Alumni registration for NEXT 2025 is now closed. Registration for next year's program will open in October 2025.

The Northwestern Externship (NEXT) Program is a one-day job-shadowing program that provides students with the special opportunity to explore career possibilities alongside alumni. NEXT is offered in a hybrid format, allowing alumni to provide an invaluable experience to students in person, virtually, or both. 


Once alumni host registration concludes, students will be able to browse available externships and apply. You will be notified once the application process is complete and will then have the opportunity to rank the student extern applications you have received for this year's program.


If matched, the selected student will contact you by early January to set a date for the in-person or virtual visit. The externship should take place between the time of the match and the end of June. Please note that there is no guarantee that we will be able to match all alumni and students who participate in the program.


NEXT 2025 Timeline:

  • Alumni host registration: Late September - October 21, 2024
  • Student application process: October 23 - November 11, 2024
  • Alumni host ranking process: November 12 - December 2, 2024
  • Alumni and student matches announced: Week of December 2, 2024

Hybrid Program:

The NEXT program will still be conducted both in-person and virtually. Continuing to provide virtual opportunities makes the program more accessible for students who may not be able to travel to an externship out of state/country and allow alumni who continue to work remotely to be able to host students. We thank you for your interest in supporting student's career development as they explore and continue to think about what's next after their time at Northwestern. Below are guidelines for what this year's program will look like and what students will expect.

  • Both virtual and in-person visits will start as a meeting with you as the host to learn about your career path, industry and role overview, your time at Northwestern, etc.
  • Virtual visits will then offer subsequent virtual meetings within the same day or week, additional opportunities should be scheduled for the student(s) to learn more about your role, company, industry, and more.
  • In-person visits will then offer a full day of opportunities to tour your work space, meet with your colleagues, attend meetings, and any other activities your organization would allow them to participate in while they are on the premises.

Suggested Virtual Externship Activities:

  • One-on-one or small group virtual meeting with colleague(s) from your team
  • One-on-one or small group virtual meeting with colleague(s) from another team
  • Sitting in on a virtual group meeting
  • Resume review with you
  • Virtual office tour (if you're working out of the home)
  • Meeting with someone from your HR department
  • Or something that might be unique to your industry that isn't listed above
  • Here are a few sample itineraries of what your externship could look like

Suggested In-Person Externship Activities:

  • One-on-one or small group meeting with colleague(s) from your team on premises
  • One-on-one or small group meeting with colleague(s) from another team on premises
  • Sitting in on a group meeting on premises
  • Resume review with you
  • Office or broader organization tour on premises
  • Meeting with someone from your HR department
  • Or something that might be unique to your industry that isn't listed above
  • Here are a few sample itineraries of what your externship could look like


Interested in learning more about the NEXT program?

For more information, please refer to our Resources.

Alumni questions? Contact next@northwestern.edu.