Liberal Arts Voices

Read the perspectives of our current students

Careers for the Humanities: Meet the Panelists!

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Careers for the Humanities is only a few days away! On March 29th from 1:00-5:00 on the first floor of Chambers, you will be able to network with alumni professionals and discuss career possibilities specifically for Liberal Arts majors. The alumni attending represent a variety of industries, from social media to the government. Get to know the alumni before the event! Come prepared with questions for people you’re interested in talking to and get information about internships, the job search, and life after college.

Alumni Panelists:

Michelle Decker is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Comparative Literature at Penn State. Her dissertation entitled “City, Island, Coast: Narratives of the Indian Ocean World,” looks at the culture and literature in the Indian Ocean region. She previously received her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from Penn State. She has worked as an editorial assistant for Comparative Literature Studies.

Mike Dell’Aquila is a 2004 English graduate. He is currently a senior copywriter at Recyclebank, a company that rewards people for taking every day green actions. He has been published in Penn State’s literary journal, Kalliope, as well as a variety of print and online publications, including KGB Literary Magazine, Writing Our Way Home, Paterson Literary Review, Florida English Literary Journal, and Italian Americana.

Marty Evans is a 2013 Communication Arts and Sciences graduate. He currently works as an Inside Sales Associate at WESCO Distribution, Inc. While at Penn State, he was president of Lambda Pi Eta, the National Communication Honors Society, and held a teaching assistant position.

 Kimberly Gardner is a 1995 Penn State English graduate who currently works for the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections as a Records Specialist.  She maintains a Records Unit at a Pennsylvania state correctional facility.

Geoff Halberstadt is a 2011 graduate with degrees in History and Political Science. While at Penn State, Geoff was involved with the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council, Liberal Arts Envoys, UPUA, THON, and the Senior Class Gift Committee.  As the Assistant Director of Development for Penn State’s College of Engineering, Geoff assists in fundraising initiatives that advance the University’s and College’s strategic goals, and he focuses on implementing major gift fundraising efforts in order to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward alumni and allied constituents. 

Lindsay Keiter is a 2006 graduate with degrees in History and Women’s Studies. She has her Master of Arts in American History from the College of William and Mary and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Early American History at the College of William and Mary; her dissertation examines marriage as an evolving social institution and economic strategy. She has taught classes at the college level, and is a Lemon Project Fellow, gathering history on community members and alumni of William and Mary.

Stephanie Kozakowski is a 2004 Anthropology graduate. During her time at Penn State, Stephanie was part of Sigma Kappa and the Order of Omega.  She received her Master of Science in Biological Anthropology from the University of Cambridge in 2006, followed by receiving a Doctorate for Biological Anthropology in 2013 from the University of Toronto. She currently works at Independence Blue Cross as a business systems analysis. She has previously done graduate research and class instruction at the University of Toronto, and has interned at the Philadelphia Zoo.

Sam Loewner is a 2010 Political Science graduate. He currently works as an operations manager at MAXIMUS, a global government services firm based in Virginia. Sam is an alumni mentor in the Liberal Arts Alumni Mentor Program and a member of both the Golden Lion Society and the DC Metro Chapter of the Alumni Association.

Jennifer Patterson is a 2000 English graduate. She currently is a writer/editor with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, where she manages strategic communications initiatives for the organization’s Directorate of Intelligence. She has previously works at the Smithsonian Institution’s Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, as well as Island Press, a nonprofit environmental publisher. While at Penn State, Jennifer was an intern with Penn State Press, a tutor for the Writing Center, and a copy editor for La Vie, the Penn State yearbook. 

Stacey Dorang Peeler is a 1996 English graduate. She earned her Master of Science in Human Resources and Employment Relations from Penn State in 2012. She currently works as the MBA Admissions Director for the Smeal College of Business at Penn State.

Jonas Raymond is a 2009 Communication Arts and Sciences graduate who also earned a minor in Business and the Liberal Arts.  At Penn State, he was involved with THON and fraternity life.  He currently works between the Greater Chicago Area and New York City as an associate project manager at Groupon.

Jon Schmidt is a 2003 History graduate. He currently works as a Senior Architectural Historian for the Maryland State Highway Administration within the Maryland Environmental Service. He earned his Master of Arts in Historic Preservation from the University of Delaware in 2006. While at Penn State, he was involved with History Roundtable, Campus Weather Service, and THON.

