Barbara Hewitt – Page 4

It’s Almost President’s Day!

By Barbara Hewitt Given that we are in the midst of primary season, it’s almost impossible not to be thinking at some point about our government. Believe me, there have been many heated debates in my house with Republicans and Democrats living under the same roof! At the very least it’s been a very interesting few months. I thought this would be a great time to remind everyone that there are lots career options out there for people who love politics and those who simply hope to contribute to making the government (local, state or federal) run better. Following are just some of the many resources you can find at Career Services to help you explore these paths. Upcoming Go-Government Webinars

Security Clearance 101: Thursday, February 18, 2016, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m., Room 97, McNeil
How to Stand Out in the Application Process: Thursday, February 25, 2016, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m., Room 97 McNeil

Common Good Listserv This is an open forum where the Penn community (staff, faculty, students, etc.) can share information about events, opportunities and resources related to nonprofit, government, policy, public interest and other common good related careers. To subscribe to Common Good Careers listserv, send an email from your Penn account (NOT from a GMAIL or another account connected to your Penn account) to: listserv@lists.upenn.edu with this command in the body of the e-mail: SUBscribe CommonGoodCareers Government Related Resources on Career Services Website Videos, helpful links, and career advice on government and policy related careers http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/careerfields/#government Internship and Job Databases

PennLink: http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/pennlink_jobseekers.php
iNet: http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/inet_jobseekers.php
USAJobs: https://www.usajobs.gov/ The U.S. federal government’s official source for federal jobs and internships

Relevant Career Services Subscriptions Access these resources through the on-line subscriptions link on this page of Career Services website: http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/library

PolicyJobs.Net
PoliticalJobs.Net
Tom Manatos Job List – Jobs, internships, fellowships, and networking opportunities in government and political fields.

Penn Wharton Public Policy Initiative Don’t forget to check out this amazing resource on campus including funded summer internships! http://publicpolicy.wharton.upenn.edu/

Penn in Washington Events, alumni networking, courses, and internships for Penn students on campus and in D.C.: https://piw.sas.upenn.edu/.

Year of Discovery: Learning about Careers

Even after 25 years of working in the career services field, I’m constantly amazed at the huge array of careers that are out there. (Honestly, there IS something for everyone!) The problem can be discovering what that “something” might be for you and also learning more about what people actually do in those jobs. Happily, Career Services has many resources to help you learn more about what it is like to work in various fields and how best to prepare. Following are some my favorites.

Vault.com provides in-depth information on what it’s really like to work in an industry, company or profession—and how to position yourself to land that job. The also provide company rankings, ratings and reviews which are sourced and verified through ongoing directed surveys of active employees and enrolled students. WetFeet similarly provides information about industries, specific employers, interviewing advice, etc. Both resources are easy to read and can provide a wealth of information quickly. Access both through the Career Services on-line subscriptions link on this page. (Note that you will need your PennKey and PennKey password to log in.)

Of course, it’s also always a good idea to actually talk to people working in various career fields instead of just reading about them. Check out our Networking page to get some tips on how to conduct informational interviews to learn about careers. Then use the QuakerNet alumni directory and Penn Internship Network to connect with alums and current students who have worked in fields of interest to you. Finally, don’t forget that Employer Information Sessions are a GREAT way to learn about opportunities. Career Services typically hosts over 350 information sessions a year. Check out the calendar for them here.

Resume Submissions Now Open for Full-Time On-Campus Recruiting

By Barbara Hewitt

OCRS4

Even though the official start of the school year is still a couple of days away, on campus recruiting is already underway! The official interviews will begin on Monday, September 21st, but many of the resume submission periods opened on August 17th so that you could get an early start if you would like. (That said, the first resume deadline is not until Sunday, September 13th, so no need to worry if you haven’t started yet!) Students graduating in December 2015 or May/August 2016 are welcome to participate in on-campus recruiting for full-time positions. If you plan to participate, please attend a live OCR orientation (held on Wednesday, August 26th, 12:00 – 1:00, Claudia Cohen Hall, Terrace Room OR Friday, August 28th, 2:00 – 3:00, Huntsman 240). If you are unable to attend the live orientation you can watch the on-line version here at your convenience. Students participating in on-campus interviewing are expected to be familiar with the information provided in the orientation. Employer information sessions (lots of them!) will begin on Wednesday, August 26th. You can see the list of information sessions by logging into PennLink or checking this page which doesn’t require you to log into PennLink.

Finally, don’t forget the Career Services advisors are here to assist you throughout the process, including perfecting your resume and cover letters, practicing your interviewing skills, and negotiating offers. Best wishes for the beginning of the new year!

Feeling Stressed?

Yesterday 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.

New Beginings

New beginnings are a great time to take stock of what you hope to accomplish in the coming months, whether it be an entire year or simply a semester. Many of us undoubtedly already made a variety of resolutions at the turn of the year, whether it be to eat healthier, exercise more, or stop procrastinating. It is also a great time to think about what you would like to accomplish in terms of your career. If you proactively think about where you want to be at the end of the semester or year you will be much more likely to take the steps necessary to get there and move forward in your path.

Many of you have already made strides in this area simply by registering for classes that will help you progress in your academic program and your career. However, there are many additional things you can do to jump start your career development. I’ve listed just five below…which one(s) will you resolve to do this year?

• Schedule one (or more) informational interviews with alumni to learn more about careers of interest to you. (Check out myquakernet.com for the Penn alumni directory.)
• Join a professional association (often students get very discounted rates!) to learn more about a field, discover job openings, or register for a conference.
• Start the process of applying for internships or post-graduate opportunities in your field of interest (check out PennLink and iNet).

• Develop or update your LinkedIn profile. (Career Services advisors are happy to review it for you, just like a resume.)
• Feeling totally lost? That’s ok! Schedule an appointment with a Career Services advisor to talk through your career related questions.

All of us in Career Services wish you a wonderful 2015!