Wackerle Center for Career, Leadership & Fellowships

FAQs

• What is Handshake?

  Handshake is the internships and jobs database managed by Monmouth (only open to Monmouth students and alumni) to help you more easily connect with employers, jobs, internships, event information, on-campus recruiting opportunities, and knowledge communities.  Career Services sends targeted emails through Handshake based on student profiles.  Therefore, we highly encourage every student to fill out their profile and update their career preferences in Handshake to the best of their ability in order to receive emails regarding career opportunities ad internship interesting to them.

• I want to improve my leadership skills, where do I start?

  Get involved!  There are over 70 organizations on campus to choose from.  Outside of student organizations you could also participate in athletics and intramurals or volunteer in the local community.  If you want to improve specific skills, book an appointment at the career and leadership center to receive some peer-to-peer leadership coaching.  

• How does Career Services engage and reach out to students?

  The Career Center uses numerous methods to reach out to students including social media posts, going directly into classrooms to discuss the services we provide, and sending out a weekly newsletter to the entire campus community.  Other outreach efforts include targeted emails based on a students’ academic disciplines and career interests as well as collaborating with other departments to engage Monmouth’s academically diverse community.  It is important to us to provide responsive programs and resources that are improved every year through student feedback.

  Because of Monmouth’s tight-knit community, many alumni are eager to help students.  Alumni engage in our office through talks, employer information sessions, and personal meetings with students.  We encourage our students to connect with alumni who can offer career advice and mentor students.

• Who can I reach out to for more information?

  Walk-in to the Wackerle Center for Career, Leadership and Fellowships located in the Center for Academic and Career Excellence based in Hewes Library. You can also schedule an appointment by emailing wackerle@monmouthcollege.edu or emailing one of the career center staff directly.

  Marnie Steach: msteach@monmouthcollege.edu

  Kristy Krisher: kkrisher@monmouthcollege.edu 

• How do I apply to join the Stockdale Fellows Program?

  Each year the Office of Admission will publish an application for new incoming students. Interested students are also required to interview virtually or in person. 

• How much of a time commitment is the Stockdale Fellows program?

  You can anticipate an hour long meeting every other week along with various opportunities to practice leadership through service, conference, and other unique travel opportunities.

• In what types of internships do Monmouth student participate? Are they required?

  Students participate in a variety of internships that are related to their fields of interest–everything from non-profits to finance to professional sports teams and more.  Although internships are not required for all majors, we highly encourage students to make the most productive use of their summers and can help them find ways to do that.  We work with each student individually to find what will be meaningful to them.  Typically, more than 75% of our seniors indicate having at least one internship prior to graduating from Monmouth.  

• Do you assist students with graduate and professional school?

  Yes!  In fact, every year, staff transport students to graduate school fairs and also bring graduate school representatives directly to campus to speak to students. The career services staff also assists students with researching best fit schools and programs, preparing application materials and interview prep.  Additionally, the career services office keeps test prep materials for students to utilize such as GRE, LSAT, GMAT, MCAT.

• Do you have career fairs?

  Career Services hosts a Career Expo every fall semester on campus. Additionally, through our involvement with the College Career Consortium of Illinois, our students participate in the annual Career Fest event that sees 100+ employers attend each year. Career Services also promotes and often provides direct transportation to Career Fairs held throughout the region.

• Do alumni engage with Career Services?

  Absolutely!  Alumni help students in a variety of ways throughout their career development.  Alumni often provide mentoring for current Monmouth students through our programming as well as meeting students for one-on-one interactions.  Additionally, alumni advocate for Monmouth College students within their organizations and are often the driving force for getting employers to participate in our recruiting events both on and off-campus.  Furthermore, Career Services provides career counseling to our recent grads and experienced alumni as they navigate career transitions.

• How does Career Services engage faculty?

  Career Services understands the close-knit relationships faculty have with their students.  We work together to help students access resources that are useful to them.  Furthermore, we also work with faculty to educate students about the world of work and career opportunities through collaborating on programming, inviting speakers, and hosting workshops.  Academic departments also send us job openings to be posted in our database, help us to market our career events, and refer students to us for career counseling.  

