Liberal Arts Voices

Read the perspectives of our current students

Networking with Liberal Arts Alumnus Randy Houston

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We’ve all heard about the power of networking and how Penn State’s Alumni Association is one of the largest in the country.  But how many of us know how to actually approach networking, with alumni or anyone else, for that matter?  I had a chance to talk with Liberal Arts alumnus Randy Houston, Senior Counsel of the Business and Legal Affairs division of NBC Sports Group, about networking, and I got his advice on how to approach it as a recent alumna myself.

As Randy noted during our conversation, networking is a way for individuals to connect with alumni, professionals in the field in which they hope to work, or other adults to discuss just about anything – your undergraduate education or alma mater, current events, or prospective opportunities. Randy helps define what networking actually is and explains why we should be networking during our undergraduate careers. He also discusses when and where to network, how to appropriately interact in different types of situations, and how to avoid some common networking mistakes. Check out any (or all) of the videos in the series to hear Randy’s networking advice and tips, and learn why connecting with others, no matter who they are, is so important.

On-Campus Information Sessions: Your Portal for Making Connections

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shutterstock_7604419.jpgLast 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.

Reflections on Working with VOICES of September 11th

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Voices Logo.jpgSince I finished my internship with VOICES of September 11th and moved back to campus, I reflect often on my time spent there and what I learned this past summer. Working with an organization that caters to a victim population is difficult because talking about certain aspects of that population can be touchy. I learned about, wrote about, and spoke about death on a daily basis. Because this topic was touched on so frequently within the organization, typical conversations focused on very personal details concerning a family member or loved one’s last moments. It taught me that though tragedy may occur at any moment, life does move on and the world does not stop because of one individual’s personal struggles. In doing research about the intimate details of September 11th, I encountered stories about phone calls from the airplanes seconds before they struck the towers, finding remains or personal tokens among the Ground Zero rubble, and survivors who had to leave their friends and colleagues behind as they escaped the collapse. These details sometimes made me pause in my work and take a deep breath because it was such heavy material. Though I have ultimately decided not to pursue a path in social work or psychology, I learned a lot about trauma and what happens to individuals who experience it.

My time with VOICES, though only three months, will not be soon forgotten. I learned how to work in a small, nonprofit setting as opposed to a corporate office, and I decided I liked that atmosphere a lot. I enjoyed tasks that I could take my own direction with, while also incorporating guidance and insight from a supervisor and peer research assistant. It was just enough independence. Also, after working with VOICES, I feel more up to date on our nation’s history. I was only ten years old when September 11th occurred, so I never got the chance to learn intimate details about what actually happened that day. I also did not know much information about other events we studied – such as the Oklahoma City bombing of 1995 or the Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois shootings – and thus learned a great deal about surrounding issues involved. The research project I worked on felt a lot like school, which was a comfortable and familiar setting for me, and in working with such a great staff, the entire experience was well-rounded and very educational.

Though I do not foresee myself working with an organization that caters to victims of trauma, I now regard September 11th and its many, extensive consequences in a new light. That day will forever hold a different meaning for me than in the past, as I now feel that I understand just a small but important portion of what happened to affected family members and friends of those in the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, or the planes. I hope that with my experience, I can continue to feel grateful for the life I have lived – as it has been fortunate – and that I can continue to recognize that others may experience seemingly impossible obstacles due to a tragedy and that we must reach out and help those people as fellow citizens and neighbors.

Top Five Reasons to Study Abroad in the Fall

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streets of St. Michel, Paris
Originally uploaded by LAUSatPSU

Unlike the majority of students who choose education abroad, I chose to plan my studies in Paris during the fall semester of last year. Though I missed out on football season (which very well may be a deciding factor for many of you), there were many surprising positives to both studying abroad in the fall but also being at University Park for the spring. Here is my advice as to why I think studying abroad during the fall semester is the better choice:

1. The application process will be less stressful. By studying abroad in the fall, you will be gathering materials throughout the summer, when you have more free time. Other than the Penn State application, you will have certain application papers due for your program itself, recommendation letters to take care of, perhaps a language competency exam or similar quota to meet, and maybe even application for a passport or visa if you do not have those materials already. For most countries, it can take weeks at a time to even schedule a visa application appointment with the consulate here in the United States. After obtaining an appointment, the list of required documents can sometimes be quite lengthy – some of those documents could require bank statements, housing bills, or other information that may take some time to retrieve. Without the stress of classes or final exams piling up before your departure, you can concentrate on getting everything you need together for your international travel during the summer months. (Plus you’ll probably have Mom and Dad around to help!)

