The Northwestern Externship Program (NEXT)

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Information for Alumni Hosts

In 2008, NAA will continue the tradition of our annual Northwestern Externship Program (NEXT), a one-day job shadowing program that connects alumni with students who wish to learn more about a specific career field.

For one alum's perspective on the rewards of this program, click here. To see a streaming video (Windows Media format) that offers the viewpoints of previous NEXT participants, click here.

For the fourth year running, the NEXT program will enable students from different parts of the country to shadow alumni in their hometowns or another city of their choice between March 21 - April 21, 2008 (March 21-30 are the official dates for Spring Break).

The NEXT program is seeking alumni hosts currently employed in the following professional areas:

• Advertising/Marketing
• Consulting
• Education
• Engineering
• Entertainment
• Entrepreneurship
• Government
• Healthcare
• Finance
• Law
• Journalism/Public Relations
• Non-Profit

How the NEXT Program Works

1. Starting on December 6, 2007 interested alumni will be able to sign-up online to be a NEXT alumni host. The process of registering and completing the host profile takes approximately ten minutes.

HOST REGISTRATION FOR THIS YEAR'S PROGRAM CLOSED ON JANUARY 4, 2008

2. Hosts anonymous descriptions will be posted in a NAA online forum for students to browse in January and early February. Students will submit applications to NAA during this time.  Each student may only submit up to five externship applications. 

3. In February, hosts whose profiles have drawn interest from students will receive an e-mail from the NAA containing all submissions from students who are interested in your externship opportunity.

4. Hosts choose the student (or students) they wish to have as externs and e-mail their preferrred student choices back to the NAA.

5.  The NAA will complete the matching process by matching alumni hosts and student externs based off of host preferences.  *Please note, the NAA will do our best to try and match you with one of the student applicants you are interested in hosting.  Our matching system attempts to make the highest number of alumni/student matches as possible.  In some cases, a match cannot be made.  You will be notified by the end of February if you have not been matched with a student extern.

5. If you have been matched with a student extern, the NAA will send out simultaneous e-mails during the week of February 25-29 to you and the student you have been matched with to inform you of the match and provide necessary contact information.

6. Your student(s) will contact you via e-mail to arrange a mutually convenient date for the externship and work out all other logistics with you.

It’s really very easy–and so rewarding. After you sign up and provide your brief description, all you will have to do is choose your student; agree on a date and have a fun day. More questions? Check out the Host FAQ page. If you have any questions, please e-mail next@alumni.northwestern.edu.