Encourage Your Student to Warm up to the CCPD this Season

With a new year comes new beginnings, aspirations, and continued commitments.  This season we are excited to see our graduating students march toward graduation and their next steps, and our continuing students to find ways to get more involved and engaged in their North Central College experience and career development process. 

Our team encourages students to engage in career planning, reflection, and experience building opportunities throughout their college journey (and beyond).  Inspire your student to make an effort to attend CareerFest, if they are actively participating in an internship or job search.  Careerfest is the main career fair opportunity for North Central students this semester, and one that typically attracts over 100 employer participants sharing about their organizations and available career opportunities. While career fairs are not the only way to learn about job and internship opportunities, they can be valuable launching pads opportunity, learning, and professional connections. Please strongly encourage your student to take advantage of this opportunity for engaging in person with knowledgeable recruiters. 

CareerFest'26

Friday, February 13, 2026 | 11am-2pm | Embassy Suites by Hilton Chicago Naperville - 1823 Abriter Ct, Naperville, IL 60563 (less than 3 miles from campus)

CareerFest'26 is the primary job and internship fair for North Central students during Spring 2026. Students seeking internships, full-time jobs, and part-time jobs are encouraged to attend to connect with employers from a variety of industries. Students can access additional information via Handshake here: https://noctrl.joinhandshake.com/edu/career_fairs/61461.

Please also take note the following ongoing resources that remain available to students throughout the entirety of the semester. Remind your student to utilize these resources to help them explore their career interests, refine their internship and job searches, and prepare for application processes and interviews. 

Cardinal Career Closet Shopping

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays | 1:30pm-3:30pm | LAC #2

Students can stop by and shop for business professional and/or business casual clothing items for professional events. Students can take up to one full outfit per academic year for free. If the regular shopping times do not align with a student’s schedule, encourage them to reach out to career@noctrl.edu to schedule an individual shopping appointment. 

CCPD Drop-In Center

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays | 12pm-4pm | LIB #114

Students can stop by to receive support from Career Peer Advisors on any career-related questions and documents. This is a great place for students to start their engagement with the CCPD in an informal drop-in setting. 

Individualized Career Coaching Appointments

Available by appointment (virtual or in person) | LIB #102

Students may meet one-on-one with a career coach for personalized support related to their goals. Whether they are exploring majors and career paths, preparing for internships or jobs, or practicing for interviews, appointments are designed around students' individualized needs. Students may schedule one-on-one career coaching appointments here: https://app.joinhandshake.com/edu/appointments/new.

 We hope you stay warm and well this season.  Thank you for reading this article, and supporting your student throughout their life and career journey.  Our team wishes all of North Central College families and communities a bright and prosperous new year!