In the weeks leading up to the Penn State Abington Fall Career Expo, which welcomed 92 employers recently, the campus Career Development Center (CDC) prepped students for success. Staff helped develop resumes and talking points, staged mock interviews, and alumni recruiters returned to campus to offer advice.
Jackie McGrath Spinosa '04 and Calvin Roach '03 explained at the pre-expo workshop how they evaluate students at a job fair and how to prepare.
"Don’t shy away from a table at the expo even if you haven’t done research about the company. It's okay to ask questions," Roach, who has been at the federal Defense Logistics Agency for 12 years, said. "And tell me more about you. Be confident in who you are."
Roach and Spinosa reminded them to consider skills acquired through jobs and volunteer work and not to discount an experience because the title may have been cashier or clerk.
“You might be a cashier at McDonald’s or run a lemonade stand for years, but don’t undersell it. You are managing financial transactions and customer service," Spinosa, of Access Services, said. "Seeing details on your resume helps employers match up skills to better understand the individual."
Roach urged the students at the pre-expo workshop to take advantage of the free Career Development Center services.
"From my experience, Penn State Abington has one of the best career centers," he said. "They are very involved in helping you."