A few weeks ago, the Career Enrichment Network’s Network Assistants had the opportunity to head over to Career Services to learn more about what Liberal Arts students can find there in terms of general opportunities to begin their internship or job application process. This not only reminded me of my fond memories of East Halls and the trek up Bigler Road…but also that the advisers there actually won’t bite your head off the minute you walk into the doors! I promise you don’t have to know what business professional means or how to find the Nittany Lion Career Network (the what?) before you go. That is why the center is fully staffed with knowledgeable and encouraging counselors: to help you understand any questions like, “What do I want to do with my life?” or “How can my major be used to find an actual job?”. I am here to explain a quick overview of what is offered at Career Services and how you can use the center to your benefit – without being too nervous to step foot inside.
A first time visitor myself, I had a vague impression of how advisers could exactly help students with at the center. We spoke with Bob Orndorff, Associate Director of Employer Relations and Counseling, and he broke it down very simply for us as to how students can approach the services offered:
Drop-In Counseling: This is a fifteen minute time slot that you do not need an appointment for. Anyone can come in for resume reviews, interview critiques, or quick questions concerning any basic application information. Perhaps this is your first time at Career Services and you would just like someone to explain to you what the difference is between business casual and business professional in terms of attire or how to frame your cover letter. Hours for drop-in counseling are 8:30am-5:00pm Monday through Friday, except on Tuesdays when the hours extend until 7:00pm. One important thing to note is that you must attend one drop-in counseling appointment before making a career counseling appointment.
Career Counseling: This more private form of counseling is available for one hour time slots for students that need a more focused and consistent approach for their career-related questions. This type of appointment would be ideal for students who are facing some out-of-school issues that are affecting their academic- and career-related goals and for those who need some personalized attention, perhaps even longer-term counseling. This is also ideal for students who are completely lost with where to begin in terms of using the programs provided by Career Services or for those who have no idea what their future goals might be. Usually when a student goes for career counseling, they will return for a series of multiple sessions with the same counselor as to progress through whatever problems they are encountering. Hours for career counseling are the same as the drop-in sessions.
Group Career Counseling: Group sessions are designed for students who wish to approach their career-related goals in a less individualistic setting. They would occur at a certain time every week and are available upon request. This form of counseling is ideal for international students, who might be less apt to approaching an adviser during a one-on-one meeting.
In addition to coming to the Career Services building, students can find information on the Penn State Career Services website that can help narrow down their search for internship and job positions. One section is the Nittany Lion Career Network, where students can connect with employers and research when companies are coming to Penn State for on-campus interviews. Two others are WetFeet and Vault, where students can search company profiles and employer guides and also find interview and resume tips. Click on this PDF for more information and links regarding these two sites. A final resource is Lionlink, a source that helps current students get in touch with alumni who volunteer as “Career Coaches” in specific fields of interest.
With three different kinds of counseling and multiple resources to help you with any aspect of the job search, Career Services doesn’t sound so bad, does it? Whereas some students may be hesitant to head on over, now you know the basic information to get you started. When in doubt, you can browse their website to get a feel for more information or even just pick up the phone and call and ask (814-865-2377).
As a fellow student looking for internships and job posting myself, I can advise that my few experiences with Career Services have been nothing but positive, and I felt that everyone working there simply just wants to help. So make the trek back to the east side of campus, forget all past doubts, and take a few simple steps to kick start your career search process – you will be proud that you did.