Career Services for Students and Graduates

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:

• NCcareers.org career resources
• 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.

Handshake, Central Piedmont's student job board, is the #1 way college students get hired. Visit the student job board today!

College Credit-Seeking Students

You automatically have a job board account — no need to create an account. Simply log in to the student job board using your Central Piedmont credentials.

Corporate and Continuing Education Students

To use the student job board, you need an active Central Piedmont student ID number, username, and email address. To request this information, call 704.330.4223.

To create your account once you have the necessary information:

1. Access the student job board.
2. Select "sign up here."
3. Create an account using your Central Piedmont email.  Include your Student ID number and username in the request.

College and Career Readiness Students

You automatically have a job board account — no need to create an account. Simply log in to the student job board using your Central Piedmont credentials.

Alumni/Previous Central Piedmont Students

Login to the student job board with your Central Piedmont sign-on if you still have access.  Once logged in, add your personal email address and make it your primary email under Settings.

If you no longer have access to your Central Piedmont account, you are welcome to create an account by selecting "sign up here."  Include your Student ID number and username when requesting access.

Career Services hosts a variety of hiring events throughout the year. View events hosted by both Career Services and individual employers on the student job board.

Students who have logged into their account will receive email notifications for recruiting events and other news. You can also check out the college events calendar for information on upcoming recruitment events.

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.

Playing Fair: Your Rights and Responsibilities as a Job Seeker (PDF) (adapted from the National Association of Colleges and Employers website)

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. Learn how to spot a fraudulent employer on the NACE website. 

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

• Learn more about the employer prior to the event.
• Prepare your résumé.
• Apply online in advance if possible.
• Dress to impress.  Business casual is suggested.  Visiting an employer table is different than going to a formal interview. 
• Use the Tell Me About Yourself worksheet in the Career Guide to gather ideas of what to say.
• Ask good questions that are hard to get the answers to online.  For example:
  • What are you looking for in a successful candidate?
  • Does your company hire on an ongoing basis or certain times of the year?
• Collect business cards and follow up by email that afternoon/evening to thank them for the conversation.
• Relax. You got this!

• Central Piedmont Career Services on LinkedIn
• Employment at Central Piedmont
• Corporate and Continuing Education
• Small Business Center
• Workplace Learning (apprenticeships, work-based learning/co-op, internships)
• Sign up for shopping appointment at our free Professional Clothing Closet

You can get help setting up your résumé or have your résumé reviewed by making an appointment. Log into Handshake to make an appointment or have your resume reviewed virtually.

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)
• Career Guide, including sample résumés
• résumé Builder software accessible through Career Coach
  • You can type a professional résumé using Microsoft Word or the résumé software.

Learn and practice your interview skills with Big Interview.

Alumni: create a Big Interview account by using your personal email address and the log in code: cpcc63. 

Schedule a mock interview to meet individually with a career counselor (choose "I need advice or practice with interviewing"). Get constructive feedback with a mock interview to practice and improve your interviewing skills to enhance your job prospects.

Before your mock interview:

• Review and practice answering the sample interview questions provided in the Career Guide
• View Career Services interviewing skills presentation (video)