Career Center
Parents as Resources
Muhlenberg Career Network
As a student, you may have utilized the Muhlenberg Career Network (MCN) to identify career opportunities for people in your major or perhaps you began your official networking by calling a MCN volunteer for an information interview. The Network still exists - and we are using it more than ever. Students still have access through the Career Resource Library and use it in the traditional sense. The addition of the Internet Mentoring option makes ongoing conversations between alumni and students more practical. Career Center staff use the network to identify speakers, Shadow Program hosts, potential employers and Resume Book recipients, and to introduce students to networking.
Muhlenberg Career Network volunteers participate in any combination of the following:
Information Interviewing
After the student researches your career field, he or she will set up an appointment to ask questions about work. Work content, educational requirements, career paths, and personal rewards are some typical issues. We advise students to be the timekeeper for the interview and that an informational interview lasts approximately 30 minutes to one hour.
Career Visits
Career visits enable the student to shadow or spend time observing the volunteer at work for 1 - 5 days. That way the student can learn first-hand about his or her field of interest.
Career Panels/Group Meetings
Panels are held both on campus and in various other locations. When you volunteer to speak at these informal programs about your career experiences, you join a group of people we may call upon as we set up discussions on a variety of topics. Panels generally last 1 1/2 hours, including time for questions.
Job Hunting
Students seeking summer employment, internships or full-time work can benefit by receiving advice from an insider. You will not be expected to "find" the student a job. Rather you might offer tips about how to search, suggest resources or avenues that the student might pursue, and shed some light on how you and others entered and advanced in your field. Job hunting interviews last approximately 30 minutes to one hour.
Internships
These are opportunities for students to engage in meaningful and productive work over a period of time in your work environment. An internship may take place during the academic year for 10-15 hours per week if you are located in the Lehigh Valley. There is greater geographical flexibility during the summer months and during January break. Internships can be extremely valuable in helping students gain career related experience. Internships may be paid or unpaid.
Employer Recruitment
We welcome your participation in our recruiting program. This can be done at various levels. To assist the recruiting effort, consider one or more of the following: providing the name of a contact person in your organization; interviewing seniors for positions; reviewing resumes for openings at your organization; sending us job announcements for posting; or speaking with students about your organization. Interviewing can be done on-campus or at your site.
Internet Mentoring
Share your experiences and answer questions regarding your career field with a student seeking advice. As an Internet Mentor, nearly all correspondence will be conducted via Internet e-mail. The exchange may be a one-time question, but the goal is for students to develop relationships with alumni who could provide ongoing support during the career exploration and job search processes.
If you would like to become a member of the Muhlenberg Career Network, send an email message to careers@muhlenberg.edu. Please include your name, class year, complete mailing address or fax number, and a note indicating that you would like to receive the Muhlenberg Career Network volunteer form.
If you are already a Network volunteer and would like to update your contact information online, please do so through the Alumni Relations page.
Thank you, in advance, for your support of the Career Center at Muhlenberg.
2400 Chew Street, Allentown, PA 18104-5586
Ph: (484) 664-3170 Fax: (484) 664-3533
Return to the Career Center homepage.
Questions and comments? Send e-mail to careers@muhlenberg.edu