2. More funds may be available to support your financial needs. With the fiscal year beginning July 1st, more funds may be available for you to receive for a fall study abroad term. Remember that the amount of funds designated for study abroad students varies each year and varies with each case, so this is not a guarantee. However, being that the fall semester is the first full semester of the fiscal year, the college may have a bit more funding allocated for student enrichment activities. Check with the Career Enrichment Network for more details on these enrichment funds and for the application or stop by the office in 5 Sparks Building during drop-in hours (MWF 2:00pm-5:00pm, TR 11:00am-5:00pm).

3. You have three to four months of summer to find a job (or two) and save up money for your trip. With the open summer months preceding your trip, you are more likely to find a steady job, one that offers sufficient hours that you don’t have to work around a class schedule. This way, when it comes time to leave, you don’t have to worry that you recently spent all your savings on regular semester expenses (books, groceries, extracurricular activities fees).

4. It is much easier to find housing for your returning spring semester at Penn State. While the majority of students study abroad in the spring, this turns around to be a benefit for those studying abroad in the fall: all those students leaving in January need to find sublets for their apartments. If you are looking for housing in the spring, there will more likely be apartments available for you to take – and those looking to get rid of these sublets will probably be more apt to negotiating prices. Most students studying abroad in the spring just want to get rid of their place and are willing to bring down the price for those interested. A lot of available sublets seem to be posted on Facebook pages by class (i.e. “Penn State Class of 2015” page), so be sure to check those out.

5. Adjusting to American lifestyles will come more naturally with your return to Penn State in the spring. Though some of you will not experience culture shock upon your return to the United States, some of you will find it difficult adjusting back to “normal life”, especially “normal school life”. I found that by having the spring semester starting only a few weeks after I came back helped me adjust a bit more naturally because I wasn’t hanging around my parents’ house for long periods of time. You may find this appealing as well – with an organized schedule, old friends, and the familiarity of Penn State’s campus awaiting you after your fabulous trip, you may feel welcomed and at home again more quickly.

*Bonus: You come home just in time for Penn State Dance Marathon in February!  Who wants to miss out on helping to raise over $10.6 million dollars FTK? While abroad, you can still stay involved throughout the fall in donating online or sending out THONvelopes from wherever you are in the world.

More about VOICES of September 11th

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Hello again! To refresh your memory, I am a senior majoring in English and French, and I spent my summer as a research assistant for VOICES of September 11th, a non-profit located in New Canaan, Connecticut. The organization works towards helping family members affected by 9/11 and by participating in different aspects of the 9/11 community today. After working with VOICES, I have a good perspective on how the organization runs and what it’s like to work in an office full time doing this unique type of research.  

From a day to day basis, the researchers spent most of our time leafing through documents. We poured over hundreds of pages of best practices performed by other individuals and communities affected by instances of mass violence – such as the shootings at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University, the Oklahoma City bombing, and September 11th – and we “data mined,” as my supervisor Gale called it. She was very laid back and let the other research assistant and I make our own judgments regarding when we should complete each task and how much we should write or read into something. It’s nice to know that I was not in a high-pressure environment, but we still paid attention to our deadlines, as the project I worked on, which was funded by the government, had a very concrete deadline. I like this type of structure because, for the most part, it was stress-free for me.  

With our many documents, we “data mined” for ways in which communities responded to those affected by the mass trauma event and those who suddenly lost loved ones as a result of terrorism or other types of violence. This included informal support groups, social media connections between families, professional organizations, or tasks performed by emergency responders. After reading through various documents, I usually took notes and sometimes wrote short summaries to be filed away for later use. This summer was technically “phase one” of the research project, so I was responsible for a lot of digging through folders, browsing online sources, and organizing references to be used for future use.  

