Liberal Arts Voices

Read the perspectives of our current students

Career Resources for Liberal Arts Students

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PSU students often hear about how lucky they are to be members of the Penn State network.  But actually understanding how to navigate that network and make important connections is often quite another story.  Penn State Live recently posted an article focusing on several resources and networking opportunities available to all Penn State students, and we want to make sure Liberal Arts majors are aware of a new resource: the Career Enrichment Network (CEN), which focuses on assisting CLA majors with their specific career-related needs.  From the centralized Penn State Career Services office to the College-based CEN to your fellow students, using the resources available to you can help you make the connections that will move you along on your chosen career path.

The Career Enrichment Network officially opened during the fall 2011 semester and soon after launched the web-based Network Symplicity system for students to post resumes, search for internships, and keep track of various career events.  I wrote about some of the services Liberal Arts majors can expect from the CEN in a blog post last December, and since that time, our resources have continued to expand.
 
During the spring semester, we had four undergraduate Network Assistants working with us.  They blogged about various events, services, and opportunities (you can read some of their past blog posts here and here and here).  We hosted a Networking 101 session to kick off the semester, and attendees had a number of department- and College-related opportunities to use their newly polished networking skills throughout the semester, culminating in a very successful Alumni Networking Event.
 
Students have been using Network Symplicity to search, apply for, and secure internship opportunities. Communication Arts & Sciences major Sadie Buckallew wrote about her summer internship with the Penn State Press earlier this week.  Numerous other liberal arts majors will be blogging about their various enrichment activities throughout the summer. Be sure to watch for new postings that may give you some ideas for experiences you will want to apply for in the future!

Starting this fall, we will be offering a new program, LEAD (Leadership Enrichment through Assessment and Development), in cooperation with faculty and students from the Department of Psychology.  This program, available exclusively to Liberal Arts majors, will provide participants with the opportunity to complete a range of on-line assessments, conduct an in-person interview with one of the program researchers, and as an outcome, receive feedback on strengths to highlight to potential employers, as well as information on areas in which they need to develop their skills, so they can address those needs prior to graduation.  Keep an eye out here on the LAUS Blog, in the LAUS Announcements, and via your Network Symplicity accounts for information on how to register with LEAD.

I said it in my post back in December, but I think it bears repeating – I don’t think there has ever been a better time to be a Liberal Arts student at Penn State, especially in terms of the staff and resources available to help you as you explore the many career fields and options available to Liberal Arts graduates.  Be sure to take advantage of ALL of the resources available to you – through the Network, through Career Services, through your academic department, and through the connections you’ve made or are making at your internships, study abroad programs, undergraduate research assignments, and extracurricular activities.  Building your network, talking with people, and exploring your options will all help you to find the career path you want to pursue.

Susan Knell is the Liberal Arts Career Enrichment Director and can be reached via email at lanetwork@la.psu.edu or by phone at 814-865-1070.

Networking with the CEN

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As an intern at the Career Enrichment Network, I often get the inside scoop on great career-related events for Liberal Arts students. There’s one tomorrow that you definitely don’t want to miss: the Alumni Networking Social.

Planned for months by the CEN (particularly by my fellow CEN intern Sarina Katz), this event will allow current students to meet up with tons of Liberal Arts alumni (PoliSci, Psych, LER, English- you name it!) and also polish up their professional networking skills in a facilitated environment. There are even alumni offering job shadowing opportunities- this is huge!

Please read this announcement blog post for more details on this amazing opportunity!

Before the event, you may still be wondering: how do I talk to professionals? Where can I get the confidence to really shine in front of these distinguished alumni?

Luckily, we at the CEN (with help from LAUS Dwight) have the answer…

Summer Research in Mexico: Networking and Making Friends

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While in Mexico I worked on my first professional lab analysis project. I worked with two professors, both respected archaeologists with decades of experience and volumes of published research. Working with both professors was a great experience. Dr. Anne Cyphers is a faculty member at the Mexican National University and the other professor, Dr. Ken Hirth is a Penn State faculty member. I would like to thank both of them for the opportunity to work with them. The experience was very rewarding.

