Moravian College’s Center for Career and Civic Engagement helps students check getting an internship off their to-do list. The team aims to find the program best suited for the student’s major, or any other interests they may have.

The Center helped Jessica Buttner ‘19, a pre-law and business management major, obtain four internships over the course of her academic career. She has interned with Senator Lisa M. Boscola at the Bethlehem office, observed the Honorable Judge Emil Giordano at the Northampton County Courthouse, and served as a Fundraising and Development Intern at ArtsQuest. . Buttner is currently the Talent Acquisition Intern in the Human Resources Department at Olympus Corporation of the Americas, a global leader of medical technology.

The main goal when pursuing internships is to ensure that the job pertains to your interests and goals. While looking for hers, Buttner focused on opportunities that meshed with her involvement on campus and her major. She is the president of the Pre-Law and Sociology club, Chair of 26 Point Ambassadors, USG Parliamentarian, vice president of Habitat for Humanity, a Gender Inclusive Resident Advisor, and a Student Alumni Representative.

“One of my main responsibilities at every internship I have had has been maintaining a level of professionalism, demonstrating active listening skills, performing research, being organized, and using personable communication skills,” Buttner said.

With the help of the Center for Career and Civic Engagement, Moravian students, like Buttner, can acquire the skills necessary for a successful internship experience. Students can always stop by the Center to schedule an appointment, or can call or email. The Center is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  Drop-in hours are Monday through Thursday, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The Center offers an array of tools that help students find and apply for internships. Through the Hound Hire Link, students can find either full-time or part-time internship opportunities across the Lehigh Valley and beyond. All students and alumni have access to the Hound Hire Link by Handshake through the Center’s website.

The Center also offers networking events throughout the course of the school year. The purpose of these events is for students to create meaningful connections with alumni. Students can stop by the Center to look at the calendar of all the upcoming events, or can view the calendar on the Moravian College app.

“We offer a variety resources, services and events to engage students and prepare them for life after college,” said Kathleen Nemchik Barr, associate director of career development for experiential learning.

Some upcoming events include: The Lehigh Valley Collegiate Career Expo on Feb. 28 and the Moravian College Job and Internship Fair on March 27.

The Center encourages students to participate in a hands-on learning experience at least once over the course of four years, because it enhances a student’s knowledge of their intended field and opens their eyes to their future working environment.

“[My internship] experiences have impacted me because I have been able to grow as a student and a person,” said Buttner. “My internships have acted as a soft introduction to the ‘real-world’ or adult life. It is a way to test your future career ideas, while also being able to develop as a student.”