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The Incomplete Feedback Loop of the Interview and the Power of Reframing

Feedback (noun): “helpful information or criticism that is given to someone to say what can be done to improve a performance, product, etc.”
— Merriam-Webster Dictionary

A feedback loop is a cycle in which the outcome of an action informs and …

By Jon Niles
Jon Niles Associate Director, Engineering Undergrad
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What to Put for “Desired Salary” on a Job Application

If the posting lists a pay range, enter a number or range inside it, toward the middle if you meet the requirements. If there’s no range, research typical pay for that role and city and enter a range whose bottom …

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PhD Career Exploration Spotlight: Ho Sue Kwon

Hosted by Penn’s Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning, and Innovation (CETLI)

This fall, we will be featuring blog posts written by PhD students who participated in Career Services’ Career Exploration Initiative (CEI), a program that helps doctoral candidates explore …

By Alison Howard
Alison Howard Associate Director, Graduate Students & Postdocs
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How to Answer the “Why Medicine/Why Do You Want to be a Doctor” Medical School Interview Question

Your “why medicine” answer didn’t fall apart because you weren’t prepared. It fell apart because you used the wrong structure. Most students walk into a medical school interview trying to compress their personal statement into a spoken response. What comes …

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Why Looking Good on Paper Isn’t Enough

Check out this post from the Carpe Careers blog on the Inside Higher Ed website, written by graduate career advisors for graduate students and postdocs. Learn why AI-optimized resumes and applying to jobs en masse are insufficient or ineffective job …

By Alison Howard
Alison Howard Associate Director, Graduate Students & Postdocs
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Why everyone should work a retail or fast-food job at some point in their life:

I truly believe that foundational pieces of one’s work can come from working in either of these two industries. Also, we found out during the pandemic just how important these roles and jobs are for people of ALL ages, not …

By Dustin Miller
Dustin Miller Senior Associate Director, Graduate Students & Postdocs
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CS Radio – Episode 260: Combating the ATS

Inspired by a recent Reddit post, Natty and Michael talk about the pros and cons of employer’s using Applicant Tracking Systems, and how you can position your application to make sure it gets past the robots and in front of …

By Michael DeAngelis
Michael DeAngelis Senior Associate Director, Communications & Technology
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PhD Career Exploration Spotlight: Ding Tang

Hosted by the Penn Center for Innovation

This fall, we will be featuring blog posts written by PhD students who participated in Career Services’ Career Exploration Initiative (CEI), a program that helps doctoral candidates explore their career interests through networking …

By Alison Howard
Alison Howard Associate Director, Graduate Students & Postdocs
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What is a Good GPA for Law School? (2026)

When considering law school, one of the most critical questions for prospective students is: What GPA do I need to get accepted into a top law school? The answer isn’t straightforward, as GPA requirements vary widely depending on the law …

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The Hidden Career Value of Being Known for One Specific Problem You Can Solve

There is an awkward stage in a successful career when having more experience can actually make your career harder to explain.

Early on, the story is usually simple. There is a job title, a function, and a fairly obvious progression. …

By Ivy Exec
Ivy Exec is your dedicated career development resource.
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