Pat Shahabian is a 2012 Communication Arts & Sciences graduate. He serves as the Production Coordinator at Years of Living Dangerously which is a forthcoming nonfiction documentary television series focusing on the American and international impact of, and solutions to, climate change. In addition to his current role, Pat has worked at Spike TV and at The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

Sarah Tarnopolsky is a 2004 graduate with degrees in Medieval Studies, Anthropology, and Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies. She received her Master of Studies in Historical Research from the University of Oxford in 2005. She works as a contracts manager for Twitter in New York City.

Juliana Viau is a 2012 graduate with degrees in English and French. She works for TransPerfect Translation, the world’s largest privately held provider of language services and technology solutions. During her time at Penn State, she studied abroad in Paris, as well as intern with the Career Enrichment Network and Voices of 9/11.

Cody Yashinsky is a 2011 graduate with degrees in Crime, Law, and Justice and Political Science. He currently works as a Paralegal Specialist in the Department of Justice Antitrust division. At Penn State, he served as a teaching assistant and was involved with THON.

The alumni are excited to meet you and want to answer your questions. Careers for the Humanities gives you the chance to learn about careers, receive resume advice, and network. Remember to RSVP on Network Symplicity for the event. For more information about what to expect, visit the Careers for the Humanities website.

Careers for the Humanities: Elevator Speech Preparation

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At Careers for the Humanities, you will have the opportunity to speak with alumni panelists to learn more about various careers available for Liberal Arts majors. Last week, you learned about networking tips and how to effectively network. Another major component of networking is your “elevator pitch.” An elevator pitch is a brief, 60 second introduction that you will give when meeting the alumni panelists. This is your chance to make a great first impression so you want your pitch to be informative and concise. The tips below will help you create the perfect elevator pitch.

1. Start Out Strong: Shake the person’s hand and introduce yourself. Include basic information like your year, major, and minor here. Example: Hello, my name is Sam and I am a sophomore majoring in English with a minor in History.

2. Briefly explain your future plans/goals: Do you want to go to graduate school? Want to work for the government? Not exactly sure what you want to do? That’s okay!  This is the time to talk about your interests and plans. Example: I’m not sure of my future plans but I enjoy helping people and I am considering a career in the non-profit sector.

3. Talk about your experience: Did you have an awesome internship or study abroad experience? Do you hold a leadership position in an organization? Tell the alumni panelist about it! Be enthusiastic and sell yourself. Example: Last summer I interned with the American Red Cross coordinating supplies for earthquake relief in the Philippines. Or I am the President of the History Roundtable.

4. Highlight your skillset: This isn’t just limited to technical skills like computer software or languages but also soft skills as well such as problem solving, communication, and time management. Example: I am fluent in Spanish and I am comfortable working with the public in a professional office environment.

5. Finish on a high note: A little enthusiasm goes a long way. Ask the alumni professionals if they would like to learn more about you or tell them that would you like to learn more about them. Example: I would be thrilled to explain more about my background and interests. Or I see that you work at Twitter, would you mind telling me more about that as I am looking for a career involving social media?

Be sure to practice your elevator pitch in the mirror or with your roommates to make you present it smoothly and to work out the details. Check out this link with elevator pitch examples for more information. Remember to register for Careers for the Humanities on your Network Symplicity account, too! Check back next week to meet the alumni panelists.

Careers for the Humanities: Networking Tips

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Networking is the process of developing professional relationships that help you as you explore your career goals.1 It is one of the most effective ways to gain career-related information and find internship opportunities. At Careers for the Humanities you will have the opportunity to network and talk with alumni professionals from various fields. To get the most from your networking experience, be prepared, ask the right questions, and follow these tips:

1. Don’t Be Shy: Although networking can be intimidating, don’t be afraid to approach someone. Politely introduce yourself and get the conservation started.  Don’t wait for an alumni professional to approach you. Take the initiative; the alumni are excited to share their experiences with you!

2. When in Doubt, Ask Questions:  To gain the most information and insight, ask the person a lot of questions. You don’t have to do all of the talking. Networking actually requires great listening skills. You probably will even want to jot down some notes after your conversation. Keep a few general questions in mind like “why did you choose Penn State” or “what were you involved in on campus” to get the conversation started and to keep it going.  Asking questions expresses genuine interest in a person which will reflect positively on you! Bonus: asking the other person questions prevents you from talking too much about yourself.

3. Don’t be Overbearing: Leave the sales pitch at home. Networking isn’t about shoving information about you down somebody’s throat. Networking should be a casual, light conversation to develop a relationship with someone. Smile and remember to keep it friendly. People are more likely to do business with those whose company they enjoy.

