Introducing Peer Career Advisors Pop-ins!

Jingy Yen, Associate Director

All summer, we have been prepping and planning for when students return in the fall. This semester, we are launching the new Peer Career Advising program which will provide undergraduate students with more advising resources through quick, 15 minute Pop-ins.

What are Pop-ins?

Pop-ins are run by our Peer Career Advisors (PCAs). PCAs can answer all your career related questions in 15 minute meetings. No appointment needed, just pop-in!

Who can use Pop-ins?

We serve all current undergraduate students at Penn.

When are Pop-ins?

Monday-Friday, 1:00PM-5:00PM.

What can I talk about in a Pop-in?

PCAs can help with resumes, cover letters, interviewing skills, Handshake tips, job/internship search and more. They have been extensively trained on these topics all summer. This is a great resource for those quick questions such as “How do I write about my summer experience on my resume?” and “What is this weird part of Handshake?”

What if I want to see an advisor?

That will always be an option! You can still make an appointment via Handshake or stop by advisor walk-in hours. Advisors can help with bigger questions like “I have no idea what I want to do with my life” or “Help! I have an exploding offer.”  

We are excited about the launch of this new program, and we hope to see you popping-in soon!

End of a Semester, and an End of a Career

Patricia Rose, Director of Career Services

For most of you, your semester is ending soon, with final classes, papers or exams. Then it’s off for a summer of more study or an internship or a research opportunity or perhaps travel. But for some of you, this is it. You are graduating. Even if you have made your plans, you may face the future with some trepidation. Major life transitions can be scary, despite how excited you are about your first full-time job, your fellowship or your graduate program.

I too am facing a major life transition. After almost forty years of working at Penn, most of it in Career Services, I am retiring later this summer. I first came to Penn as a graduate student 45 years ago. It has been a joy and a privilege to study here, to work with such great colleagues, and to get to know generations of Penn students. I have reached a point that the sons and daughters of students I knew years ago are now themselves Penn students. (Too soon for grandchildren to arrive!)

Donna Shalala, former cabinet secretary and university president, once said that women stay in jobs until they no longer like them. Men are more willing to move on, even when their jobs are going well and still enjoyable. Maybe this is why I never left. I have enjoyed my job almost every day for all these years. My wish for you all is that you find a job and a career that are fulfilling and meaningful. Sigmund Freud notably said, “Love and work… work and love, that’s all there is.” May you find work with a purpose as well as love. To all the students and alumni I have gotten to know, thank you, for giving meaning to my work. Best wishes for continued success to you all!

Excuse our appearance!

If you’ve stopped by our office in the last few weeks, you may have noticed that the Career Services Library seems to have vanished. We are at the beginning stages of renovations that we hope will be completed before classes begin, but it does mean that for the rest of the summer, the library has been emptied out. There are currently no computers available for public use and our library of books has been boxed up during the construction. The lounge area remains open for now, but as construction gets underway, that will be closing temporarily as well.

When the school year starts, the public computers will be back, though printing and copying will no longer be available. We have also greatly reduced the number of volumes in the Career Services library, but the most popular titles – including those on case interviews and graduate school preparation – will remain, as will daily editions of The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused and we look forward to welcoming you into our refurbished space this fall.

Happy Fourth!

Career Services will be closing at 2pm on Monday, July 3rd and will reopen at 9am on Wednesday, July 5th.

Have a safe and relaxing Independence Day! The holiday weekend is a great time to get acquainted with our new Career Services platform, Handshake! Log in, fill out your profile, search positions, even schedule an appointment for later on! We look forward to serving you again after the holiday!