Feeling Stressed?

Stressed_3_tnsYesterday I attended a program for the various student affairs professionals on campus which focused on the recent University Mental Health Task Force report. Although I’ve worked at Penn for quite a few years, it reminded of the many, many resources available to Penn students. I think most people tend to think of CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services) as the “Go To” place for students who might be experiencing stressors in their lives and they are certainly a wonderful resource to have on campus. That said, there are lots of other places students can find support as well, whether it be the various cultural centers, the Penn Women’s Center, or Campus Health.

Students often come to the Career Services office with very specific questions such as “Can you review my resume?”, “Which job offer should I take?”, or “How can I find an internship?”. These are all fine questions and we are happy to discuss them with students. That said, we also realize that career planning in and of itself can be stressful. Not knowing exactly what career path to pursue, being rejected for a position you really wanted, or being unsure of whether to pursue a graduate degree can (and does!) cause some very normal anxiety in everyone. I wanted to take the opportunity in this blog to let you know that the Career Services advisors understand such feelings and are absolutely happy to discuss them with you. Occasionally we hear from students that they feel like they have to “have it all figured out” before they visit our office and absolutely nothing could be further from the truth. Whether you are in the beginning stages of thinking about your career path; in the midst of applying for jobs, internships, or graduate school; or trying to finalize an offer, come in and talk to us. We may not have all the answers, but we certainly want to serve as a resource for you as you walk along your individual career path.

Author: Barbara Hewitt

Barbara Hewitt is the Executive Director of Career Services.