Students, Alumni & Community

Choosing a college major and a career are closely connected activities.

If you need some help picking an NPC Program of Study (a.k.a. your “college major”), the resources below will help you with your research.

• NPC Areas of Interest
  See what degrees and certifications NPC offers.  It also includes employment information.
• Road Trip Nation
  Information about various college majors and the careers associated with them. You will also find profiles of people who graduated with that major and see what their careers are.
  See Information about College Majors. 
• What can I do with this major?
  You can explore a variety of majors. Each major is broken down into different career areas or specializations where you will be able to find the most common occupations associated with that major. You will also find the most common types of employers who hire in that area. You will also discover a list of professional associations and links to job boards and other occupational information. Those who already decided their college major, will find the “strategies” section helpful in helping them in their college planning and getting them career-ready. 
  Note: You will not be able to bookmark this link. You can only access the resource by a link on an NPC website like this one.
• Wingspans
  Wingspans is a career exploration resource for NPC students that will help you discover how your interests can evolve into a rewarding career you'll love. You can read the stories of professionals in a variety of careers, take a career personality assessment, as well as download worksheets that will help you work through the career exploration journey. Log in using your NPC credentials.

There are also a variety of resources to help you learn more about various occupations and careers.

All career exploration resources including assessments, guides, and library books can be found on the “Career Exploration” tab of our LibGuide page.

Some other things to consider:

• Informational Interviews & Job Shadowing
• Volunteering
• Career Fair Events. Employers who are interested in hiring our students and alumni attend the various in-person career fairs. It’s a great opportunity to connect with employers and learn about employment opportunities.  Many undecided students also attend career fairs to help them learn more about various types of careers. The career fairs we currently have include a multi-industry career fair, a Nursing & Allied Health career fair, & Welding career fair. Visit the NPC events calendar to see when career fairs and other events are scheduled: 
• Virtual Career Fairs. These are employer presentations we have recorded and listed on our website.
  The NPC events calendar will list those that are scheduled for those who would like to attend live. 
  • View Nursing & Allied Health recordings.
  • View recordings from employers from all other industries.

Once you have made your career selection, you will need the following items to look for a job.

1. Résumé
2. Cover Letter
3. References
4. LinkedIn
5. Interviewing Skills
6. Job Search Tracking
7. Register for NPC Job Club to search for jobs, find out about upcoming job fairs, and access job-seeking resources. (This is for NPC students and alumni only).

According to the Association of American Colleges & Universities, experiential learning and field experiences play a vital role in helping to coalesce theory and practice through hands-on natural experiences. Imparting students with the ability to successfully apply what they learn in the classroom in practical settings is a fundamental goal of education. Experiential programs provide the vehicle for participants to interact with their lessons first- hand in a way that would not be as meaningful by simply reading material or hearing a lecture.

Northland Pioneer College has many programs and learning opportunities that practice this method. Example: Nursing Assistant and Early Childhood Education. This approach is student-focused and not teacher-centered. Group activities, project-based learning and outdoor experiences and outings support student engagement and learning. The experiential approach builds relationship skills, critical thinking and self-confidence as well as curriculum-based knowledge and skill growth.

• Also see the NPC Internship Manual

If you are a currently enrolled NPC student and qualify for Federal Financial Aid, you may be eligible to get an NPC work study position. Students must complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and have a completed file at the NPC Financial Aid Office. NPC work study positions help students:

1. Who need employment income and who can benefit from the work experience.
2. Develop good work habits in preparation for entering the workforce.
3. Provide valuable employment opportunities.