As the weeks progressed, I was assigned more specific topics within the umbrella of mass violence to really narrow my search and write more directly. For the final submission to the Department of Justice at the end of the project (which will be long after I left this summer), I was assigned two areas:  a “personal perspective” section that discussed different definitions of a victim and how trauma can affect an individual personally; and the section on the Oklahoma City bombing discussing the incident on April 19, 1995, which was the first example of homegrown terrorism here in the United States. Both of these sections had about 10-15 sub-sections that ranged from one to two pages in length. I read through government reports, including those from the Office of Victims of Crime (OVC) – the department with which we integrate our research – and also those concerning 9/11, such as the new Zadroga Act or the 9/11 commission report. I learned so much about 9/11 and other mass trauma events that I feel so much more up-to-date with what’s going on in our world today and what actions our government is taking now to ensure our nation’s safety against such tragedies.  

A special highlight of my experience with VOICES was the Annual Always Remember Gala held at the end of June. It was the first time I attended or worked at an event as serious as this, and though I did not work so much on planning the event in the weeks leading up to that day, I came to understand just how much work goes into planning a formal dinner and ceremony. The gala was held at the Chelsea Piers in Manhattan with live performances and Kathie Lee Gifford as our guest speaker. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton even sent VOICES a pre-recorded video message to be played at the gala, as she had to decline her invitation this year (she has followed the organization’s work and progress over the past few years and is in close contact with VOICES founder, Mary Fetchet). After hours of preparing centerpieces, ushering guests, fixing final touches on the Silent Auction, and even enjoying a bit of the presentations ourselves, the entire staff was exhausted by the end of the night. Corporations who have contributed significantly to 9/11 – such as Lend Lease, the construction company responsible for building the September 11th Memorial – and family members of those who died in the attacks, were in the audience. I felt honored to be among them and privileged to hear their stories.  

Look for one more post from me for my final thoughts on working for this great organization!

How to Prepare for the Fall Career Days

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Whether you are a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior, the Fall Career Days can benefit you in ways you might never imagine. If you think you are too young or too inexperienced, think again. Attending Fall Career Days on September 11-13 from 11:00-4:00 p.m. at the Bryce Jordan Center just may be the thing to set you ahead of the game and prepare you for future years in college and after you graduate. September 11 is devoted to full-time non-technical jobs, September 12 is devoted to internships and co-ops, and September 13 is devoted to full-time technical jobs.

Besides having the obvious goal of obtaining an internship or job, you may take advantage of speaking with potential employers and recruiters to gain insight on different types of companies, what employers are looking for in their entry-level hires, or how to conduct yourself in a professional manner. By speaking with professionals, you can learn what kinds of questions they want to know about a student’s work or college experience and how to appropriately respond. If you have never held an internship before and want to learn how to make yourself a marketable candidate, what better way to find out than actually speaking with the types of people that may hire you one day?

Most students who choose to attend Fall Career Days have one objective: to obtain a position. If you have no idea where to start, please visit the Career Services website and follow their many links to tips and tricks to help you succeed. For freshmen, you can find out ways to volunteer at the fair to familiarize yourself with what happens for future years. For sophomores and juniors, Career Services and the Career Enrichment Network can help you with your search for internships. For seniors, the Career Services website gives you a list of all companies that are attending and what full-time positions they currently have open. Companies such as Bates White, Consolidated Graphics, Northwestern Mutual, and Capital One are a few examples of companies that are particularly looking for Liberal Arts students, so they may be worth exploring a bit beforehand.

The Career Services website has resources available about how to dress, what to say during your 30-second pitch, and how to approach the 400+ tables that will crowd the BJC in a week. One particularly interesting tip mentioned is that along with bringing hard copies of your resume and writing samples, you may want to also bring an electronic copy of those materials on a jump drive, as some employers may ask you to directly upload it on their computer. With the many other tips mentioned on the Career Services website, you will be surprised with the amount of preparation you can do just by going online.

An even better way to prepare is to visit the many workshops held in room 103 of the Bank of America building (where Career Services is located) in the days leading up the Career Fairs. Here are some you may want to consider:

September 4
4:00 p.m. – Effective Resumes
5:15 p.m. – Interview Prep for Non-technical Career Fields
6:00 p.m.- Dress to Impress, sponsored by Macy’s

September 5
4:00 p.m. – Finding Your Top 5
5:15 p.m. – After the Handshake

September 6
4:00 p.m. – Effective Resumes
5:15 p.m. – Interview Prep for Technical Career Fields
6:30 p.m. – Career Fair Prep for International Students

September 10
11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. – Resumania (resume reviews by HR professionals)
5:30 p.m. – What Questions Should I Ask Career Fair Recruiters?*

*This event will be held in the Grandfather Clock Lounge in Atherton Hall with Lincoln Financial Group. Pizza will be provided and resumes will be accepted. All majors are welcome.