When I left for Mexico I knew exactly what I would be doing in the lab. I knew what the research entailed and what the objectives were. What surprised me was how much I enjoyed living in Mexico. While in Mexico I lived in a dorm at the lab I worked in. Despite the language and cultural barriers I made fast friends with the other analysts who were part of the project. Valentina, Juan, and Estaban became not only great friends, but they also humbled me with their hospitality. Becoming accustomed to the culture was a challenge but I had a great time during the process and was lucky to have such patient teachers.

As any traveler can tell you, or an anthropologist for that matter, stepping into an unfamiliar culture is both exciting and frustrating. While I was in Mexico I would frequently tell my hosts “todos es nuevo”. Everything is new. The customs, lifestyle, language all of it was a brand new experience. Living in a different country really shows the truth in the clich� saying: “there is a new life down every road.” I would recommend all liberal arts majors to think about studying abroad if they have the chance, not only for the new experience, but also to gain a different perspective on their life and culture.

Beyond being in a completely different culture I was lucky enough to spend a lot of time with a Mexican family. Working and living with other analysts provided an experience that cannot easily be duplicated. As an anthropology student, this living arrangement was perfect. I was totally immersed in a different culture, living the life of a local. In general, I was lucky as a traveler to find such wonderful people to help me.

The Importance of Linkedin for Students

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LinkedIn Logo
Originally uploaded by mariosundar

If there is any marvel of the 21st century to be noted in the history books, it would be the emergence of the social network. As an eager Mark Zuckerberg (founder of Facebook) once said, “by giving people the power to share, we’re making the world more transparent.” (1) This statement could not be any truer. Social networks have expanded throughout many outlets of the world and have provided many services that have enhanced the communication process drastically. In recent years, social networks have also been developing professional careers too. That is exactly why Linkedin, the professional social networking website, has become so important for students all around the nation.

Linkedin is more than just a website where you can post your resume. In your Linkedin Basic (and free) Account, you can truly be in full control of the network that is you. You could expand on your resume by marking specific accomplishments that couldn’t fit on the CV. You could provide links to other professional blogs, websites, portfolios, or whatever else you may have to show your entire professional profile. You could connect to peers and colleagues from your past, and utilize those connections to enhance the job searching process. You could even ask for recommendations from your colleagues to show what you have done and show how you have affected the people around you while doing it.

One of the more important features (at least in this writer’s eyes) of Linkedin is the ability to join groups. At first, I completely overlooked this feature of LinkedIn. However, my curiosity got the best of me when I joined a Linkedin Sports Marketing group last year, and I haven’t stopped joining groups since. This is an incredibly vital feature that has led me to more connections than I could make otherwise.

One great way to make connections is to join the LinkedIn Group Penn State Career Connection (which can be found here). In this group, there are tons of PSU alumni who are posting job openings in their companies all the time. Students can use that portal to promote themselves in the job hunt too, and alumni can reach out to them from there. The College of the Liberal Arts has also recently started its own LinkedIn group, which students and alumni are encouraged to join for networking purposes.

Students can benefit in many different ways from utilizing this website correctly. They could even land their next job because of it. Linkedin is one of the more important websites of the 21st century, and will definitely affect the job landscape in the future.

(1) http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/mark_zuckerberg.html

Dispatch from the Other Side: Penn State Connections

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Connections
Originally uploaded by teachingsagittarian

It’s beginning to look a lot like Spring, isn’t it, University Park? I’m sure your weather is beginning to improve in State College as mine certainly is in Virginia. For this edition of my post, I had a few ideas for content: a post about drawing upon connections at Penn State, a post about resume tips, or a post about what kinds of thoughts should be going through your head when you receive an offer from a potential employer. Eventually I decided on the connections topic, but I welcome your feedback on the other two future topics (including which one I cover next and what I discuss in each). Feel free to reach out to me in the comments section or on Twitter (@smloewner).

