What Community Colleges Can Learn About Starting Their Own Guaranteed Interview Program

In today’s competitive job market, bridging the gap between education and employment is a challenge many community colleges face. One innovative initiative to bridge this gap is Northern Virginia Community College’s (NOVA) Guaranteed Interview Program, which connects students directly with regional employers.

Launched as a pilot in November 2020, this program allows employers to conduct initial screening interviews with current students and alums in specific applied degree and non-credit programs throughout the year.

The college works with local employers to identify job openings that align with the skills of its Workforce and Applied Program students. Interview opportunities are then posted and managed through Career Connection, the college’s online career services platform, where the program team oversees sign-ups and communicates with employers. Students can register for interviews based on their program and qualifications, including relevant certifications, and receive access to interview preparation resources and career counseling before their sessions.

While the program does not guarantee employment, it creates essential connections between students and employers. Program coordinator Rachel Krempasky notes, “It guarantees students an opportunity to get in front of employers and to remove any barriers that students may face in connecting with those employers initially.”

By examining NOVA’s program, community colleges can gain valuable insights into launching talent pipelines in high-demand fields. Here’s how community colleges can get started on creating a program of their own.

NOVA piloted the interview sessions with NOVA Workforce FastForward Programming, initially focusing on medical certification programs that garnered strong employer and student interest. The first sessions utilized the college’s existing partnerships with INOVA Health Systems, which had previously collaborated with NOVA for events like career fairs. By establishing a clear connection between the area’s high-demand healthcare positions and the college’s allied healthcare programs, including showcasing how students graduate with industry certifications and relevant skills, NOVA created a direct pathway for employers to access qualified candidates eager to fill open positions.

By late 2021, NOVA hired its first Guaranteed Interview Program Coordinator to further develop and expand program offerings. This coordinator collaborates with faculty and administrative staff to assess whether the program’s scope, enrollment, and student demographics align with the interview program. Once student demand is established, NOVA contacts local employers to identify open positions. The program successfully expanded interview sessions for additional FastForward programs, including Certified Nursing Assistant and EPA 608, and has extended to other applied fields such as HVAC, construction, and information technology. As the program scales, the goal is to host interview opportunities for all FastForward and applied degree programs that generate interest from both employers and graduates.

The interview program goes beyond simply connecting students with job opportunities—it prepares them for long-term career success. Krempasky highlights the program’s emphasis on developing essential career-readiness skills, including resume preparation, interview techniques, and building real-world connections with employers. Focusing on these competencies puts students in a stronger position to meet employer expectations.

As Krempasky explains, NOVA students benefit from access to career services for resume building and interview preparation, which is especially important for those navigating their first job interviews. A senior recruiter from Red River noted, “I would say the NOVA students make for an ideal candidate pool for our entry-level tech jobs. The students have shown the motivation and grit required to break into the industry.”

A second team member—a Guaranteed Interview Program Specialist—was added last fall to focus on student engagement and event logistics. This role works directly with faculty and program staff to inform them about opportunities, present the program’s offerings in classes, and communicate details of the interview sessions to students, as well as provide career readiness and interview preparation resources.

Maintaining solid relationships with employers is essential for the success of the Guaranteed Interview Program, especially as the program expands. During outreach, Krempasky emphasizes the program as an opportunity for genuine partnerships with employers. She explains to employers how “engaging with the Guaranteed Interview Program is not just about the outcome of a hire, but also how their involvement contributes to the development of our students.”

For example, interview partners provide valuable industry feedback on resume and interview skills, which helps improve how the college prepares students. Feedback is shared with faculty and staff to inform candidate performance and curriculum development, ensuring the program remains aligned with evolving employer needs.

To strengthen these relationships, the college strives to streamline the process for employers by facilitating sign-ups and communication with students. Program staff plan for consistent communication with their employer partners through regular quarterly check-ins throughout the year. Additionally, an annual engagement report is being developed to showcase the impact of employer participation in the program, utilizing quantitative outcomes from sessions, student feedback, and overall outcomes data from the previous academic year.

Participating employers have noted that the Guaranteed Interview Program “has allowed us to strengthen our bond with the communities that we are proud to serve and be a part of.”

Krempasky emphasizes collaborating across departments when launching an interview program. Her team works closely with program directors, faculty, and administrative staff to gain a comprehensive understanding of available courses, the student population, and the skills students develop. Leveraging their expertise helps Krempasky's team understand and identify industry jobs and suitable partners. Once an education program is decided, ongoing feedback is essential for continually assessing its alignment with Guaranteed Interview opportunities, including program scope, enrollment, and student demographics.

NOVA also engages with various areas of the college to enhance the program’s effectiveness. Krempasky reaches out to existing employers within the Career Services and Business Engagement team who have participated in previous events to encourage their employer engagement. Her team also partners with departments such as the NOVA Foundation to educate stakeholders about the benefits of the Guaranteed Interview Program. Ultimately, these combined efforts ensure that the interview program is scalable and well-positioned to meet the needs of both students and employers.

Launching a Guaranteed Interview Program can be a meaningful way for community colleges to partner with employers to address local workforce needs. By aligning the interests of students and employers, colleges can create direct pathways to employment for their students while providing employers with skilled, job-ready graduates.