Liberal Arts Voices

Read the perspectives of our current students

Internships 101: Part 1: Searching for Internships

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We all come to Penn State to receive an excellent education that will result in securing a great job after graduation. Studying hard and earning a great GPA is a very important factor in receiving job offers after graduation. However, previous work experience and internships are also crucial to landing that ever-important job offer. Employers expect you to complement your academic background with work experience. But the internship application process can be overwhelming and lengthy. Where can Penn Staters begin their search? I’m here to answer some of those questions!

My name is Chelsie Rimel. I am currently a junior majoring in Economics with minors in History and Business and the Liberal Arts. Right now, I am the office assistant for the College of the Liberal Arts Career Enrichment Network. Every day at my internship, I am surrounded by valuable information for professional development. It is so wonderful that there are many opportunities and resources at Penn State. Just about anything a student could want to know about internships, careers, and networking is available at your fingertips. With so much information, how do you narrow down your choices to find the opportunity that fits with your goals?

Start by asking yourself what kind of job do you want? What do you have to offer for that job? What industry would you like to work in? Using the Career Enrichment Network through Network Symplicity is a great way to begin your internship search. Employers send the postings directly to Penn State because they want Penn State students to work at their organizations! There are hundreds of listings in various fields all across the country. Network Symplicity also makes it easy to apply to these internships as well. Using Network Symplicity, you can schedule appointments with staff members in the Network to review resumes, cover letters, and to discuss your career action plan. If you haven’t signed up for an account, please do. It’s a gold mine for internship searches.

Other than Network Symplicity, you can visit company websites for postings too. Most companies will have a ‘Career’ or ‘Job Opportunities’ link on their homepage. (Hint: sometimes these links are difficult to find. Occasionally the link is at the very bottom of the page in tiny writing.)

Sometimes you don’t even have to search for employers, the employers will find you! The College of the Liberal Arts and Penn State often host recruiters from companies to present information sessions for students. Check Network Symplicity and your email for notifications about upcoming events. At these recruiting events, students are able to learn more about the company and the positions available while meeting the recruiters. These are valuable networking opportunities and a way to express your interest and knowledge to a potential employer. Do some research before attending an information session. Learn a little about the company so you have something to talk about with the recruiters. Recruiters will be impressed that you took the time to research their company.

Apply for a lot of internships- don’t limit yourself. Even if you don’t feel you are fully qualified for the position, apply anyway! Worst-case scenario: you don’t get the job. So you might be wondering: how do you make your application stand out in a large applicant pool?

Coming Soon: Part 2: How to compile a stellar application

Liberal Arts Alumni Mentor Program

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The application for the Liberal Arts Alumni Mentor Program is now available.  Submit your mentee application by December 1 for priority consideration.

The Liberal Arts Alumni Mentor Program welcomes Liberal Arts students to apply to be connected with a Liberal Arts alumni mentor. Students are matched with alumni in a field related to their major. Mentors work with students to reflect on their experiences and goals, develop new skills, and network for the future. Preference is given to juniors and seniors, but sophomores are encouraged to apply.

Contact Heather Baruch-Bueter (hzb100@psu.edu) with any questions about the program.

For more information, and to complete the application, go to: http://laus.la.psu.edu/network/mentoring

Critical Language Scholarships Workshop

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Penn State’s University Fellowships Office will host a Critical Language Scholarships Workshop on Tuesday, October 29, at noon in 321 HUB.  The presentation will cover learning lesser studied languages, enhancing your current language skills, travel abroad, and experiencing new cultures. Pizza will be served!

RSVP for the workshop by October 28 by sending an email to jmw62@psu.edu.

See the enclosed flyer for details.

The End of my Australian Journey!

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My semester at the University of Sydney is now coming to an end, and I have had my final day interning at Can Too. My four months in Australia has flashed before my eyes, but I have so many unforgettable memories to bring back to the States with me.

 

Looking back on my experience here, I am so glad I decided to participate in an internship abroad. I have realized how important it is to experience different work environments and learn about the cultural differences present in the work place. I now feel that I have a greater ability to work with others and approach situations with a more open mind. As a complete stranger to Sydney, my internship gave me a stronger sense of connection to the city and helped me to feel right at home.

 

Over the course of my internship I helped Can Too with several marketing and social media projects. Through organizing brochure distributions, forming and maintaining relationships with in-kind supporters, updating Can Too’s Facebook and Twitter pages, and helping to re-design the Can Too website, I was able to learn a lot about the non- profit organization and develop a greater understanding about Australian work norms. After a previous internship experience at a non-profit in America, I was able to apply my skills from that internship to offer Can Too new and innovative ideas. I now look forward to applying the skills I learned at Can Too to my next internship or work experience.

 

Overall my internship experience was extremely successful. I am so grateful to have been placed as an intern at Can Too and to have been given the chance to meet all the inspiring people who work and participate in Can Too. I have grown to love their mission and values, inspiring me to find a similar organization to work for in the future. Can Too has taught me that an enjoyable career can be obtained if you possess passion and interest towards the organization’s mission and values. Most importantly it has shown me that many details and effort go into the effective presentation and management of an organization and it is important to handle every individual task with thought, consideration, and commitment.

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