• What is Handshake?

  Handshake is the internships and jobs database managed by Monmouth (only open to Monmouth students and alumni) to help you more easily connect with employers, jobs, internships, event information, on-campus recruiting opportunities, and knowledge communities.  Career Services sends targeted emails through Handshake based on student profiles.  Therefore, we highly encourage every student to fill out their profile and update their career preferences in Handshake to the best of their ability in order to receive emails regarding career opportunities ad internship interesting to them.

• I want to improve my leadership skills, where do I start?

  Get involved!  There are over 70 organizations on campus to choose from.  Outside of student organizations you could also participate in athletics and intramurals or volunteer in the local community.  If you want to improve specific skills, book an appointment at the career and leadership center to receive some peer-to-peer leadership coaching.  

• How does Career Services engage and reach out to students?

  The Career Center uses numerous methods to reach out to students including social media posts, going directly into classrooms to discuss the services we provide, and sending out a weekly newsletter to the entire campus community.  Other outreach efforts include targeted emails based on a students’ academic disciplines and career interests as well as collaborating with other departments to engage Monmouth’s academically diverse community.  It is important to us to provide responsive programs and resources that are improved every year through student feedback.

  Because of Monmouth’s tight-knit community, many alumni are eager to help students.  Alumni engage in our office through talks, employer information sessions, and personal meetings with students.  We encourage our students to connect with alumni who can offer career advice and mentor students.

• Who can I reach out to for more information?

  Walk-in to the Wackerle Center for Career, Leadership and Fellowships located in the Center for Academic and Career Excellence based in Hewes Library. You can also schedule an appointment by emailing wackerle@monmouthcollege.edu or emailing one of the career center staff directly.

  Marnie Steach: msteach@monmouthcollege.edu

  Kristy Krisher: kkrisher@monmouthcollege.edu 

• How do I apply to join the Stockdale Fellows Program?

  Each year the Office of Admission will publish an application for new incoming students. Interested students are also required to interview virtually or in person. 

• How much of a time commitment is the Stockdale Fellows program?

  You can anticipate an hour long meeting every other week along with various opportunities to practice leadership through service, conference, and other unique travel opportunities.

• In what types of internships do Monmouth student participate? Are they required?

  Students participate in a variety of internships that are related to their fields of interest–everything from non-profits to finance to professional sports teams and more.  Although internships are not required for all majors, we highly encourage students to make the most productive use of their summers and can help them find ways to do that.  We work with each student individually to find what will be meaningful to them.  Typically, more than 75% of our seniors indicate having at least one internship prior to graduating from Monmouth.  

• Do you assist students with graduate and professional school?

  Yes!  In fact, every year, staff transport students to graduate school fairs and also bring graduate school representatives directly to campus to speak to students. The career services staff also assists students with researching best fit schools and programs, preparing application materials and interview prep.  Additionally, the career services office keeps test prep materials for students to utilize such as GRE, LSAT, GMAT, MCAT.

• Do you have career fairs?

  Career Services hosts a Career Expo every fall semester on campus. Additionally, through our involvement with the College Career Consortium of Illinois, our students participate in the annual Career Fest event that sees 100+ employers attend each year. Career Services also promotes and often provides direct transportation to Career Fairs held throughout the region.

• Do alumni engage with Career Services?

  Absolutely!  Alumni help students in a variety of ways throughout their career development.  Alumni often provide mentoring for current Monmouth students through our programming as well as meeting students for one-on-one interactions.  Additionally, alumni advocate for Monmouth College students within their organizations and are often the driving force for getting employers to participate in our recruiting events both on and off-campus.  Furthermore, Career Services provides career counseling to our recent grads and experienced alumni as they navigate career transitions.

• How does Career Services engage faculty?

  Career Services understands the close-knit relationships faculty have with their students.  We work together to help students access resources that are useful to them.  Furthermore, we also work with faculty to educate students about the world of work and career opportunities through collaborating on programming, inviting speakers, and hosting workshops.  Academic departments also send us job openings to be posted in our database, help us to market our career events, and refer students to us for career counseling.