Academics

Employers, faculty discuss importance of liberal arts skills

Abby Cooper, a recruiter with Deloitte, and Scott Smith, an associate professor of English and comparative literature, converse during Liberal Arts Career Week. Credit: Kathy Andrusisin / Penn StateCreative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa — Faculty and staff from the College of the Liberal Arts met with corporate recruiters last week to hear firsthand what abilities and qualifications companies are seeking in interns and entry-level employees. The event was part of Liberal Arts Career Week, hosted by the Career Enrichment Network. Corporate recruiters from Deloitte, Vanguard, PNC, Target, Liberty Mutual and Kohl’s were in attendance.

The event also provided opportunities for faculty and staff to ask questions about hiring needs and the types of transferable skills employers are looking for in students, including excellence in written and verbal communication, as well as the ability to solve complex problems and work well with others.

“It was enlightening to hear from the various liberal arts faculty and advisers during our luncheon. There were a number of questions that were asked by professors that were helpful to us as employers. Knowing that these questions are top of mind concerns really made me rethink how I will approach the upcoming recruiting season,” said Carrie Fitzpatrick, a recruiter with Liberty Mutual. “I truly enjoyed seeing firsthand just how big of advocates these professors were for their skilled students. Being able to share and compare notes on why liberal arts students stand out and why they are so employable was affirmation that we should be hiring these talented, liberal arts students.”

Liberal Arts Career Week was a weeklong event designed to provide liberal arts students with opportunities to develop professional skills and networking that will support their future career paths. Students in the College of the Liberal Arts were invited to participate in employer and alumni panels and workshops where they learned the necessary skills to embark on their career journey and achieve success in their professional lives. The week culminated with Career Exploration with Alumni on Saturday, Jan. 23, at The Nittany Lion Inn. This event included alumni panels featuring recent graduates and leaders in the private sector, nonprofit and government, and students had the opportunity to network with alumni from a broad range of academic majors.

Liberal Arts students participate in one of the panels during Career Exploration with Alumni. Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

Last Updated February 2, 2016

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