Career Services for Students and Graduates

Career decision-making is:

• time sensitive — give yourself enough time to consider your options. However, choosing a program at Central Piedmont early helps you take the right classes and save money and time.
• not always a straight path — you can gain the skills employers seek, such as communication, problem solving, and initiative, from a variety of majors. Therefore, depending on your major, you may have a broad set of career options. Some fields, like engineering, healthcare, and IT, are exceptions, where you need to focus your education on gaining specific skills.
• intentional — making thoughtful decisions about your career is important. Career decision is really a set of small decisions about what you want, what you like, and what you are willing to go for. Making the decision to go to Central Piedmont is the first step in a series of career choices. With practice, you will get better at making these decisions over time.

Career Coach is a career information resource that offers an online interest assessment to help you identify your interests and careers that relate to your interests. Career Coach also has local salary and employer information, occupational growth projections, and information about Central Piedmont's programs of study. Anyone can use this free career exploration tool.

Other free assessment resources include:

• CFNC career assessments 
• Career One Stop assessments

In-Depth Assessments

If you are having problems coming up with ideas to consider, Career Services offers in-depth career assessments to help you develop a list of options. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and Strong Interest Inventory are the most comprehensive assessments offered. You must be a current curriculum (college-credit-seeking) student to participate. Should you decide to take in-depth assessments, your counselor will explain your options and how to take the assessments, and will interpret the results with you.

Central Piedmont Career Services provides multiple ways for you to connect with employers for potential job and internship opportunities. Career Services maintains an online job posting system (the Central Piedmont Student Job Board), hosts employer visits to campus for hiring events, and maintains bulletin boards on all campuses as a service to Central Piedmont students, employees, and graduates in your job seeking efforts. Please note that:

• You, as the job seeker, are responsible for all necessary precautions when interviewing for or accepting positions posted on this site, and are responsible for checking the integrity of an organization. It is your responsibility to seek information and legal representation if you feel you are being discriminated against or mistreated in the workplace.
• The participation of employers in campus events and presence of job announcements on the Student Job Board does not indicate an endorsement or recommendation by Central Piedmont Career Services. We cannot be held responsible and/or liable for any damages, real or imagined, past, present or future, from interactions with employers or the information contained in or requested by the job postings.
• Career Services is not responsible for any representations or guarantees with regard to job postings, nor is it responsible for wages, working conditions, safety, or other work-related issues which may arise after placement with an employer.

Keeping this in mind, a few tips to help avoid illegitimate job opportunities include:

• Do not disclose social security numbers, credit card information, or bank account numbers to unknown employers.
• Exercise caution if you are requested to invest any of your own money for an employment opportunity.
• Interview only in public business locations.
• Other than staffing agencies, be wary of positions asking you to submit paperwork, start employment, or set up office space before a formal application and interview process.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) provides a full list of best safety practices on the job search. The following documents are adapted from content on the NACE website:

• How to Spot a Fraudulent Employer (PDF)
• Playing Fair: Your Rights and Responsibilities as a Job Seeker (PDF)

If you have any questions or concerns about any job posting or employer you have met through the Career Services office, contact Career Services.

The job board is for Central Piedmont students and graduates and is operated by Central Piedmont Career Services. Log in to search jobs on the student and graduate job board.

You can get help setting up your résumé or have your résumé reviewed by making an appointment or coming to Career Services' drop-in hours. You can also get a basic review virtually by uploading it to the student and graduate job board.

Developing a professional résumé will assist you with finding a job. First, select the most appropriate résumé format. While a chronological résumé is the most traditional format choice, a functional resume emphasizes skills rather than experience and may be more appropriate if you have gaps in your employment history, are changing careers, are seeking your first job, or feel your work history is unimpressive to potential employers. Make sure your resume is the best it can be using the following resources:

• quick tips on how to write a résumé (video)
• chronological résumé example (PDF)
• functional résumé example (PDF)
• Career Guide
• résumé Builder software accessible through Career Coach

You can type a professional résumé using Microsoft Word or the résumé software. Once your résumé is ready, upload it to the student and graduate job board.

