A scoop of Vanilla for everyone, no?

…much like there is not a one-for-everyone flavor of ice cream, similarly there is most certainly not a one-size-fits-all approach to the job search.

by Jamie Grant, C ’98, GEd ’99

 Take a moment to humor this (fairly weak but I hope humorous and pointed) analogy I recently developed while choosing a dessert at the grocery store:  On-Campus Recruiting is to the job search….as Vanilla is to all the flavors of ice cream.

On-Campus Recruiting opportunities and postings can be a WONDERFUL job search resource, and the OCR program works very well for students interested in certain industries and types of positions.  I meet with students every day who are using On-Campus Recruiting to it’s fullest – and if you haven’t checked out the opportunities, you should.

But much like there is not a one-for-everyone flavor of ice cream (sorry, Vanilla – you’re good but I’ll take Peppermint – or strawberry – or chocolate chip any day!), similarly there is most certainly not a one-size-fits-all approach to the job search – in other words, OCR isn’t the ONLY thing out there for Penn students to use as part of a well-rounded and successful job search strategy.     

So, in this busy season of business suits, career fairs and students running off to interviews, if you find yourself wondering if OCR (or Vanilla ) is all there is, worry not.  Come to Career Services and meet with a counselor who specializes in your area of study and knows just about every “flavor” of job search tool or tactic out there.  Come to understand the excellent resources at your fingertips – and what an appropriate time line of action is for YOUR search.  Come to explore your strengths and skills – and learn how to find the types of positions best suited for you.

And because Penn has some of the best, most skilled and informed career counselors with whom I have ever had the privilege to work, I am confident that the knowledge and insight you’ll gain from your appointment with your counselor will undoubtedly be just as sweet as a scoop of your favorite ice cream.

Author: Jamie Grant

Jamie Grant is Associate Director of Career Services for the School of Engineering and Applied Science.