Each year, Blue and White Weekend means the return of thousands of Penn State alumni to campus. This provides a great chance for students to network, making connections that will aid in present and future career searches. Employers are everywhere, and taking the time to connect with even one of them will make the search for the dream job easier than before.
By combining social networking and Career Services’ online opportunities, connecting with Penn State alumni in your field of interest is simple. Just follow these three ways to connect:
-- Use LionLink. LionLink is a professional networking program linking students with an Alumni Career Coach. These career coaches are available to provide useful advice and information on careers to recent graduates and students. Use your Penn State userID to register as a Student Career Explorer on LionLink’s website at http://www.psualumcareer.com/career online.
-- Join the Penn State Career Connection group on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is already a valuable online tool to keep track of your professional contacts. Enhance this social experience by adding Penn State Career Connection to your account. Joining this group allows students to gain access to job postings and career tips, all while building professional connections.
-- Set up 30-60 minute informational interviews with alumni in any field of interest. This allows students to make a connection as well as receive valuable information simultaneously. Penn State Alumni are more than willing to share information with students about their career experiences, the good and the bad. These interviews are a way to interact with alumni and ask questions about work tasks, work environment, the person’s background, and how he or she obtained that job. It also provides the opportunity to ask questions about specific areas of interest to you and obtain the amount of detail not found in print or Internet resources.
Students having any further questions about the importance of networking or any other career-related information should visit Drop-in Career Counseling, Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. with extended hours until 7p.m. on Tuesdays, or visit the Career Services website at http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/career online.