Welcome to the Fall 2023 semester! I always love the start of the academic year with the hustle and bustle of Locust Walk and a whole new semester of ideas to explore and experiences to pursue.
Amid all of this activity, I wanted to take a moment to remind that you that there are also plenty of career-oriented activities taking place early in the semester. Penn Career Services is organizing seven career fairs for the fall including a mix of in-person and virtual events from our first and broadest fair, CareerLink, which will take place on September 8th in Houston Hall, to our more focused career fairs including the Engineering and Technology Career Days, Biosciences Fair, Virtual Government and Nonprofit Fair, and the Nursing Fair. You can find details on all career fairs on the Career Services website and register for them on Handshake.
We also have MANY employer information sessions scheduled for the coming weeks. Some of these are in-person and on campus (providing an excellent opportunity to learn about jobs and internships and network with Penn alums), as well as a large number of virtual employer information sessions across a range of industries. You can register for employer information sessions on the events tab in Handshake.
The interviewing season for internships and post-graduate jobs is also in full swing for many industries. You can see which organizations are conducting “Penn Only” interview schedules and coffee chats on Handshake by clicking “Interviewing on Campus” under the Job Type filter. There are also thousands of other great job and internship opportunities updated daily on Handshake for employers who arrange their own interview schedules.
With all of this activity, you might need to update your resume, get some interviewing help, or find some networking tips. Career Services has you covered!
Finally, some of you may be firmly rooted in the exploratory phase and not sure what sorts of career paths you might want to pursue. That’s okay – college is an ideal time to explore options! Some resources that might help you with this exploration include the free CareerExplorer self-assessment platform, the industry communities on the Career Services website, or the many resources available through the Vault Career Insider Guides.
And, or course, we have a whole team of career and graduate school advisors ready help you explore your professional interests and reach your career goals. Feel free to schedule an appointment on Handshake to meet individually with a Career Services advisor. (It is an incredibly busy time for the advisors as well, so if no appointments are available when you look, try checking back in a few days as appointments are added throughout the semester.)
We look forward to getting to know you this year!
