questions?,” and “When can I expect to hear from you?” Be sure to obtain a business card from each interviewer.
Practice your interviewing skills by contacting Career Development to schedule a mock interview. Here are some additional resources to help you prepare for your interview.
Commonly Asked Interview Questions
Graduate School Preparation
The Career Development office has various resources and services to help you in graduate and professional school planning. In addition to exploring graduate school options and researching different schools, you can learn more about preparing your application and what you can do to become a competitive applicant.
Helpful Resources:
Career Success Webinar Series
Webinar
Join Career Development each month for practical, career-focused workshops designed to help you navigate college, internships, employment and professional growth.
Topics include:
- Career clarity and direction
- AI and the future of work
- Resume development
- LinkedIn and networking
- Interview preparation
- Job search strategies
- Professional communication
- Workplace success





