Category: Events

Add our upcoming fall events to your calendar!

by Lauren Kemp, Administrative Assistant for the Graduate Student and Nursing/Education/Social Work Teams

The academic year will soon be underway, as will the fall programming season at Career Services.  Career Services hosts a number of workshops and events, as well as a full slate of career fairs, for students and alumni.

This fall, career days will spotlight opportunities in fields as diverse as communications, education, finance, engineering and nursing, among others.  To get the latest information on upcoming fairs, visit http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/careerfairs/.

You can see a full calendar of events by linking through the icon on our main webpage, or you can view programming tailored to your school or degree by visiting the specialized sections on the site.  Be sure to check back periodically, as events are still being added for the semester, and remember to sign up early for any events that require preregistration.  If you’re a graduate student, you can receive announcements of upcoming programs through one of our listservs: http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/gradstud/grad_distribution_lists.php.

Curious about what you might see or learn during a Career Services presentation?  You can check out video recordings and Powerpoints of some of our popular offerings at http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/undergrad/onlineworkshops.php and http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/phdspring14calendar.php.

As always, you can find supplemental information on interviewing, resumes and cover letters, preparing for career fairs and more through the website.

Good luck with the new semester, and remember to add us to your calendar!

Thoughts on Graduation

Six years ago, even four or five years ago, I received numerous interview requests from media representatives in the days leading up to graduation. They wanted me to discuss what they believed was a dismal job market for graduates. Of course it wasn’t so dismal for Penn graduates. Even then, people were getting jobs, perhaps not dream jobs, perhaps they had to work harder to receive an offer, but they got jobs nonetheless.

Fast forward to 2015. I did not receive one interview request to discuss the job prospects of new graduates. Not only are Penn graduates getting jobs, but the overall employment picture has improved markedly. The national unemployment rate is 5.4%, a level that some economists might even characterize as full employment. Our graduates have had a banner year. More will be starting their careers at one of their “top choice” employers; graduate school admissions are impressive as well.

The class of 2015 is fortunate to be graduating into a growing economy, and with the skills that employers value. Experience shows that Penn graduates make the most of their opportunities, and those of us in Career Services have great confidence that today’s graduates will do just that.

Class of 2015: the road may be bumpy. You may not move in a linear fashion from one known, well-trod step to the next. The important thing is that you will be learning more about yourself, and about the work you really want to do, or not to do. These past years at Penn have been a time of tremendous growth for you. You are not the same person you were at matriculation. Nor will you be the same person four years from now. Take advantage of your Penn education, take care of yourselves, and don’t be afraid to take a risk. If you can’t take one now, when can you?

On behalf of everyone here at Career Services, congratulations!

Making the Most of Professional Conferences

By Sharon Fleshman

This is the season in which many of my colleagues and I go to conferences for professional development. To that end, I have some quick thoughts on how to be more intentional before, during and after these events.

Join the planning committee. Perhaps you have ideas for a theme or can assist with logistics. If so, your role in planning a conference would allow you to utilize your skills in new ways and collaborate with others outside of your workplace, resulting in a stronger network and broader exposure.

Present on a topic. If you are developing an area of expertise acknowledged by your colleagues, faculty, or classmates, chances are that you can propose to facilitate a workshop or present a paper. If others have knowledge that would enhance the presentation, invite them to co-present.

Share best practices. During a conference that I attended recently, there was time allotted for some who presented on initiatives or efforts that were successful in their contexts.  Sharing best practices can also happen informally in between workshops or over a meal.  Forums such as email lists or LinkedIn groups can be used to extend the exchange of ideas beyond the conference.

Identify next steps. After a conference, it is tempting to take your notes and handouts and file them somewhere with the best of intentions of pulling them out later.  Instead, be sure to debrief and strategize with your colleagues shortly after the conference.  Finally, determine two or three action items that can be implemented based on your primary takeaways from the event.

Undergrad Interested in Research? Consider NSF-REU Programs!

Undergrads can learn about and apply for prestigious national research positions through the NSF-REU programs – info session on 11/5/13!