By attending these workshops, you can gather advice and information from the people at Career Services – who, by the way, speak directly with employers visiting campus and know what those employers are looking for – and also get a better sense of what to expect when you set foot into the BJC. That way, you’ll know exactly what to look for and how to act when Fall Career Days roll around, and the only thing you will have left to worry is about getting your appropriate outfit dry cleaned in time.

In the next few days, upload your resume to Network Symplicity so someone from the Career Enrichment Network can review it (or have it reviewed at Career Services), attend a few workshops, make an appointment or drop by to see me or another Career Enrichment Network staff member for any specific questions (schedule appointments through your Network Symplicity account), and get started on the path to success!

What the Freeh Report Means for One Paterno Fellow

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As a new of era of change begins for Penn State, the many complicated and unsatisfying details of the Freeh report have unfolded and shocked students, faculty, and alumni alike. We hear outbursts of disgust from the media and the public, often directed at the wrong people, to pinpoint blame on the university as a whole and thus also on the student body for crimes committed by others. We know we are not responsible for the actions of a select few, but it is often very hard to communicate such distinctions to a person who only finds updates via social media or breaking news reports. In the few conversations I have had with people about the trial verdict and recent dismissals, the name Paterno rolls off everyone’s tongue in a disappointing tone that renders it as though he committed the acts himself. It becomes obvious through the opinions of both Penn Staters and non-Penn Staters that the Paterno legacy today is different than it was just a short year ago. The connotations associated with his name are unsettling and undefined; some believe the name still stands for the value of hard work and ethical leadership while others believe that it stands for unchecked authority and moral failings. Places like Nike’s Joe Paterno Child Development Center and Paternoville have already taken action in removing the name from their titles as a result. The statue has been taken down, the NCAA has imposed heavy sanctions on the Penn State football program, yet the University Library continues to bear the Paterno name. However, these changes are not of particular interest to me. What I am concerned with is the Paterno Fellows Program.

As a senior entering my final semester at Penn State, my concern is, understandably, I hope, self-interested. My worries center around my own future, and I question myself if the incidents of the past nine months will impact my ability to obtain interviews and ultimately a full-time position after I graduate. Up until the past few weeks, I have had the title “Paterno Fellow” on my resume right under The Pennsylvania State University, B.A. English and French, Schreyer Honors College, three elements of my student character that I say with pride. I hadn’t realized until very recently that my association with the Paterno Fellows program could become something of an issue as I apply for full-time jobs this fall. Just the other day my mother texted me, “You should take Paterno Fellow off your [email] signature for a bit….Many will question it.” As disturbed as I was by this comment, I believe it was sound advice. For now.

In removing Paterno Fellows from my resume and email signature, I felt torn between two feelings – fear and pride. I feared what potential employers might think when they see the “Paterno Fellow” line on my resume, but I am enormously proud of what I’ve accomplished through the program. One such achievement includes the research position I held this summer for a non-profit organization in New Canaan, Connecticut, called Voices of September 11th. I applied by writing a simple email inquiry with my resume attached back in December of 2011, asking if any internship positions were available for summer 2012. There was no cover letter or writing sample attached with it. This inquiry led to a phone interview with my current boss, Frank, in which we briefly discussed my involvement within several organizations on campus and previous job experience. His final question involved Paterno Fellows. “I see you are a Paterno Fellow here. That looks impressive. Mind telling me what that’s all about?” Fifteen minutes later I was hired.

As Fellows, we know the quality of the program for which we have worked so hard throughout our college careers. For some students, myself included, gaining access to the Schreyer Honors College first became a real possibility because of the Paterno Fellows Program. In becoming a Scholar, I have set out to do exactly what the Paterno Fellows program encourages: to enrich my Penn State experience by integrating my classroom education with advanced external opportunities. My upper level honors courses in English and French have deepened my relationships with faculty in my departments. Studying abroad and declaring a second major – choices I made in order to become a Fellow – have influenced my education and character in ways I would never have imagined. I have received priority scheduling every semester since my acceptance so that I can register for classes that further my personal and professional goals. Even beyond the $4,500 I have received to date through the program to relieve out-of-pocket expenses for traveling and internships, my educational experience as a Fellow has made all the difference in my college career.

