North Dakota State University

Co-op/Internships, part-time or temporary jobs, work study
The skills you obtain through part-time and work study jobs, temp work, and cooperative education/internships will prepare you well for your professional career.  Whether or not the job is directly related to your academic major, skills such as communication, leadership, problem-solving, working in a team, and decision making are a part of almost every job.  Cooperative Education and Internships are strongly encouraged by employers as a way for you to gain professional level experience within your industry. For more information about Cooperative Education and Internships, click here. 

Job Shadowing
Job shadowing is a great way to explore a variety of career opportunities or learn about your chosen career path in greater depth.  The Career Center does not assist with finding job shadowing opportunities. However, we encourage you to work with your academic advisor and department faculty to identify professionals in the area that you can connect with to contact for a job shadowing opportunity.   

Informational Interviewing
Informational interviewing is a process of visiting with professionals in your industry about their specific career path and engaging them in dialogue about recommendations they have for students like you.  Inviting a professional for coffee or lunch are great ways to facilitate an informational interview.  This is also another way to expand your professional network. 

Career Fairs/Events
Career fairs and employer informational meetings provide you the opportunity to learn more about companies that are recruiting students from NDSU.  Attend these events in business professional attire.  Since this may be the first impression a potential employer has of you, look your best.  Before each career fair, the Career Center lists the employers that have registered for the fair.  This allows you to do some research about each company, the positions they are hiring for, and what they are looking for in candidates.  Be prepared for career fairs and informational meetings by learning about the employers you plan to visit with and have prepared questions for them that will assist you in your decision to apply or not.  

Service Learning
Service learning has become a integral component of many of the classes at NDSU as the experience gives you the opportunity to engage with the campus community or greater Fargo-Moorhead in a meaningful way that relates to each specific course.  Service learning highlights your commitment to service and you gain a stronger understanding of a variety of issues that the community is faced with.  It can also expand your professional network. 

Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteering at local non-profit organizations, places of worship, community centers, nursing homes, and a variety of other places is another way for you to gain skills that are easily transferrable to your professional career.  Find an organization that you are interested in and dedicate three to five hours a month to that organization.  Learn about what their mission is and how they operate.  Many organizations have volunteer boards that govern and assist in the operation of the organization.  These are typically professionals in the community who are seeking engaged, committed new professionals to work at their company.