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:

• 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.

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.

How to Spot a Fraudulent Employer (PDF) (adapted from 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.

The student job board (through Handshake) 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 must have an active Central Piedmont student ID number and email address. To request this information, contact Corporate and Continuing Education.

To create your account once you have your job login credentials:

1. Access the student job board.
2. Select "sign up here."
3. Enter your student ID number and username.

Career and College Readiness Students

College and Career Readiness students, you are welcome to create a job board account:

1. Access the student job board.
2. Select "sign up here."
3. Enter your student ID number and username.

Alumni/Previous Central Piedmont Students

You are welcome to create a job board account any time:

1. Access the student job board.
2. Select "sign up here."
3. Enter your student ID number and username.

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.

You can also check out the college events calendar for information on upcoming recruitment 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.

• 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)

You can get help setting up your résumé or have your résumé reviewed by making an appointment. You can also email resumes@cpcc.edu to get a basic review 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)
• 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.

Learn and practice your interview skills with Big Interview.

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)