Before I begin writing about connections and the human resources you have around you, I ought to mention that my prolonged absence between posts is due to a recent job opportunity I was offered and accepted. Although I was originally writing these entries as an employee of a political non-profit, I now work for a large consulting firm where I teach different agencies and organizations how to make the best use of online communications (specifically, social media). I mention the change because it’s going to be pretty significant in this post.

Connections at any stage of life are important. As a child, our main connections are with our parents or families who put us in a position to succeed. As we age, we might retain that connection, but we try to develop others: teachers, friends, community leaders. These are all very important, and if you’re about to graduate from college, they can be helpful for finding a place in the workforce.

Two specific types of connections can be very useful when you’re looking for a job as a soon-to-be Penn State Alum: other PSU Alumni and the faculty around you.

I was fortunate to meet a Penn State alumnus named Steve Kelmar through one of the College’s programs, and I asked if he might know anyone in DC whom I could have an informational interview with. He had a few contacts and he was actually excited to match us up – eventually, that led to me getting my role in the non-profit I worked for. I think I speak for most of my fellow alumni when I say that we love to help current students. You might not be able to draw upon the college’s already established programs for finding an alum, but there are many other ways to meet alumni (like this and this) – try to do so and consider using us as resources.

When it comes to helpful faculty, the College of the Liberal Arts is really ahead of the curve. These connections are a little bit different than the alumni-centric ones. Faculty may or may not know industry professionals that they could connect you to, but they can help you learn a lot about yourself. I mentioned that my new role in social media would be important, and here it is: It was only about 14 months ago that I even began to learn what social media is (and can be), and I only arrived at that point because of then-Professor (now Associate Dean) Long, who introduced the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council to social media. Now, only about a year later, I’m working with it every day. Look for your faculty community to be more than just conveyors of lecture material. If their passion matches your passion (in this case, I think Dean Long and I share a passion for building online communities in new and innovative ways), draw upon it. You rarely get that opportunity with members of a business community. I learned that I love the theory behind social media and online communities, and I wouldn’t have done that if I hadn’t worked with members of the LAUS office. Those kinds of connections are definitely valuable for determining a good direction to take.

Can you think of other connections that students might draw upon while they’re an undergraduate? Do any other readers have experiences with connections they made in school leading to employment later on? As always, if you have questions about this post’s topic or anything else you want me to discuss, feel free to leave them in the comments.

Dispatch From the Other Side: A Look at Career Fairs

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Photo Credit: Greg Grieco Welcome back to campus, Penn Staters. I hope that you all had relaxing breaks and that you are eagerly looking forward to an exciting Spring semester.

Now that we’re about a month away from Spring Career Days, I thought I’d contribute with some thoughts on the career fairs.

When it comes to career services, I think Penn State’s efforts are exceptional. I still recall touring schools back when I was in high school, and I was surprised by how much emphasis my Penn State tour guide put on the career services program for students (and alumni!). It’s a pretty unique feature, and one that Penn State is – and should be – proud of. Each Fall and Spring, the career services folks host a huge career fair with employers from many different industries. The fair is designed to appeal to underclass students looking for internships and seniors looking for full time positions, although not every employer will be looking for both. To get the most out of these events, I recommend taking the following basic steps:

