Career Services Library – Page 3

How Do I Get The “Inside Scoop” About An Organization?

By Barbara Hewitt

There are many ways to learn what it is like to work for a particular organization. One of the best ways to do so, of course, is to talk to people who work there…ask them about a typical day, the things they like (and don’t like!) about their work, and to describe the culture of the organization. As a Penn student, you have access to a variety of useful networking tools including PACNet (the Penn Alumni Career Network), the Penn Internship Network and the University of Pennsylvania Alumni Group on LinkedIn. All of these can be very helpful to connect you with Penn alumni and current student who can help you research an organization.

If you are a regular Penn & Beyond reader, you probably were already aware of these resources, so I am focusing this blog post on another resource – Glassdoor. This is a terrific site which provides “user generated content” to help job seekers find out more about specific organizations. You can research salaries for specific positions, read reviews from people working at the company (currently or in the past), and find out what interview questions job seekers were asked for specific positions at particular organizations. Although not all organizations are represented, over 238,000 are, so the chance of finding information on companies, particularly larger ones, is pretty good. While Glassdoor usually requires users to post a review or a salary before they can access all of the information on the site, they realize that many college students have not worked previously, so they have created a mechanism for students to access it without having to supply such information. You can find the login link which will allow you to forgo entering your own information through the Online Subscriptions link on the library part of the Career Services website. Login with your PennKey and PennKey password to gain access to Glassdoor and dozens of other subscription-based resources available to Penn students.

Finding an amazing summer internship – with a little help from your friends

By Kelly Cleary

Few academic semesters start off in such a busy, sometimes stressful, frenzy as the spring semester for juniors and sophomores who are trying to figure out what they’ll be doing next summer. The fun and relaxation of winter break are distant memories as students try to balance sorting out their course schedules and figuring out the best approach to finding a summer job (and homework, and work-study jobs, and extra-curriculars, and Rush, and returning from study abroad, and so much more.)

Yes, you have OCR, PennLink, iNet, hundreds of industry specific listings on Career Services’ Online Subscriptions page, upcoming career fairs, walk-ins with career counselors, and Penn alumni with whom you can connect with via PACNet and Linkedin— all great resources for finding internship openings and advice for getting your application noticed. But did you know that some of the best resources for figuring out which industries or employers might be a good fit for you, learning about what an intern actually does at a particular employer, and seeking advice for putting together the strongest application are fellow students who have already been through the process?

No, I’m not suggesting you hang out on Locust Walk passing out postcard size versions of your resume (although that would likely get you noticed.) I’m suggesting you talk with your friends and classmates, especially upper-classmen, who have been through the internship search process before, and ask them for advice.

The recently updated Penn Internship Network, a searchable database with nearly 1,700 current Penn students who have volunteered to speak with other students about their internship, is a fantastic resource for connecting with other students who share your career interests. Search options include industry, major, locations, how students got their job, and a keyword search function. Keep in mind that while the volunteers are usually able to provide helpful information and advice, they are not expected to help you “get the job.” To use this resource, go to http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/undergrad/pin.html. (Pennkey is required to gain access.)

And why the Beatles to start this blog? Nearly every time I look at PIN with a student and we scroll down the list of former interns who match his or her targeted search I hear, “Oh my gosh! That’s my friend!” Some of the most helpful internship search resources are closer than you think.

Career Services extends a hearty “thank you” to all of the students who have signed up to be listed in the network.

By the Book: New Internship Guides

The spring semester is internship hunting season here in Career Services. We’ve recently added a trio of new internship guides that may spark some interest for those trying to decide what to pursue this summer. Each of these guides feature comprehensive listings and contact information.

The Resort Internship and Seasonal Employment Guide – From a country club in Boca Raton to a State Game Lodge in North Dakota, there are lots of different internships in the hospitality industry. Hotel management, business management, sales, event planning, customer relations and accounting are just a few of the areas that resorts and seasonal destinations offer internships in. If that doesn’t suit you, maybe you’d like to be a water ski instructor or golf pro? It can happen!

The Museum Internship Book– Right here in Philadelphia, the Please Touch Museum and the Rosenbach Museum & Library are just two of the cultural institutions you’ll find listed in this guide. Museum internships can be academic in nature or you can focus on operations like marketing, management and program development. Museums and other cultural institutions can make for exciting and unique summer internships.

The Women’s Rights Internship Book – Women’s rights advocacy groups offer internships of all forms. From writing and editing jobs to research assistance to individualized programs tailored to your interests, these internships can even have you meeting with congress and other influential policy makers!

Gifts for You!

As many of us enter a season of gift giving, don’t forget to claim the gifts that Career Services has for you. Many of these gifts are available throughout the year or at set times, in person or online, occasionally or 24/7. What do you need? If it regards your career, we probably have something you can use.

Thinking about being a scientist? Teacher? Marketer? Filmmaker? Consultant? Programmer? Professor? Unsure? We have information to help you learn about different career fields, whether you are exploring a wide range or are ready to dig into a specific area.

Want to talk to other students or alumni to learn about their career paths? Use our resources or meet with us to explore the many connections available to you. Or read our surveys to see what other students have found in their internship and job searches.

Continue reading “Gifts for You!”

By the Book: Streamlining Our Library

If you’ve stopped by the Career Services library in the last week or so, you may have headed over to your favorite section only to discover…it’s not there!

Rest assured, we haven’t taken anything away. We’ve just rearranged things a bit to make room for a new comfortable reading area and consolidate our collection into to better groupings on the shelves. Some of our most popular items, such as the recruiter card file and medical school statistics, have been moved to the front on the library, while all of our general directories, guides and career decision making resources have been placed together.

Come by and enjoy the library. An updated map of where you can find our print resources is below.