Mock interviews allow you to practice your interviewing skills in a simulated interview environment. Mock interviews provide you with constructive feedback to enhance your job prospects by improving your interview skills. You will meet individually with a career counselor for an hour long appointment. You are given the opportunity to practice dressing for an interview and interviewing for a specific position with a specific company. Bring a current copy of your résumé to the mock interview. The interview can be video recorded for review. You will be able to view your videotaped session and receive immediate feedback from a counselor. This assignment is best for pre-graduate level courses where the majority of students will be graduating and seeking a professional job within the next year.

To schedule a mock interview (credit-seeking students), complete the mock interview request form or call Career Services.

The key to a successful interview is preparation. Review the interview questions provided in the Career Guide and practice answering the the sample interview questions. Dressing professionally is also an important part of the interview process and is a factor in the hiring decision. Be sure to dress in business attire for the interview. Feedback will be provided regarding the appropriateness your attire.

Central Piedmont is here to help you prepare for and learn more about successful interviewing both online and in-person.

• Career Guide
• Career Services interviewing skills presentation (video)

Companies seeking Central Piedmont students and graduates for employment opportunities visit Central Piedmont Campuses throughout the year. See who's coming to a campus near you. Most post their open positions on the student and graduate job board, then visit the campuses to discuss job opportunities with students in-person.

Check out the college events calendar for information on upcoming recruitment events.

How to Work Job Fairs and Hiring Events

• Research employers. Recruiters will see hundreds of job seekers during the course of the day. Stand out from the rest by preparing early. Many event websites list which employers are coming.
• Visit Career Services early to create a targeted résumé. Bring or email your résumé to Career Services several weeks before the event to have it critiqued by a career counselor and discuss how to target it to a specific employer or job.
• Strategize. Arrive early. Identify and locate the companies you are most interested in talking to and visit their booths first. Remember, it is about quality, not quantity!
• Bring plenty of résumés. Target your résumé objective to each employer you want to speak to and bring at least two copies for each.
• Apply online, and do not be discouraged if an employer cannot accept your résumé at a hiring event. Many companies require online applications because of legal reasons, so apply in advance and tell recruiters you have
• taken this extra step to demonstrate your enthusiasm for their opportunity. Once you make a good impression in-person, your online application will rise to the top.
• Dress to impress. Many career fairs require professional dress. Not sure if what you plan to wear is appropriate? Talk to a Career Services counselor for advice.
• Know what you want to say. Talk about your achievements and accomplishments. Use our Elevator Pitch worksheet to plan what you want to talk about or you can meet with a career
• counselor for assistance.
• Listen up! While you wait to talk to recruiters, use your time  wisely. Listen to the conversation recruiters are having with other job seekers. You can use the information you learn to develop some great questions and points to wow the recruiters! Also, network with other job seekers. 
• Ask good questions. Do your research ahead of time so you can ask the recruiter insightful questions. Do not waste the limited time you have to ask, “What does your company do?” If you have done your homework, you already know the answer. Some examples of good questions:
  • What are you looking for in a successful candidate?
  • What kind of entry-level positions (or internships) exist within your organization?
  • Does your company hire on a continual basis or just at certain times of the year?
• Be enthusiastic and have a positive attitude. Whether you are looking for a job or internship or are simply getting practice talking to employers, a job fair is a rare opportunity for you to get face-to-face time with those who can help you get ahead.
• Collect business cards and follow up. Always follow up with the recruiter to thank them for their time and remind them of your conversation with them. It is best to send them an email the afternoon/evening of the event.
• Organize before you leave the hiring event. Take a moment before you leave the event to jot down some quick notes about the recruiters and companies you met with while it is still fresh in your mind.

• Employment at Central Piedmont
• Corporate and Continuing Education
• Small Business Center
• Workplace Learning (apprenticeships, work-based learning/co-op, internships)

Instead of our traditional Central Piedmont Career Fair, Career Services is hosting the new Employer Connect event April 29, 2021. Employer Connect is a virtual career fair. Learn more and register for Employer Connect.

It’s a "Major" Decision workshops help you learn the basics of making a career decision. We’ll discuss what to consider when making a career decision, where to find reliable career information, and explore how Central Piedmont can help you reach your career goals.

Attend an It's a "Major" Decision workshop.

Each spring, Career Services offers students graduating in May the chance to drop-in to learn how to write a résumé, get an existing résumé critiqued, receive help with job search strategy, and/or develop an elevator pitch.