  • Think about what types of employers you want to talk to. If you don’t have any interest in talking to a Marketing Research firm, then there’s no need to stop by that booth.
  • Do your homework: find out what employers will be attending, and make a list of some you definitely want to find. You probably won’t have time to see all the employers, so making a list that has the ones you definitely want to see can make your life less stressful.
  • Create a great looking resume. Then run it by someone else. Then take it to career services to have one of their professionals look over it (tip: check out “Resumania” on February 11). I don’t believe there can ever be a perfect resume, but with work you can make one that will cause you to stand out from the pack. There will be an upcoming post on resumes and cover letters, so keep your eyes open for that.
  • Prepare a short pitch about yourself. It can be pretty nerve-wracking to just walk up to a potential employer and start talking. If you have a prepared set of ideas to go over (don’t sound mechanical, but don’t go in without any plan), it will be easier to talk. Questions are important too – employers are usually happy to hear prospects asking specific questions about the firms and roles available. 
  • Schedule enough time to stay and walk around a little bit. The BJC is far away from many class buildings on campus, so make sure you factor in time to get there and back and make sure that you’re not rushed while you’re in there. The amount of time you will need depends on how many employers you intend to see.

My biggest tip of all would be: don’t let the career fairs distract you from other ways of meeting employers. The fairs are where many students go to meet many different employers – and sometimes, it’s easy for both sides to think that events like that are enough. But the smaller, less hectic options are great to explore, and some of them are cosponsored by the College. For example, you should check out the People-to-People Fair being planned for February.

I’m sure I’ll mention the career fairs again, but if you have specific questions, don’t hesitate to contact me. Questions in the comments section can be about the career fairs or any other topic, and you may always reach out to me on Twitter as well. If you have a topic you want me to write about next time, I’m happy to hear about it.

Photo Credit:Greg Grieco, 2007
Originally from Penn State Live

Dispatch From the Other Side: A Look From a Recent Alumnus

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PL SC Alum Sam Loewner
Originally uploaded by LAUSatPSU

Hello, LAUS community! Some long-time readers might remember me from entries on this blog last spring, and some newer readers might recognize my name from the comments section from time to time. For readers that don’t know me, I’m a May 2010 graduate, the former President of the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council, and deeply interested in Penn State’s present and future.

When I was a student in my last three or four semesters, I remember thinking about how much I wanted to know what to do next. I knew what I needed to do as a student to graduate, and I had spoken with alumni and professionals that gave suggestions for how to behave once I was settled into a workplace world. But what about the time bridging those two periods in my life? What should I do to position myself to find a job I wanted while I was still in school so I wouldn’t have to worry during and after graduation? What do entry level positions look like, and how can I find them?  What things – good or bad – are potential employers going to look for from my time at Penn State? Though your questions might be different, I think everyone has some questions – especially in the College of the Liberal Arts, where we’re trained to ask things and think about our future selves and communities.

Now that I’m in a position to answer some of those questions (or attempt to answer, at least), I wanted to “rejoin” the LAUS online community and try to provide insight that I think only very recent alumni can. I consider this sort of an introductory entry and, if the good staff of Liberal Arts Undergraduate Studies is willing to put up with me, I hope to contribute regularly – I hope that you aren’t shy with your questions.

I accepted an offer before I graduated and started in June. I work in the political world in Washington, DC, but I’m far from a political operative (no, I’m not one of the people they quote anonymously on politico.com). I do technical and social media work for a non-profit organization that works with political campaigns. I had a very wide range of exposure to different opportunities, and I think I can answer general and specific questions. If anyone is after unique information that I don’t have, I bet I can find the answer from friends that graduated with different degrees and career plans.

I view this as an opportunity to create a back-and-forth style community through the blog. I am easily reachable on Twitter (@smloewner) and the comments section. You may also email me at sam.loewner@gmail.com.  Once you find a way to get questions to me, I’ll try to answer them specifically and then, if you don’t mind, I can compile some of them together and generate a post out of it.

Even in just the past year or so, I’ve seen many of the “moving parts” of the life-just-after-graduation world. There’s job-searching, networking, resumes, cover letters, internships, relocating to different cities, career research, and much more. I think we can take questions on any of those topics.  

So, Penn Staters, what’s first?

Where Do You Take a Liberal Arts Degree……?

