David – Page 3 – Penn & Beyond

Finding Some Perspective in LinkedIn

By: S. David Ross, Associate Director

Recently, I logged into my LinkedIn account to see the latest updates and information and then something caught my eye. I noticed a blog post from a professional in my field that I am indirectly connected to through a group. It is very common to see links to news stories and updates while browsing on LinkedIn. Many people use the system for professional networking or assistance during their job or internship search. But the blog post I read reminded me that you can use LinkedIn to gain perspective on an industry or current issues within an industry from those currently working in the field.

This perspective and these insights shared by experienced professionals may be helpful as you consider if an industry or sector is the right fit. They may also be helpful as preparation for upcoming interviews – particularly as a basis for questions you may want to ask the interviewer at the end regarding current industry developments. So if you have the chance, read through some industry-related blog posts in LinkedIn and you may just find some powerful stories and valuable perspective.

Why Participating in Case Competitions Can Be Valuable for Your Job or Internship Search

By: S. David Ross, Associate Director

You may have seen or heard about case competitions sponsored by employers or universities. However, the idea of participating in these events may seem daunting and the advantages may be unclear beyond winning the competition and a receiving a prize. With this in mind, I want to highlight some additional benefits of participating in case competitions:

You can build your confidence in solving complex business problems, working in teams and public speaking. All of these skills are in demand by employers. What better way to demonstrate your mastery than to propose a solution and recommendations to a business problem faced by an employer. Depending on the structure of the competition, you also may have the opportunity to present your ideas in front of company representatives, perhaps senior-level executives.

A top finish in a case competition may lead to an interview opportunity. Case competitions can be a great way for employers to identify talent. In some instances, members of teams that perform well may be invited to interview with a firm for employment opportunities.

You can demonstrate your interest in an employer or industry. Some case competitions are sponsored directly by employers. Others are coordinated through universities focused on an industry or sector with employers in attendance. Regardless of who arranges a competition, your participation indicates your willingness to spend time on something not required of you, signaling your interest in a firm or industry.

Your participation in a case competition can serve as a great interview story. Whether you receive a question about a time when you have demonstrated teamwork or worked under a strict deadline, the case competition experience can provide an interesting anecdote that you can share during a job or internship interview.

There are certainly other benefits from participating in case competitions – the possibilities are numerous. So the next time you see case competitions advertised at Penn or through other channels, seriously consider joining a team and participating – you may benefit in more ways than you can imagine.

Did Not Receive a Full-Time Return Offer from Summer Employer – What Should I Do Now?

By: S. David Ross, Associate Director

As another Fall semester is well underway, some December 2015, May 2016 and August 2016 graduating students have begun the process of planning for life after Penn. Some may have interned this past summer with hopes of securing a full-time offer by the end of the summer. If you did not receive the return offer you hoped for, do not panic – now is a great time to devise a strategy for how you will approach your job search this year.

Reflect on your summer experience. With the hustle and bustle of the start of the semester, it can be very easy to simply jump back into the recruiting process as you prepare for next year. If you have not already, take some time to think about your experience this past summer. What did you enjoy? What was unpleasant? What did you learn about yourself? The answers to these three questions may help you better target your efforts this year and focus on employment opportunities that are a good fit for you.

Schedule an appointment with a Career Services advisor. Once you have taken the time to reflect and focus on your interests and goals, schedule a meeting with an advisor in Career Services. Talking through your plan with someone may reaffirm that you are taking the necessary steps and advantage of all of the resources available to you. You may come up with some new ideas or decide to adjust your strategy a bit. For those who have not visited Career Services during your tenure, that’s fine – but please do not feel if you have not used our services in the past that you cannot use them this year. Whatever you think would be helpful for you is great – so please utilize Career Services while you are here on campus.

Actively participate in relevant recruiting events. As much as some employers have already actively begun recruiting Penn students on-campus, do not underestimate the importance of demonstrating your interest. Simply applying for positions that you believe you are qualified for may not be enough – if you discover that employers you are interested are recruiting on-campus, make every effort possible to attend recruiting events unless you have a class conflict or other obligations.