My apprehension about the title of the program is, again, fundamentally selfish. In any other context, most non-Penn Staters right now see the name Paterno and do not think of the values of discipline, hard work, ethical leadership and academic excellence for which the program was created. Will they do the same when I advertise to potential employers that I am a part of an academic program named after Joe Paterno?

I am also concerned about incoming classes and the freshmen and sophomores who are currently aspiring to be Fellows. Just the other day I had a friend question whether she should continue aspiring and whether or not it “was all worth it.” I hope that she continues to pursue the Paterno Fellows program, because regardless of the title, the program sets Liberal Arts students up for success. It motivates us to do more and to want to do more during our time here. It makes us realize that the power of education can be multifaceted, and that enrichment of all kinds is most certainly accessible right here on campus. I only hope that the rest of the world gives students in the Paterno Liberal Arts Undergraduate Fellows Program a chance to explain that rather than flipping to the next resume as soon as they read the name Paterno.

For now, “Paterno Fellow” stays off my resume. I have made this choice because the current situation is so uncertain. The turmoil is ever-changing, unfortunately. I cannot predict what will happen this semester or by the end of this year, and I do not believe that I need to make a personal sacrifice and risk missing an opportunity because an opinionated recruiter reads that name and dismisses my education and my association with Penn State. I have acknowledged that unfortunately, those people do exist, and I will do my best to educate them and defend the education I received at Penn State. I can defend the Fellows program created for Liberal Arts students, but as wonderful as the program is, I cannot defend its current name.

Revisiting Our Nation’s Past with Voices of September 11th

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Majoring in English and French, I had anticipated perhaps interning for a publishing company in New York or finding a job in a writing or writing-related field in a city for this summer. I perused Hearst Publications, Cond� Nast, and even Madison Square Garden for various opportunities. I wanted to work somewhere big–high profile, serious office. It turns out that I found myself in the complete opposite setting, yet content and proud of the job that I landed.

I am a research assistant for Voices of September 11th, a non-profit located in New Canaan, Connecticut.

What? Where? Since when do English majors do research?

I didn’t think they did either. What started out as a communications internship turned into an opening as a research assistant–a job at this small company that was supposed to be for a graduate student. I had applied for a communications position after seeing a posting through OneDayOneInternship.com and did not think much of it. After getting the position, however, my boss called me a few weeks before I was about to start and told me about the research opportunity. I said I would love to take that position instead. Who says change isn’t good?

About a month ago I packed up my Penn State apartment, whisked home to New Jersey for a few days, and moved back up north to Stamford, a town about 15 minutes from my office. I did not know what to expect at my new job or the caliber of work I would be doing–I had never interned outside of the Penn State community.

I quickly learned that Voices of September 11th is a small organization with big-name prospects. It is a non-profit created by Mary Fetchet–a mother who lost her 24-year-old son, Brad, on that tragic day–in the months after the terrorist attacks to provide ongoing support for those affected by the event. The organization’s quiet office in New Canaan is complemented by one in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and both are teeming with passionate social workers and professionals that seek only to help others. Advocating for government reforms down in Washington, hosting an annual “Always Remember” gala each year, and hosting private sessions with family members are just a few of the large-scale accomplishments this organization achieves. In doing some background reading my first few days, I was astounded by Voices’ history, and I was inspired to be working for a company that seemed to make such an integral difference in a part of United States’ history.

My job would be to start on a new research project, funded by a grant from the Department of Justice’s Office of Victims of Crime, with one other assistant and a project manager to oversee us. Our task is to create a long-term support model for families affected by disasters or mass trauma events, one that addresses the long-term needs through resiliency efforts. We look at September 11th, but also the shootings at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University and the bombing in Oklahoma City for best practices. Now that these events are years behind us, many support groups have faded into the shadows and other coalitions have served their purpose and thus disbanded. But what about those individuals who still need help? Multiple years may seem like a long time for most of us, but for those who lost someone that day at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, Shanksville, Virginia Tech, NIU, or Oklahoma City, that equates to thousands of days of thinking of their loved one. And for most, those thoughts pervade every aspect of their life, even today. Our research project’s purpose is to address that need that those people still have and to find best practices for them in case of future mass trauma events, allowing them to stay strong even after so much time has passed.

