The Office of Career Services

Welcome to the Office of Career Services

Thank You, Aggies

That's a Wrap on the Fall 2026 Career Fair

Thank you to every student who showed up ready and every employer partner who came to First Horizon Coliseum to meet Aggie talent. Now the real work begins: the follow-up.

Book a Post-Fair Debrief

Your Career Starts Here — Not at Graduation.

From your first semester to your first salary negotiation, we equip Aggies with the strategy, connections, and confidence to compete nationally. Every service is free and available in-person or virtually.

Book a Career Appointment Find Jobs and Internships

Your Career Journey

Wherever you are — freshman, senior, grad student, or transfer — start there.

1

Discover

Explore interests, strengths, career options, and majors.

2

Prepare

Build your resume, LinkedIn, interview skills, and brand.

3

Connect

Meet employers, alumni, mentors, and industry pros.

4

Launch

Apply, interview, negotiate, and transition with confidence.

See your year-by-year checklist on the Student Portal →

What's Next

The fair opened the door. Here's how you walk through it.

Your Post-Fair Playbook

Offers Are Won in the Follow-Up

1. Send Thank-You Notes

Email every recruiter you met within 48 hours. Mention one specific thing you discussed.

2. Connect on LinkedIn

Add a short personal note. "Great meeting you at A&T" beats a blank request.

3. Apply on Handshake

A booth conversation is not an application. Submit formally, then reference your conversation.

4. Prep for Interviews

Got a callback? Book a mock interview now, before the real one lands on your calendar.

Book a Debrief With an Advisor

Ongoing

Mock Interview Coaching

Fall interview season is here. Book a one-on-one practice interview, in person or virtual.

Murphy Hall, Suite 101

Book on Handshake →

Year-Round

Employer Info Sessions

Missed a company at the fair? Many come back this fall to present and recruit.

Various campus locations

Browse Events →

Coming Soon

Spring Career Fair

Didn't land it this round? Spring is your next shot. Date announced on Handshake and @ncatocs.

Details to come

Watch Handshake →

View all events on Handshake →

The Aggie Career Advantage

400+Employer Partners
6,000+Students Attended
4Career Fairs Per Year
No. 1Largest HBCU in the Nation

Source: NC A&T Office of Career Services, 2025–26 academic year. Enrollment ranking: NC A&T Institutional Fact Book.

Your Four-Year Career Development Pathway

🎓 Freshman Year: Build Your Foundation

Your freshman year is about exploration and building the habits that set you apart.

You don’t need to have it all figured out — you need to start. Here’s your checklist:

Presentational layout

💼 Create your Handshake profile — This is your career hub for all four years. Upload a photo, add your major, and start browsing.

🔬 Visit Career Services for a career exploration session — We’ll help you connect your interests to career paths.

📄 Draft your first resume — Even with limited experience, we’ll help you build one using leadership, coursework, and community involvement.

🎯 Attend at least one Career Fair — You’re not there to get hired. You’re there to observe, learn, and build comfort with professional conversations.

📸 Get a professional headshot — Use the free Iris Headshot Booth in Murphy Hall for LinkedIn and Handshake.

👥 Join one student organization — Align it with your career interests. Leadership experience starts now.

👥 Set up your LinkedIn profile — Headline, summary, photo. Start connecting with peers and professionals.

💡 Freshman Pro Tip

Employers recruit freshmen for early-pipeline programs, diversity fellowships, and first-year internships. The students who start early are the ones who land offers by junior year.

📈 Sophomore Year: Gain Experience

This is the year you shift from exploring to doing. Build your track record.

Sophomore year is when you land your first professional experience and start proving you can perform. Here’s the plan:

Presentational layout

💼 Apply to 10–15 summer internships — Use Handshake, company career pages, and our job search strategy sessions to build a targeted list.

📄 Complete a resume upgrade session — Bring your freshman resume in and let us help you level it up with results and impact statements.

🎤 Attend a mock interview session — Practice behavioral and technical questions before real interviews start.

🤝 Identify 2–3 professionals for informational interviews — Reach out on LinkedIn and learn about their career paths.

🎯 Attend the Career Fair with intention — Research employers in advance, prepare your pitch, bring printed resumes, and follow up within 24 hours.

📚 Explore undergraduate research or campus employment — Both build transferable skills and strengthen your resume.

📁 Start building your portfolio — Writing samples, code, designs, or projects — begin documenting your work.

💡 Sophomore Pro Tip

Most Fortune 500 companies recruit interns a full semester in advance. If you want a summer internship, start applying in September. We can help you build an application timeline.

🚀 Junior Year: Compete Nationally

This is the year that changes everything. Take it seriously.

Junior year is when your professional preparation meets real opportunity. This is where it gets serious:

Presentational layout

💼 Secure a competitive summer internship — Apply broadly, interview strategically, and use Career Services for offer evaluation and negotiation coaching.

🗺 Schedule a career strategy session — We’ll map your remaining semesters against your career goals and identify gaps.

⭐ Perfect your STAR interview stories — Book multiple mock interviews to rehearse Situation-Task-Action-Result responses.

🤝 Build your professional network intentionally — Attend industry events, connect with recruiters at career fairs, and engage on LinkedIn weekly.

🎓 Research graduate school options (if applicable) — Meet with us to discuss timelines, test prep, and application strategy.

🏆 Seek leadership roles — Step into executive board positions in your organizations. Employers look for demonstrated leadership.

📄 Tailor your resume for each application — One generic resume won’t compete. We’ll help you customize for specific roles and industries.

💡 Junior Pro Tip

Many full-time offers come directly from internship conversions. Treat every internship like a 10-week interview. And if you don’t get a return offer, use that experience to position yourself even stronger for senior-year recruiting.

🚀 Senior Year: Launch Your Career

Everything you’ve built over four years culminates here. Time to convert preparation into offers.

Senior year is execution. It’s time to close:

Presentational layout

🚨 Apply to full-time positions EARLY — Don’t wait until spring. Top employers close roles in the fall. Start in August.

🗺 Schedule a senior career strategy session — We’ll review your timeline, target companies, and backup plans.

💰 Negotiate your offer — Never accept the first number. Come to Career Services for salary negotiation coaching — this one conversation can be worth thousands.

🎯 Attend the Career Fair for full-time recruiting — This is a different conversation than your freshman year. Come prepared to close.

🎓 Prepare for graduate school applications (if applicable) — Personal statements, recommendations, test scores — we’ll help you put it all together.

👥 Finalize your LinkedIn and professional brand — Your digital presence should reflect the professional you’ve become.

📈 Report your career outcome to Career Services — Help us track Aggie success and improve services for future students.

💡 Senior Pro Tip

The average salary difference between students who negotiate and those who don’t is $5,000–$7,000 in year one — and that compounds over your entire career. One appointment with us could be the highest-ROI hour of your college experience.

$5,000–$7,000

Average first-year salary increase from negotiation coaching

Book Salary Negotiation Coaching →

Ready to Get to Work, Aggies?

Whether you’re a freshman exploring options or a senior negotiating offers, we’re here for every step.

Murphy Hall, Suite 101  ·  Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
336.334.7755  ·  ocs@ncat.edu  ·  @ncatocs

Book an Appointment Explore Virtual Resources