4. Get a Card and Follow Up: At the end of the conversation, remember to ask for a business card or jot down contact information. Send a follow-up email and let the person know you enjoyed talking with them and would like to keep in touch. It’s also a good idea to reference something specific you talked about during your conversation so the alumna/alumnus will remember you. It’s not successful networking if you don’t keep in contact!

If you are still unsure of your networking skills or want more information and tips for networking, check out this link. Remember to RSVP for Careers for the Humanities through your Network Symplicity account and check back next week for tips on how to prepare your “elevator speech.”

1 http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/career/pdf/CG/CG_Value_of_Networking.pdf

Careers for the Humanities, March 29th!

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Careers-in-the-Humanities-Email-Header2The Career Enrichment Network is proud to sponsor Careers for the Humanities!

This event is exclusively for Liberal Arts students to explore career options, network with alumni, and more!

This event will be taking place on March 29th, from 1:00-5:00PM on the first floor of Chambers building. Alumni panelists will be in attendance to answer all of your questions and give resume feedback. As the keynote speaker, David DeLong, author of Graduate to a Great Job, will discuss job search tips, the transferable skills Liberal Arts majors bring to the workplace, and steps Liberal Arts majors can take to identify their career path.

The agenda for this event, including information about the alumni panels, is now available on our website. Attending Careers for the Humanities is a great way to jump-start your internship and job search while making connections and exploring your options.

Visit our website for more information and make sure to RSVP through your Network Symplicity account using the “Events” tab.

Careers for the Humanities: What to Wear

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Now that you have RSVP’d to Careers for the Humanities and prepared your materials it’s time to pick out your outfit. Remember that you will be talking with alumni professionals at Careers for the Humanities so you will want to dress to impress. The dress for the event is business casual. Not sure what exactly what business casual entails? Check out the tips below for how to look presentable, professional, and put-together.

Men

  • No jeans! Wear a nice pair of dress pants. As a rule of thumb, if your pants have belt loops, wear a belt. Coordinate your belt color with your shoe color.
  • A dress-shirt (a button up shirt with a collar) is acceptable. Make sure it a solid color or a conservative pattern. Polos are acceptable if it is neat and not paired with jeans.
  • Your shoes should be standard dress shoes that are clean and scuff-free. No employer wants to see a potential employee look sloppy!

Women

  • Just like the men, don’t wear jeans! A pair of dress pants or a skirt/dress of appropriate length (no more than 2 inches above) is acceptable. If you wear a dress or skirt you should consider wearing tights, especially in colder weather.
  • Anything from a button-up shirt, to a blouse, to a dressy sweater or cardigan is appropriate. Just keep the style, color, and pattern conservative. Remember, the idea is to look professional!
  • Flats or heels that are no higher than 3 inches are considered business casual. Just remember to make sure your shoes are clean.

If you keep these tips in mind while planning your outfit, you are sure to make a great impression on the alumni panelists. If you are still not sure if your outfit is appropriate, take a look at these picture guides for more help. Check back next week for tips on how to network effectively and visit Careers for the Humanities website for more information about the event!

Careers for the Humanities: What to Bring

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You’ve already RSVP’d to Careers for the Humanities on March 29th to learn about exciting career opportunities for Liberal Arts students. Now it’s time to prepare! What should you bring to this event? A resume? A notebook? You want to look professional and prepared for the alumni panelists but maybe you’ve never been to an event like this before. Not to worry! Below is a list of the top 5 things to bring to Careers for the Humanities:

1. Resume. This is the obvious necessity. With many alumni attending and participating in resume reviews, you will want to bring a few copies of your resume. Have a variety of alumni look over your resume if possible- the more feedback, the better!

2. Notebook. Preferably you should own some sort of portfolio like this one available in the Penn State bookstore. It has pockets for your resume and looks professional- perfect for interviews! However for this event, any type of notebook will suffice. You will want to jot down notes from the keynote speaker’s advice for internship searches and advice from alumni as well as any contact information you receive from alumni. Also think about asking for business cards when you speak with people.

3. Pens. This sounds silly, but bring a few spare pens! With alumni conducting resume reviews it is easy to lose some pens. Don’t be left without a writing utensil; – come prepared and stash extra pens in your pocket or bag.

4. Breath Mints. No gum, please! Chewing gum while chatting with alumni is a big no-no! However, pop a few breath mints before talking with a panelist to be sure the conversation is enjoyable for both parties.

5. Questions for the Panelists. Specific information about the panelists will be available in a later blog post. Until then, think about what questions you have for the alumni. Whether they are field-specific or general questions about life after college, write down a few questions to get the conversation started! Alumni will be impressed that you arrived prepared.
One thing not to bring to Careers for the Humanities is your cell phone- turn it off or on silent if you must. Be respectful to the speaker and the panelists and resist the urge to text or make calls during the event. Remember that these alumni volunteered to come speak to you. Be considerate of their time and valuable advice.