Consider all of your options. Consider how the experience you have gained this past summer has opened up new employment opportunities to explore. Try not to focus solely on position title or industry – but also identify transferable skills that you can apply in different positions and sectors. Now that you have additional experience, you may be able to more effectively pivot into new roles. If you prefer to consider opportunities with different employers within the same industry as your summer employer, that’s great – but cast a wide net and try not to narrow your options too soon.

For advice on how to answer questions about why you did not receive a return offer from your summer employer, please read this previous post: https://ulife.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/blog/2014/10/02/tough-interview-questions-why-did-you-not-receive-a-full-time-job-offer-from-your-summer-internship-employer/

A Few Reasons Why Research Experience Can Increase Your Employment Marketability

By: S. David Ross, Associate Director

Have you considered the prospects of participating in a structured research program or conducting research with a professor while a student at Penn outside of academic requirements? There are a number of ways to get involved in conducting research while at Penn. However, it may be unclear just how valuable these experiences can be – here are a few things to consider:

Participating in a research program or research lab with a professor can further develop your problem-solving and critical-thinking skills which are very valuable for future opportunities. For example, in fields such as consulting where employees face many unstructured problems, having a research background can be helpful to apply a structured approach to try to identify solutions. The ability to analyze a situation and interpret data can certainly be helpful in many different job functions across industries. Research experience can also signal a level of inquisitiveness and curiosity that can be appealing.

Obtaining research experience can potentially demonstrate you are a subject matter expert on a certain topic – knowledge that may be useful for your future career pursuits. If you are considering your job or internship options within a particular industry, having in-depth insight on a particular topic may be attractive to companies and firms looking to hire. This knowledge base may be a useful point of differentiation from other job applicants.

Having a formal research background can signal your willingness to accept a challenge, may showcase your persistence, or highlight your ability to deal with adversity and make adjustments. Research is not easy. You may encounter obstacles, setbacks or other delays that are prohibitive. During those tough times, you may find that you strengthen your resolve and determination to ultimately overcome roadblocks. You never know when you may need any or all of these skills in the future.

You may discover a passion and aptitude that you never knew existed. By engaging in a research experience, you may identify a field that you enjoy immensely. That could lead to future opportunities in disciplines you are not currently considering. There is nothing like finding a good fit in a work environment.

Ultimately, you should decide what you feel are the best pursuits and endeavors for your background, talents and interests. But, if you haven’t already, it may be worth considering potential research avenues and options while enrolled at Penn. Explore while you have the chance!

Consider the Value of Joining and Participating in LinkedIn Groups

By: David Ross, Associate Director

A very popular tool that some candidates use in their internship and job searches is LinkedIn. Perhaps you have created a personal account or utilized the “Find Alumni” feature. While both are great starting points, consider joining and participating in LinkedIn groups to discover additional advantages of the system.

Identify a network of individuals with a shared interest.
One approach to search for networking contacts with professional experience within an industry is to input search criteria or use filters to generate a list of individuals. Another approach would be joining a group that may have dozens or hundreds of members with a shared interest, educational background or work experience. Depending on what type of individuals you are trying to identify, joining a group may be a faster or more efficient way to identify a network of individuals you are looking for.

Demonstrate your expertise in an area.
Once you have joined a group, you may notice individuals pose questions on occasion in search of feedback from group members. Responding to questions on topics you have insight can signal your expertise. It can also build goodwill and possibly open the lines of communications with others you may not have connected with in the past, expanding your network.

Uncover job and internship leads – before they are posted on job sites.
Sometimes individuals will post job or internship leads within a group with the idea that a targeted forum with individuals that may work within a field can be a source of referrals for strong candidates. Occasionally, these job and internship leads are mentioned in groups before they are published publicly elsewhere. Thus, being a member of a relevant group can lead to insights on additional job and internship leads.

Receive insight, advice or assistance from other professionals.
There may be a topic or question you would like perspective on from other professionals. Or perhaps you are working on an event or program and are searching for volunteers that have a certain background. Leveraging group forums in some instances may be very helpful in these instances.

Ultimately, when you search for Groups in LinkedIn, you may notice an overwhelming number of possibilities. You may want to start by joining a small number of groups first. Try to become actively involved as you never know when your participation can lead to unexpected benefits.