Though I am not a part of the social work component of Voices–I don’t meet with families that come in or get to help people directly, which is something I really enjoy doing–I feel that I am a part of something bigger with my role as a research assistant. The work that we do this summer will take shape as the project continues long after I am gone, and it will hopefully be successful in creating a long-term support model, in whatever form that will be. Just in the first few weeks, I feel better educated about September 11th, about the government and its structure, and about our world. I was only ten years old when the Twin Towers were struck, and I don’t remember much about the weeks afterward other than continual footage of the wreckage and firefighters on the news. It has been a wonderful opportunity, a wonderful learning opportunity, to be able to discover more about what changed our nation eleven years ago and what we need to do today to continue supporting those affected. I hope that my research this summer will not only open my eyes to this but also to how in times of trouble, the human race really can come together and give each other what we all need–a place to talk, a place to listen, and love.

I look forward to my coming weeks and hope that this feeling of accomplishment and appreciation continues. Check back soon for updates on my experience with Voices, including details about working an annual gala and more!

What to Expect during a Mock Interview with Career Services

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A helpful aspect of Career Services that many students are unfamiliar with is the mock interviews they host every week. These one hour appointments consist of a 20-30 minute interview and a 30 minute feedback session directly after. The mock interview is videotaped so the interviewer and student can go back and take a look at problem questions to work on for the future. The feedback session is also videotaped, and students can return to Career Services afterwards to access and save their video to a USB for their own personal use.

I did this for the first time a few weeks ago, and it is not as intimidating as it sounds! I promise the weirdest part is realizing that your voice does not sound the same on camera as you think it does. I made the appointment a few weeks ahead of time by going in to the front desk on the first floor (yes, you actually have to go to Career Services to make the appointment) and specified what particular position and company for which I was interviewing. You also must email Career Services your resume after making the appointment but at least a few days before your mock interview so they have it on file. For example, since I was in the process of searching for summer internships at the time of my mock interview, I specified that I would like to interview for an internship with Madison Square Garden Company in the Entertainment Division in either Rockette Operations or Concerts/Entertainment. This does not mean that my interviewer was an actual employee of MSG (it was actually a Penn State student!). This frame of reference just helps those at Career Services tailor your interview to a more specific need. Career Services suggests for both guys and girls to wear a business suit, so if you have one, wear it to the mock interview. However, I did do not own a suit, and I wore business casual, and my interviewer said that my dress was perfectly appropriate. If you want to know more about what to expect for an interview, the Career Services website has a specific page with all the information you need.

The interviewer asked me mostly “behavioral” questions, which required me to describe a time in which I faced, for example, a certain ethical dilemma or uncooperative co-worker, and how I dealt with the situation. Other questions included why I wanted to work for MSG and why I thought I would be a good candidate, my strengths and weaknesses as an individual, and what I thought my greatest accomplishment in life was. I did not have any particular answers prepared, though I did note the sample questions that Career Services has posted on their website. I just went with the flow. I tried to act as naturally as possible, answering the questions as honestly and openly as I could. The important thing that I learned in our feedback session was to always end with a positive – if you are explaining one of your weaknesses (as this is a common question in any kind of interview), try to turn your answer around at the end by saying how you can improve upon that trait or what you have learned from it. My interviewer actually suggested to never use the word “weakness”, and instead to use “something I could improve upon”, re-enforcing positive dialogue within the interview. She also noted that good posture, steady eye contact, and a comfortable attitude attribute to a successful interview – all simple gestures that you already know how to do.

Whereas before I may have suspected that a mock interview would have been awkward, now I have to say that I would suggest doing one to any of my friends or fellow students engaging in their internship or job search process. Though some of the things I heard were tips I have seen before, some of the advice was quite new to me. The mock interviewers are there to help you and they want you to have a positive experience, so don’t feel like you will be severely criticized for every minute detail of your interview. If you know yourself and you do a little background research on the company you are interviewing for, you will be just fine. The key word here is mock – these interviews are not real (though they are realistic) so there is no need to stress yourself out for them. It is only simply another step you can take to help yourself become familiar with Career Services and what they have to offer.

How Career Services Can Help You: The Basics

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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.

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