Become an externship host!
If you're interested in hosting an externship, please complete the host volunteer form to sign up to host an externship! If you have questions, please contact Abby Martin, M.Ed. at [email protected] for more information.
How should I structure my externship? || What kind of students participate?
Some important things to consider when applying to be an externship program host:
From left: Rhiannon Harwi ’20, a media & communication and studio art double major, completed an externship with Deb Clay-Alston ’98 P’14 at ADP in Allentown.
Purpose of the program: The purpose of the externship program is to give students a “day in the life” experience in a career field of interest to the student. This career exploration opportunity allows for students to explore new jobs and industries, gain first-hand experience in the professional world and learn more about their professional likes and dislikes. This day can be arranged however you and the student decide based on the industry and their interests. This opportunity can range from 1-5 days, depending on your availability. An externship is observational in nature, but students can be asked to participate in projects, if applicable.
Ideas for the visit: Here are some examples of how to make the most of the externship with your student participant based on best practices for these opportunities:
Understand the career awareness of your student: While this opportunity is open to students of all years, the main focus is on career exploration for first- and second-year students. To plan your externship with your student, you can ask them information beforehand to gauge why they are participating and where they are personally with their own career exploration. The student will also provide you with this information once they match with you.
There are generally three types of students who participate in the externship program (note: not every student will fit these descriptions—this is just to help show the variety of students who participate).
Undecided students: These students aren't certain about their career goals and are participating as a means of exploring their options. They applied for your opportunity because it sounded interesting to them.
What is this student looking for in this experience?
They are looking for basic knowledge about your career industry. They may not have much, or any, background knowledge on the job or industry. The students are encouraged to apply so they can start learning the very basics about your field.
Students clarifying their options: These students are using the externship to help narrow down some of the options they've decided are interesting to them in their search for a career path. They have some knowledge about your field.
What is this student looking for in this experience?
They are looking to you for a clearer sense of the “career realities” so they can make a decision. They are hoping to learn new information that will give them clarity about their future career path. They may come with many questions to help make their future decision.
Students who want to enter your field: These students are confident that they want to pursue a career in your field or industry.
What is this student looking for in this experience?
They hope to deepen their knowledge and learn about how people enter and advance in your field. They may be curious to learn about next steps in the process to reach their career goal.