‘Let Us Help You’

MONMOUTH, Ill. – This past fall was another busy semester for the Wackerle Center for Career, Leadership and Fellowships, which helps Monmouth College students build a better future.

Established by alumnus Fred Wackerle ’61 in 1996, the Wackerle Center has benefitted Monmouth students for nearly three decades, helping them build networks, create résumés, a curriculum vitae and cover letters, and find and land job and internship opportunities.

MARNIE STEACH: Shortly after the 1995 alumna graduated from Monmouth, the Wackerle Center opened, and it has been helping the College's students with career preparation ever since.“Our fall semester was about arranging and sponsoring various programs to assist students with career planning and making connections for jobs and internships,” said Marnie Steach ’95, director of the Wackerle Center. “We hosted over 40 employers – many of which were Monmouth alumni – on campus this fall for activities such as the Career Expo, mock interviews and classroom visits.”

Additionally, said Steach, there were opportunities for students to attend programs such as the Graduate and Professional School fair to learn more about preparing and applying for graduate programs.

Network, network, network

Steach said that many Monmouth students took advantage of the Wackerle Center’s assistance, including a group that participated in a field trip to RSM, an international accounting firm. Such opportunities assist students with their career development process and allows them to learn about potential careers and professional expectations.

“Students can get full-time jobs and internships through networking.” said Steach. “All of these experiences – whether it’s through career fairs, volunteer days, classroom visits or company tours – help our students build connections. And since many of them are Monmouth alumni, those connections are even stronger.”

Another major event from the fall with a connection to the Wackerle Center was the annual moot court competition, which is a unique program for an undergraduate institution.

“Alumni and other attorneys come to campus to judge the competition, and they meet with the students while they’re here,” said Steach. “They often times serve as mentors for our pre-law students.”

But the backbone of the Wackerle Center is the one-on-one assistance it provides to Monmouth students.

“We have conversations with students who are undecided on their major, and we provide assessments that can help students learn more about themselves and help them connect with the things they might be interested in or might be suited for.” – Marnie Steach

“There are students who come in to discuss career planning, preparations and what their goals are,” said Steach. “We have conversations with students who are undecided on their major, and we provide assessments that can help students learn more about themselves and help them connect with the things they might be interested in or might be suited for. That way, they can better direct some of their exploration for their career search, diving a little deeper to get some additional information in those areas.”

Once those assessments are made, the Wackerle Center can then help students link to alumni in that field, creating opportunities for informative conversations, job shadowing, and internship or job applications.

What’s ahead

Now that the calendar has turned, Steach and her staff know that activity in their office will increase.

“Spring semester is busier because that’s the time when students are graduating and that’s when we are assisting students to help them secure jobs,” said Steach.

Events on the Wackerle Center’s spring calendar include more employer visits and job and career fairs, as well as a human resources career day and an etiquette dinner. A number of alumni speakers working in health professions will also visit the College’s “Introduction to Health Careers” course including Dr. Jeremy Carrier ’03 with OSF Holy Family and physician’s assistant Mamie Ambrosch ’20, who works in the emergency room at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.

“Come to our office, let us help you,” she said. “Let us help you with your résumé, CV and interviews.” – Marnie Steach 

Steach offered advice for students who are becoming anxious about what they’ll do this summer or, for many, after they graduate in May.

“Come to our office, let us help you,” she said. “Let us help you with your résumé, CV and interviews. And, don’t forget to seek assistance from your professors during your job search, as well. We want to make sure you are putting your best foot forward and that you’re prepared to be competitive for the job market.”