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french fries
Originally uploaded by u m a m i

If I had a dollar every time I heard, “What am I going to do with this degree?” I would be a rich woman!

You know the old saying…

The graduate with a science degree asks, “Why does it work?”

The graduate with an engineering degree asks, “How does it work?”

The graduate with an accounting degree asks, “How much will it cost?”

The graduate with a liberal arts degree asks, “Do you want fries with that?”

You must admit that some of you had to explain to your parents why you wanted to pursue a degree in the liberal arts. The genesis of such stereotypical perspectives regarding liberal arts majors can be partially attributed to the computer generation and the industrial revolutions that have dominated our country’s short history. But as liberal arts students you know that such stereotypes are unfounded. In fact, a liberal arts degree is more valuable today than ever before. In response to this shifting economic dilemma, many corporations have become less hierarchical and require employees who have developed a wide array of knowledge, rather than ones who specialize in one specific area. Who better is equipped then you!  Liberal Arts students gain a unique education that enables them to think critically and to become ethical leaders and global citizens.
 
You don’t just learn facts–liberal arts students apply what they learn, test theories, consider multiple perspectives, and put knowledge into action. As noted in the Wall Street Journal (Sept 13, 2010), The Pennsylvania State University was ranked number 1 in their survey regarding company recruiters. The article stated graduates of top public universities are often among the most prepared and well-rounded academically. Companies have found they fit well into their corporate cultures and over time have the best track record in their firms.

That being said you need to take the appropriate steps NOW so that at the end of your academic journey you have asked the right questions that will help point yourself in the right direction. Here are some to think about…

Where do you look for information about different careers?  Career Services! They have entire programs focusing on how to write a resume; interview techniques; suggestions about majors and internships; and drop in counseling.
 
Where do you look for information about different careers, companies, and jobs?  Did you know that Career Services has a fall and spring career fair? Career Services has a page dedicated to finding a job and how to develop the necessary skills to clarify your career goals; identify your job target; and plan and organize your job search.  

How can I prepare myself to compete for entry level jobs?  It is never too early to do internships. I encourage you to try to obtain an internship every summer. The majority of them are unpaid, however you need to focus on what you will gain during the internship – networking, references, knowledge of the area you wish to work in (non-profit, business, government, local). Use your available time wisely and make an effort to increase your exposure to career fields of interest through job shadowing, internships, volunteer positions, or work experiences during academic and summer breaks. Consult the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Studies Internship website to start your search.
 
Does performance matter? It helps! Look at your academic coursework to ensure that you are maximizing the array of academic and career options available to you at Penn State. The quality of your involvement within an organization is more valuable than the number of organizations in which you are involved. Seek opportunities for leadership within an organization (i.e. become an officer or take on a position that demands responsibility), find something you care enough about to make a difference, look for opportunities to volunteer in the community.

How do you network? Start now by meeting and building a relationship with your academic adviser to learn about majors, academic options, course content, and requirements. This is just the start of learning how to network. Also, it is very important to establish a relationship with faculty to learn about academic programs and related opportunities to build skills in and outside of the classroom. Remember your faculty members are passionate about the same things you are passionate about! I challenge you to get to know at least one of your faculty members every semester.  

So embrace your decision for selecting Liberal Arts because you are the future leaders, creators, and developers of our future!  I know you are destined for great things.

Liberal Arts Student-Alumni Connection

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On March 25, Liberal Arts alumni and students met at the Hintz Family Alumni Center to network and discuss jobs & careers. Approximately seventy-five students and fifteen alumni attended the event sponsored by the the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council and the Liberal Arts Alumni Society, with alumni representing careers in psychology, law, business, government, media, and non-profit sectors. This event provided a great opportunity for juniors and seniors to gain practical insights on internships, graduate school, law school, and jobs and for freshmen and sophomores to learn how to optimize the Penn State experience.

Check out the photos from this event:

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