Academics

Alternative spring break gives IST students a head start on tech careers

IST students on alternative spring break pose in front of the Microsoft Headquarters. Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Early this March, students from Penn State's College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) traded bathing suits for business suits when they traveled to Seattle, Washington, for an alternative spring break. During their trip, the group visited some of the most influential technology companies in the country. 

Eight students, all freshmen, spent five days visiting powerhouse companies such as Microsoft, Google, Boeing, Amazon, and Kaiser Permanente, where they engaged in Q&A sessions with technology staff and toured their offices and facilities. While the trip, sponsored by the College of IST, included an exploration of Seattle and some of its most prominent attractions, the most engaging part of the trip for students was learning how to leverage their IST education to become valuable additions to today’s technology workforce.

“We heard representatives from each of the companies we visited speak on how and when they joined their company, what they would have done differently before starting their careers, and their honest opinions on their work experience,” said Parker Chambers, a Security and Risk Analysis major from Pittsburgh. “These conversations were something you really aren’t exposed to in a classroom environment.”

Exposing students to such actionable advice is the cornerstone of Penn State’s Engaged Scholarship Initiative, where out-of-classroom experiences complement classroom learning and give students more opportunities for building the skills necessary for success in the workplace. Andrew Sears, dean of the College of IST, developed the alternative spring break program in 2016. Students on that trip visited San Francisco’s Silicon Valley and met with leaders of technology startups.

“Sponsoring excursions such as this is an important​ piece of the IST educational experience, offering unparalleled opportunities for growth that build upon the students' classroom ​​experiences,” said Sears. “By engaging students who are still early in their studies, these experiences ​influence both the students who go on the trip and everyone they talk to about the experience after returning.”

This year, the primary objectives remained much the same as the inaugural trip, according to Zoe Meyer, director of IST’s Office of Career Solutions and Corporate Engagement and one of two chaperones for the outing.

“This type of trip not only lets students learn about job opportunities, but allows them to see work environments, talk one-on-one with employers, and see what the city itself has to offer,” said Meyer. “It allows them the opportunity to envision themselves interning or working full time in this area, and seeing it first hand is so much different than reading about a company or location online.”

To engage the students to be proactive with their educational goals and professional futures, the speakers at each organization were encouraged to offer honest advice about what made prospective job and internship applicants most attractive. The takeaway, according to the students, was to begin creating a resume rich in experiences outside the classroom through clubs and internships, and to find a niche for themselves in their coursework. Students were also encouraged to begin networking while on the trip by creating comprehensive LinkedIn profiles before their departure, a tip that has garnered influential connections for the students since their return.

Angie DeMarco, an IST major, said she learned it’s never too early to start making connections and harnessing resources that might be useful in the future. “As a freshman, the trip was valuable because I still have time to apply the pointers that were presented,” she said. “Being able to talk to employees in such a small group and so informally gave me a much better idea about what it’s like to work there and what I can do to prepare myself for a job of that caliber.”

Isabella Salvi, who is also pursuing a degree in IST, summed up the interdisciplinary nature of the college and why trips like this are beneficial with a comment from one of the presenters. “IST professionals are the ‘swivel chair’ between the [more tech-oriented] computer science and engineering professionals and business professionals,” she said. “Personally, this imagery gave me a greater understanding of what it means to have a degree in IST.”

Meyer applauded these students for taking early action toward pursuing a meaningful and impactful career. “There are a lot of opportunities for younger students, and students should not wait until their junior year to seek out these opportunities. Start building your network early.”

Last Updated March 31, 2017