CHICAGO FIELD STUDIES

Advising & Search Process

The CFS Advising & Search Process typically takes place a quarter or two before you intend to intern.  

Once accepted to participate in CFS, you will meet with a CFS advisor and student consultant who will:

• Make sure you understand CFS processes and your obligations while participating in the program.
• Discuss your internship and career interests with you. 
• Review your resume and give you suggestions. 
• Explain our resources for a successful CFS internship search. 
• Assist you throughout the internship search process. 

Note: CFS advisors are not available for career advising until students have applied and been accepted to the CFS program. For career advising before applying to CFS, please consider contacting Northwestern Career Advancement. If you have questions about how to apply to CFS, please attend an information session or contact cfs@northwestern.edu.

During the internship search process, you will: 

1. Research & Prepare
   1. Finalize and submit a new version of your resume that we will use to send to CFS employer partners. 
   2. Peruse available internship descriptions and review internship evaluations fro previous CFS students.
   3. Create and submit your list of internships of CFS employer partners you wish to apply to. 
2. Apply for Internships
   1. Your CFS advisor will send your resume to the employers that you include on your list. Some CFS employer partners may require ADDITONAL steps to apply. 
   2. You can also continue to apply to internships via Handshake, LinkedIn, BuiltIn, or other job boards specific to your industry. 
   3. While your CFS advisor will help you with this process and point you in the direction of resources, ultimately it is up to you to secure the internship of your choice for the quarter you will participate in CFS. 
   4. You are also welcome to apply to CFS with an internship already secured! See future applying with your own internship page 
   5. For examples of different types of internships and which CFS classes they connect to see our Internships page.
3. Interview
   1. After applying to internships, employers will contact you directly for interviews. 
   2. You will also have the opportunity to participate in our practice interview program, where CFS alumni and volunteers offer their time to practice with you, helping you prepare for interviews with employers. We require students who do not yet have internships to participate in the practice interview program.
4. Evaluate & Select an Offer
   1. Discuss offers your receive with your CFS advisor.
   2. We can assist you with answering questions on how to navigate situations such as offer deadlines and providing guidance during your offer selection process.  

During your CFS Quarter, you Will: 

• Attend a mandatory CFS Program Orientation on the first day of the quarter. 
• Begin your CFS course and internship!
• Respond to check-in emails from your CFS advisor. 
• Talk with your CFS advisor, professor, or student consultant to navigate internship challenges. 
• Receive guidance from your CFS advisor on ways to use your CFS experience to further your career aspirations. 
• Evaluate your experience in a CFS Program Evaluation at he end of the quarter. 

Ready to learn more about our courses and apply to the program?