Career Development – Albright College

Career Development

What is Career Development?

At the Experiential Learning and Career Development Center, we view career development as a lifelong process. However, choices made during the college years are significant in setting the foundation for future professional options. Our services promote better understanding of the career development process by enhancing the linkage of academic and experiential learning experiences thereby improving career preparation and management. Our services extend from first-year through alumni status.

Student Quick Links

Choosing a Major

One of the toughest decisions you may be faced with at Albright College is choosing your major(s) followed by your career upon graduation. The best decisions are usually made when you have the most information. Here are some resources to assist you during your decision-making process. Most students, from first-years through seniors, experience some confusion when it comes to learning about major opportunities and careers options. The resources below are a good place to start.

Tips and Resources

  • Determine your skills and interests by taking advantage of the career testing/assessment tools available at the Center. Or, start online from the comfort of your room with Focus 2 Career! Use “lions” as your access code.
  • Schedule an appointment with a career counselor to talk about your skills, interests, values and how they relate to career paths or major(s).
  • See what majors/co-majors/special programs Albright offers by viewing the College Catalog.
  • Review the major/co-major/special program information including course descriptions and speak with both upper-class students and professors in the departments that appeal to you or within the major you have already selected.
  • Check out the O*NET database which includes Career Exploration Tools. You can also search O*NET occupations based on key attributes and characteristics including skills, abilities, interests, and work values. My Next Move is an interactive tool that allows you to learn more about careers through keyword search, browsing by industries or based on interests.
  • Have a specific occupation in mind? Check out the Occupational Outlook Handbook which offers additional information about career fields and job titles including education/training needed, salary information, possible employers and much more!
  • View one of over 300 career videos at careeronestop.
  • Conduct informational interviews and network with people that are in fields that interest you.

After you do some researching through the above sites, call or email the ELCDC, or visit Handshake to schedule an appointment with a career counselor to discuss the information you discovered and to obtain additional information!

Want to Go to Grad School?

We are up on the ins and outs of the graduate school application process including writing your personal statement. We also host an annual Graduate and Professional School Fair each fall semester.

Review the Graduate Application Process Guide, Graduate and Professional School Testing Information, and the Guide to Writing Your Personal Statement and schedule an appointment with a Career Counselor to search programs, discuss the application process, and get help with your personal statement.

Check the following links to help you start researching graduate program and the links on your right for more information about graduation/professional school admission testing.

graduate school directory website

  peterson's graduate school directory

Alumni

Get Involved

Partnering with the Experiential Learning and Career Development Center provides a NO COST way to support your Alma mater. You can give back to Albright in time by assisting students and recent alumni in several ways.

You have an opportunity to share your career knowledge, expertise, and insights with our students by becoming a mentor. As a mentor, you can offer to provide any or all of the following services: conduct informational interviews or network with students via phone, email or in person; provide a shadowing opportunity; help students practice the art of interviewing through mock interviews; provide resume/cover letter critiques and much more!

Each semester, the Experiential Learning and Career Development Center hosts programs that include alumni/professionals in panel discussions, networking events, and many other programs. If you are interested in assisting in an upcoming program or in being a mentor, please contact the Experiential Learning and Career Development Center to learn more.

You can also assist our students by posting full-time, part-time, seasonal, or internship opportunities, which will provide a career-related work experience for an Albright student during the school year, January Interim, or over the summer. To register for Handshake as an Employer, see below.

Please contact us at 610-921-7630 or e-mail elcdc@albright.edu with any questions about Handshake or additional opportunities to get involved.

Handshake

Logo for Handshake

A powerful online career network connecting employers, students, alumni, and staff.

HANDSHAKE FOR STUDENTS/ALUMNI: CLICK HERE TO LOG IN

Whether you are a first year student or have graduated, Handshake is an invaluable source of information, career related events, and career exploration and networking tools.  You are able to:

  • View and apply for jobs and internships online
  • Create a profile and upload resume for employer viewing
  • Rsvp to ELCDC events
  • Schedule appointments with ELCDC staff
  • and SO much more!

 

Logo for Handshake

A powerful online career network connecting employers, students, alumni, and staff.

HANDSHAKE FOR EMPLOYERS: CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Handshake allows employers to:

  • Post and manage part-time, full-time employment and internship opportunities as well as register for On-Campus Interviewing, Career Fairs and additional campus events.
  • Create a visual profile on your company that is searchable by Albright students and lets our students get to know your company in more ways than simply a logo

 

Note: This resource is intended for the exclusive use of Albright College students, alumni, faculty and staff, as well as by legitimate employers seeking to hire Albright College candidates. Registrations, profiles and postings by persons outside of the Albright College community or for illegitimate, illicit or illegal purposes is strictly prohibited. For more information about Handshake, please contact Albright College Experiential Learning and Career Development Center at elcdc@albright.edu.

Career and Job/Internship Resources

See more guides and tips here!