If you keep this list in mind, you are sure to make a great impression on the panelists and receive a lot of information and feedback. Now that you have all of your belongings put together, next week’s blog post will discuss what to wear to the event.

Careers for the Humanities: Reasons to Attend

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Careers-in-the-Humanities-Email-Header2By: Chelsie Rimel

Careers for the Humanities is fast approaching! The last blog post (Careers for The Humanities) introduced you to the event, taking place on March 29 from 1-5pm on the first floor of the Chambers Building, Liberal Arts students will be able to network with alumni, listen to keynote speaker David DeLong, and learn about various careers that are available to Liberal Arts majors. As if those reasons weren’t enough, why should else you attend Careers for the Humanities? I have a few reasons:

1. You are eventually going to graduate. Alas, we cannot remain Penn State students forever. Freshman or senior, eventually you will need to find a job-isn’t that a big reason for attending college? Take advantage of your resources at Penn State! The Career Enrichment Network is here to prepare you for your professional career. Careers for the Humanities will have alumni representing various fields in attendance. If you are confident in a career path, come to chat with people and make connections. If you are not sure about a career path, come to learn about your options. It’s a win-win situation for all!

2. Networking. Need I say more? Penn State has the largest dues-paying Alumni Association in the world, and thus a large network of alumni looking to guide and help you! The professionals at this event are alumni who volunteered and are excited to help students. Plus, there is no such thing as too much networking. You never know who you may meet- a future employer or mentor; the possibilities are endless. This is also a great opportunity to meet students within your major and exchange advice. Not sure how to network? Check out this guide on how to network like a pro.

3. Years and years’ worth of advice. How many years of experience do you have working in your field? That’s what I thought. The alumni professionals at this event have years’ worth of experience in the workforce. They will be able to answer all of your questions about jobs and life after Penn State: What is the transition like from college to work life? How is living on your own? What is it like living in a large city? From career-specific questions to “how do I pay bills?” you are sure to get reliable answers to your questions.

4. Career ideas. Where else are you going to find professionals representing a wide variety of careers all in the same, convenient place? Explore new options and learn about all the places your Liberal Arts degree can take you. Maybe you will discover new interests and open doors to an exciting and engaging career!

5. Resume feedback. Ah, the all-important resume: a single sheet of paper that can make or break whether or not you get an interview. We all know how crucial it is to have a stellar resume. At Careers for the Humanities, alumni panelists will be there to give resume feedback. You are getting advice on what an employer wants to see from the employers themselves! Learn how to tailor your resume to perfectly fit the description for your dream internship or job!

These are just a few reasons to attend Careers for the Humanities. Don’t let this opportunity pass by! RSVP today through your Network Symplicity account and visit the Careers for the Humanities website for more information. Check back next week for a list of materials to bring to Careers for the Humanities. See you there!
Coming Soon- Careers for the Humanities: What to Bring

Careers for the Humanities

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Careers-in-the-Humanities-Email-Header2By: Chelsie Rimel

With a Penn State Liberal Arts education, a student’s professional possibilities and opportunities are endless. A Liberal Arts degree teaches not only specific disciplines such as history or philosophy but invaluable skills such as critical analysis and communication. This broad array of skill sets and traits makes you as a Liberal Arts student attractive to various employers. But with such a wide variety of choices, how do you choose the right path? Or do you love your major but are not sure what career options are available? What if there was an event where you could meet with professionals in various fields, network, and receive resume advice? Well it’s your lucky day because…

The Career Enrichment Network is proud to sponsor Careers for the Humanities! This event is exclusively for Liberal Arts students to explore career options, network with alumni, and more! From 1:00-5:00PM on March 29 on the first floor of Chambers building; students will be able to learn about various fields. Alumni panelists will be in attendance to answer all of your questions and give resume feedback. What better way to receive advice than from someone who was once in your shoes? Additionally, this is a great opportunity to network and meet other students in your major. Now is a great time to expand your network! Also learn how to efficiently look for your dream internship. Keynote speaker and alumni David DeLong, author of Graduate to a Great Job, will give a presentation highlighting how to search for jobs.

Careers for the Humanities is a great tool to jumpstart your internship and job search while making connections and exploring your options. So don’t procrastinate! Prepare for tomorrow today. Visit the Careers for the Humanities website for more information and RSVP through your Network Symplicity account. Check back later for the next Careers for the Humanities blog series installment detailing why you should attend the event!

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