*NOTE:  Event on Tuesday 11/5 related directly to this post!
The National Science Foundation’s Research Experience for Undergraduates (NSF-REU) Programs Panel, Tuesday, November 5, 2013, 5:30 – 6:30 PM, Raisler Lounge, 2nd Floor Towne Building, 220 S. 33rd Street, Philadelphia, PA
(Open to UPenn students, with faculty presenters from UPenn and Temple U., information from CHOP’s program, as well as Q&A with student panelists who have worked across the country in REUs)

Considering research this summer, in the future, or for your career?

A research-based experience is one of the primary ways in which undergraduate students – including freshmen – can gain experience and knowledge beyond the classroom, most especially in the early years of their education.  While many opportunities exist throughout the year – on campus with faculty, in labs, as part of nearby facilities like HUP and CHOP, among many other places – a few special programs exist in the summer months to help students gain specialized research experience.

A prestigious option to consider is the National Science Foundation-sponsored “Research Experience for Undergraduates” programs – NSF-REUs for short.

NSF-REU experiences offer a multitude of benefits to participating students, including the opportunity to:

  • work in small, diverse yet focused groups with noted faculty on novel topics
  • complete guided and independent research in areas including:
    • economics
    • engineering (a variety of fields available including nanotech, clean energy, biomedical, chemical and others)
    • ethics and values studies
    • mathematics
    • physics
    • sciences (biology, chemistry, physics, and others)
    • social sciences (psychology, criminology, diversity and inclusion, social aspects of hurricanes, anthropology, sustainability, politics and political science, civil conflict management,
    • technology (cyberinfrastructure, Department of Defense, etc.)
    • and more!
  • be published in well-respected publications and return to school with impressive projects to add to your resume
  • receive a highly competitive salary (referred to as stipends, typically ranging from $3,000 – $5,000) and often also receive additional funding to cover housing and/or meals
  • participate in fun activities organized by the site host
  • and more (benefits vary by location)

Sites can be found right here in Philadelphia, at UPenn, CHOP, and Temple U., as well as across the country and around the world (there are even polar research sites in the Arctic!)

Click on the below link to see a list of topics and find your site within.  Most students apply to more than one program, and individual requirements and deadlines (which can vary) are included on each program’s page as the site updates it.

http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/index.jsp

If you’d like to speak with a Penn student who has done an REU or any other type of research, be sure to use the Penn Internship Network to search, or attend the panel in 11/5/13!: http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/undergrad/pin.html

Best of luck in your search for a research opportunity – it’s a surefire way to build a great resume and potentially launch a lifelong career!

by Jamie Grant, C’98, GEd ’99

This Week: Sustainability, the Environment and Your Career

This is an exciting week for Penn students with interest in sustainability and the environment!   

First, on Wednesday February 27th, we’ll have several distinguished graduates presenting as part of the “Careers in Cleantech” alumni panel, open to all UPenn students with an interest in sustainability and related career paths –  click for more details on the panelists and to reserve your seat!

Wondering what is “Cleantech”?  Cleantech covers fields as diverse as materials, biofuels, energy, recycling, transportation, water, nuclear, solar, and wind, among others, and roles within Cleantech organizations range from business to technical.  The term itself refers to new technology and related business models that offer competitive returns for investors and customers while providing solutions to global challenges.

Second, on Friday March 1st, Penn will once again be partnering to bring you the All Ivy Environmental & Sustainable Career Fair!  Now in its 10th year, this fair is the premier event through which Ivy League students and graduates can meet with representatives from organizations in the private, non-profit and public sectors across a multitude of industries focused in sustainability and the environment.  A sampling of represented organizations includes but is certainly not limited to:

  • Anchor QEA
  • Arcadis
  • CleanEdison
  • Department of Environmental Protection
  • ENVIRON International
  • L’Oreal
  • MTA NYC Transit
  • Peace Corps
  • Sefaira
  • Terra Cycle
  • Tetra Tech
  • United Wind
  • and more!

For full details on all organizations as well as several related educational programs that will be represented at the All Ivy Environmental and Sustainable Career Fair please visit http://allivyfair.ei.columbia.edu/

Lastly, candidates interested in researching careers in this space and others would be very well served to check out the multitude of resources offered not only through the Career Services Resources-by-Field-website, but also the Lippincott Library’s Research Guides – with access to highly relevant and valuable information (like the expansive Cleantech site, a comprehensive resource for alternative energies including research reports, companies, investors and more, under the “Energy” Research Guide) as well as info on other industries and career areas.