Nichols College CPDC Faculty Toolkit
The CPDC gives students the proper tools and resources needed to find the right job and the right career. We help students learn how to present themselves on paper, in person, and online while in school and when they begin their professional lives.
This is a resource page dedicated to how CPDC resources can benefit faculty members at Nichols College.
The CPDC has four full time staff members
Liz Horgan, Director | Career Coach, All Appointment Types
Beth Gionfriddo, Associate Director | Career Coach, All Appointment Types
Mandy Laporte, Career Specialist | Career Coach, All Appointment Types
Lisa Provost, Career Development Coordinator | Marketing & Technology
- Undergraduate Students
- Undergraduate Online Students
- Graduate Students
- Alumni (for life!!)
- Faculty & Staff
- We are always happy to present to a class, team, organizations, etc. on what CPDC has to offer.
- Do you have a topic in mind? Or a general idea? Reach out to CPDC@Nichols.edu to schedule a consultation.
- Career Exploration tools
- Career coaching (in-person & virtual)
- Resume Critiques
- Interview Practice (in-person or using Big Interview)
- Job & Internship search tools and tactics
- The Bison Boutique
- Professional Lending Closet
- Events (Career Fairs, workshops, networking events and more)
- Interview Rooms
- In class presentations on career topics
- Resume reviews
- Cover letter reviews
- Mock interviews
- Internship search
- Job search
- Career and major exploration
- Online profile reviews (LinkedIn, Handshake)
- Interview prep sessions
- Mock interviews
- Practice questions
- Grad school inquiry
- Salary negotiations
CPDC has many helpful resources for students. We have listed some here that we think faculty will find most helpful.
- CareerShift | Job Search Site
- Big Interview | Interview skills
- SkillsFirst | Resume & Cover Letter
- Handshake | Job Search, Events, More
- Self-Assessments
- Networking | LinkedIn Alumni Group
- Career Communities & Affinity Group Resources found on career.nichols.edu
CPDC has several ways to market events, services and employment opportunities. You can see what we offer here; if you are interested in advertising a career related activity or item, please reach out to us!
- CPDC Website: Career.Nichols.edu | Job & Event Highlights
- Stall Street Journal | CPDC Resources, Events, On-Campus Interviews
- Emails | Via Handshake & UConnect
- Social Media | Facebook & Instagram (nicholscareer)
- Handshake Events
The National Association of Colleges and Employers Career Competencies
NACE is the National Association of Colleges and Employers. The organization describes itself as “the leading source of information on the employment of the college educated, and forecasts hiring and trends in the job market; tracks starting salaries, recruiting and hiring practices, and student attitudes and outcomes; and identifies best practices and benchmarks.”
“For new college graduates, career readiness is key to ensuring successful entrance into the workforce. Career readiness is the foundation upon which a successful career is launched. Career readiness is, quite simply, the new career currency.”
Outlined below are the NACE Career Competencies with ideas on how to incorporate them into the classroom.
*Classroom activities written with the help of ChatGPT
Proactively develop oneself and one’s career through continual personal and professional learning, awareness of one’s strengths and weaknesses, navigation of career opportunities, and networking to build relationships within and without one’s organization.
Ways to incorporate Career & Self Development in the classroom:
- Career Planning Assignments: Assign tasks that involve researching career paths, creating resumes for specific jobs, mock interviewing and researching organizations.
- Networking Activities: Host networking events with industry professionals or assign students an informational interview activity.
Clearly and effectively exchange information, ideas, facts, and perspectives with persons inside and outside of an organization.
Ways to incorporate Communication in the classroom:
- Presentations: Have students give individual or group presentations.
- Writing Assignments: Assign essays, reports, or reflection papers.
- Peer Reviews: Implement peer review sessions where students give and receive feedback on assignments.
Identify and respond to needs based upon an understanding of situational context and logical analysis of relevant information.
Ways to incorporate Critical Thinking in the classroom:
- Case Studies: Present real-world problems for students to analyze and propose solutions either as a presentation or paper.
- Debates: Organize debates to enhance analytical thinking.
- Project-Based Learning: Assign projects that require research, analysis, and practical solutions.
Demonstrate the awareness, attitude, knowledge, and skills required to equitably engage and include people from different local and global cultures. Engage in anti-oppressive practices that actively challenge the systems, structures, and policies of racism and inequity.
Ways to incorporate Equity & Inclusion in the classroom:
- Cultural Awareness Projects: Assign projects that require researching and presenting on different cultures.
- International Case Studies: Use case studies from different countries to highlight global perspectives.
Recognize and capitalize on personal and team strengths to achieve organizational goals.
Ways to incorporate Leadership in the classroom:
- Leadership Roles: Assign leadership roles within group projects.
- Leadership Workshops: Host workshops focusing on leadership skills and strategies.
Knowing work environments differ greatly, understand and demonstrate effective work habits, and act in the interest of the larger community and workplace.
Ways to incorporate Professionalism in the classroom:
- Professionalism Grade: Add an ‘assignment’ that is coded as class professionalism and grade students on items like arriving to class on time, turning in work on time, staying off technology during lectures, etc.
- Internship/Work Experience Reflections: Have students reflect on their work experiences and discuss lessons learned.
Build and maintain collaborative relationships to work effectively toward common goals, while appreciating diverse viewpoints and shared responsibilities.
Ways to incorporate Teamwork in the classroom:
- Group Projects: Organize students into groups to work on projects, fostering collaboration.
- Role-Playing Activities: Use role-playing to simulate team-based scenarios.
Understand and leverage technologies ethically to enhance efficiency, complete tasks, and accomplish goals.
Ways to incorporate Technology in the classroom:
- Tech-Integrated Assignments: Use software or online tools for assignments.
- Tech Workshops: Offer workshops on essential tools like Excel, Word, and other industry-specific software.
- Online Collaboration: Use platforms like Google Docs or Trello for collaborative work.
