Last semester, I attended Google’s on-campus information session on a whim. I thought, “Hey, Google is a pretty big deal. They’re going to be a 15-minute walk from my apartment tomorrow. Why not check it out for an hour or so?” I made sure to dress in business casual, as Career Services recommends for all information sessions, grabbed a few resumes, and went. After the session, I got a chance to speak briefly with Devan Hribal, the Google Student Ambassador who is a junior here at Penn State. I found out that he had attended a similar information session, and that’s how he found out about internships with Google, which led to his current position. How simple does that sound? Now, I’m sure he went through the same interview process as any applicant would, but attending the information session alone gave him exactly what it is supposed to – extra information – to help him apply for the position. Ten months later, he was standing in the front of the room with another Google employee responsible for presenting employment opportunities to students and new grads around the country…all after attending a simple information session just like I did with 100 or so other students.
I’m sure you are thinking that Devan is an exceptional success story, and maybe he is. I don’t know the actual percentage of students who receive offers after meeting company reps at on-campus information sessions, especially at companies like Google. I can tell you, though, that those who received offers through these means clearly proved to the employer that they wanted the position more than anyone and would go the extra mile to do so. Students often wonder why simply applying online does not elicit a response or interview offer, and that sometimes this method of applying may seem like sending your resume into a black hole. Information sessions may just be the way to go above and beyond to make a connection. Sometimes, going above and beyond isn’t as difficult as you might imagine. Sometimes this just means walking over to 100 Thomas for a session in a nice shirt and slacks, or sending a follow-up thank you email after meeting someone. That doesn’t sound impossible, right? Any of you reading this blog right now are capable of doing that and are thus capable of setting yourself apart from other applicants in this manner.
If company information sessions are so easy to attend, why do so many students find excuses not to go to them? Ever take a look at your Network Symplicity events tab, see a flyer posted in Burrowes Building, or glance at a message on the chalkboard in your classroom to see an upcoming career information session listed, and just ignore it? Or maybe you wrote the details in your agenda, had every intention of going, but then didn’t for whatever reason? If so, I am here to tell you the following: yes, you are like many other Penn State students; yes, sometimes these events inconvenience your schedule; and yes, you are missing out on a unique opportunity that could make a huge difference in your immediate professional future!
Throughout the semester, company representatives travel to Penn State for a few days to host information sessions and/or on-campus interviews. Sometimes these representatives come directly from the company’s Human Resources division, which means they could be involved in deciding whether or not you get the position. In many cases, recruiters are Penn State alumni, and they are more than excited to make a return to campus and show off all the amazing things about their company to prospective applicants like you. They just need you to be there to hear it.
So why should you go? You’re busy; you have a test on Wednesday; you have another organization’s meeting that same night. There are much more immediate priorities going on in your life right now. However, if you see that a company that you are genuinely interested in is coming to campus – no matter how unlikely you think it is that you could work for them someday – you should attend the session. This is a rare opportunity to hear directly from company representatives, perhaps even those within the Penn State family, and learn about their personal experiences in their positions and the path that led them there. They often give concrete advice, such as how to frame your resume or what specific qualities they look for in potential candidates, and openly answer any questions you may have. That’s right – you can usually ask anything you want to these reps, and they will answer it or direct you to someone that can with no judgment attached, as there might be in a formal interview. There is even a chance for you to approach the representative after the session, and whether or not they are accepting resumes, this is an opportunity for you to personally introduce yourself and perhaps make a connection. Maybe that HR coordinator will remember how firm your handshake was or your name with the unusual spelling. Maybe the only information you will remember from the session is who to address your cover letter to or when the best time to apply is. Yet these could be reasons that your application goes through in place of someone else’s – all you have to do is go to the session. Where else can you receive that kind of special treatment and valuable information? Probably not too many places.
Think about it: if you were responsible for choosing Google’s next newest employee and you had two identical applications in front of you, one with a name of someone you recognize from your sign-in sheet from Penn State’s information session and one you didn’t recognize at all, whose would you choose?
Inspired yet? Be sure to check the Liberal Arts event calendar often–or better yet, subscribe to it–to find out about upcoming information sessions. Upcoming employer information sessions can also be found in Network Symplicity.