The spring semester is here and Montgomery County Community College’s Career and Alumni Engagement team is set to kick off a series of online and on-campus events to help job seekers land the position of their dreams.

The events begin in January and culminate with Career Week April 11-14, which includes a professional dress fashion show and an in-person and virtual Career Fair.

“We are excited to engage and help our students, alumni and members of the community,” said Takisha Mundy, Director of Career & Alumni Engagement, “as they navigate this unique job market.”

The series begins with “Lunchtime Live” on the @careerservicesmc3 Instagram account. The half-hour-long live video series begins at noon and features interviews and discussions geared for members of the MCCC community looking for tips on landing a career. The first session is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 31, with a welcome and introduction to the Career and Alumni Engagement team. On Monday, Feb. 14, the team will interview the Women in Science and Technology group.

Then on Monday, Feb. 28, the show will host a discussion for students looking to transfer to a four-year institution, to explain the importance of getting ahead and the tools available to them. After that, on Monday, March 28, the show will focus on preparing for a job search, followed by a discussion on what makes a job seeker stand out in an interview on Monday, April 11. Additionally, on Monday, April 18, Lunchtime Live will talk about what happens to an applicant’s resume after they apply, and lastly on Monday, May 2, students will learn how to stay connected to the College as alumni and the keys to starting a new job.

The Career and Alumni Engagement team will also host three online career workshops for job seekers looking for helpful tips. The first session, “Are you Linked-In? Using Social Media in your Job Search” will begin Thursday, Feb. 3, from 2-3 p.m. The second session, “Is Your Resume and Cover Letter Ready for the Job Search? Join us for a workshop to make sure your credentials will represent you well,” begins Wednesday, April 6, from noon to 1 p.m. The third and final session, “Career Fair Prep, Dress 4 Success!” will be held Tuesday, April 12 from noon to 1 p.m.

The Career and Alumni Engagement team will also host Transfer Thursdays online from noon to 1 p.m. for students interested in learning more about the process of transferring to a four-year institution. Transfer Thursdays will be held Feb. 17, March 3 and April 7. Mundy said her office is working in conjunction with Dr. Sam Coleman, Dean of Students, to host the events, which give students access to representatives from area four-year schools.

“It’s a virtual opportunity to connect with our four-year partners in the area. Students learn about the various academic programs and what’s changed at each of the institutions. As well as any scholarship opportunities that may be available,” she said. “Our students can see if they are on track to make a seamless transfer. Transfer Thursdays provide an opportunity for students to talk one-on-one with representatives as well, as each institution gets its own breakout room.”

The Career and Alumni Engagement team has also scheduled a series of smaller hybrid career fairs for students, alumni and community members, which are focused on individual areas of study. The first will focus on careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and Health Sciences. The fair will first come to Blue Bell Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell, Tuesday, March 1, from noon to 2 p.m. in the Health Sciences Center atrium, followed by Pottstown Campus, 101 College Drive, Pottstown, Wednesday, March 2 from 10 a.m. to noon in the North Hall 102 Gallery.

After that, on Monday, March 7, Pottstown Campus will host a career fair for students in the Business and Professional Studies and Liberal Studies programs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the North Hall 102 Gallery. Blue Bell Campus will host its Liberal Studies fair on Thursday, March 10, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Advanced Technology Center and its Business and Professional Studies fair on Thursday, March 24, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Advanced Technology Center.

“These events are smaller than the large open event. They have a more pointed focus,” said Mundy. “It’s not just an open career fair. They are pointed to respective academic areas, as aligned with the College. This is an opportunity for students and the community to connect with opportunity.”

For students looking to transfer, Dr. Coleman, with the support of the Career and Alumni Engagement team, will host an online Transfer Fair on Wednesday, March 9, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“The fair will have the same purposes as our Transfer Thursdays but it’s a larger event,” said Mundy. “There will be a larger number of institutions invited than during Transfer Thursdays. It’s a larger scale.”

Lastly, the semester is wrapped up with Spring 2022 Career Week April 11-14. The week kicks off with a “Lunchtime Live” Monday, April 11, focusing on how to stand out in an interview.

“We want to prepare students for one-on-one time with an employer at a career fair. That could be an applicant’s interview in today’s world,” said Mundy. “You need to make a lasting and strong first impression.”

On April 12, the Career and Alumni Engagement team will host its final online career workshop “Career Fair Prep, Dress 4 Success” Tuesday, April 12, from noon to 1 p.m.

“The focus will be how to prepare for the fair, what questions to ask, combating nerves and the elevator pitch,” said Mundy.

Then on Wednesday, April 13, the Career and Alumni Engagement team will host the Professional Dress Fashion Show from noon to 2 p.m. in the Health Sciences Center atrium.

“Join us for fun and fashion, as we check out professional dress styles,” said Mundy. “If you have questions about what to wear, it’s a fun way to show professional dress and professional engagement. We’re looking forward to it. It’s not going to be a long evening event. It’s a couple of hours in the afternoon to maximize student engagement. We know it will be an awesome time for students and alumni to work together.”

Career Week culminates with the Spring 2022 Career Fair Thursday, April 14. The fair will be offered on-campus and online. The on-campus portion will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Health Sciences Center atrium. The virtual session will be held in the evening from 4-6 p.m.

“This event will be open to various employers and industries” said Mundy. “The community is welcome. We encourage everyone to come. We will publish on Instagram the list of employers confirmed to attend as we get closer to the event.”

Career Coaches are available to help you develop, evaluate and effectively initiate educational and career goals. Current students can make an appointment by calling the Student Success Center at 215-641-6577 or schedule online for Blue Bell and Pottstown campuses. Prospective students and MCCC alumni should email the Career and Alumni Engagement team to get started.

MCCC’s operations currently are remote. The College is monitoring the situation and will reevaluate the situation the week of Jan. 24 to determine the approach for on-campus events for the spring semester. For more information, visit MCCC's COVID-19 landing page.