David Ross

Director, Undergraduate Career Initiatives

David is the Director of Undergraduate Career Initiatives serving students and alumni across undergraduate schools at Penn.  Prior to his current position, he spent over 13 years advising Wharton undergraduate students and alumni in Career Services, including more than 3 years leading the Wharton undergraduate team in the office.

He holds a B.S.B.A. in Marketing, Management and Organization & Human Resources from Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis, an M.S.Ed. in Higher Education Management from Penn’s Graduate School of Education, and an Ed.M. in Human Development and Psychology from Harvard Graduate School of Education.

David enjoys working with students and alumni looking to explore career options at all stages of their journey – from the first-year at Penn, through the college years and beyond!   He relates well to students who are unsure what they want to be when they grow up and appreciates working with students on identifying their transferable skills.  David has lived in several U.S. cities and enjoys traveling to discover new vacation spots. Outside of work, David spends time listening to music, visiting the beach, sampling desserts, watching DC area sports teams and streaming subscription services – open to new show recommendations!

All Posts

From the Director’s Desk: A Time for Exploration

Welcome back! As we start another Fall semester at Penn, recruiting activities are ramping up.  From information sessions to career fairs and other virtual events, there are a great number of opportunities to connect with employers. As you navigate this …

By David Ross
David Ross Director, Undergraduate Career Initiatives
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Interviewing Tips: General Tips

Interviewing for jobs and internships can be exciting, intimidating and nerve-wracking all at the same time.  Here are some suggestions to navigate the interview process effectively and make a positive impression during an interview:

Be confident, communicate clearly and remain …

By David Ross
David Ross Director, Undergraduate Career Initiatives
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From the Director’s Desk: Making the Most of Office Retreats

Summer can be a popular time for office retreats in some industries.  Retreats are a great opportunity to assess the previous year and plan ahead for the future.  Here are a few tips to make the most of your office …

By David Ross
David Ross Director, Undergraduate Career Initiatives
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Strengthening Your Resume Bullet Points By Answering Three Questions

This post is a continuation of the Graduate Assistant Blog Series featuring advice and perspectives from graduate students working in Career Services.  Below is a post from a current 2nd year Wharton MBA Graduate Assistant:

After many one-on-one resume review …

By David Ross
David Ross Director, Undergraduate Career Initiatives
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Email Signatures for Students Searching for Internships or Jobs

As you think about communicating via email with potential employers, alumni and other networking contacts, consider creating a personalized email signature to showcase your professionalism and attributes that differentiate you as a candidate.

What information should you include at the …

By David Ross
David Ross Director, Undergraduate Career Initiatives
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Job Search Prep: Cleaning Up Your Online Presence

This post is part of the Graduate Assistant Blog Series featuring advice and perspectives from graduate students working in Career Services:

Undergraduates cannot underestimate the power of the Google Search button on their job hunt. For years, high school students …

By David Ross
David Ross Director, Undergraduate Career Initiatives
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Making the Most of Your Summer Internship

By: David Ross, Senior Associate Director

Now that June is here, you may have started your summer experience (or will be starting soon). For those of you working this summer, here are some things to consider to make the most …

By David Ross
David Ross Director, Undergraduate Career Initiatives
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Investment Banking Insights: Preparing for Investment Banking Interviews

Receiving an invitation to interview for an internship can be exciting!  For anyone who has not interviewed for internships before (or has limited interviewing experience), that excitement may then change to some anxiety.  This post will focus on providing some …

By David Ross
David Ross Director, Undergraduate Career Initiatives
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Investment Banking Insights: Networking to Enhance Your Chances of Securing an Interview and Offer

A very important but sometimes overlooked aspect of the investment banking recruiting process for opportunities in the U.S. is networking.  The concept may seem strange and initially uncomfortable or even awkward – especially since interested candidates apply for internships with their …

By David Ross
David Ross Director, Undergraduate Career Initiatives
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Investment Banking Insights: Creating an Effective Investment Banking Resume

Now that we have outlined some important considerations for Summer 2022 Investment Banking Internship recruiting, this post will focus on tailoring your resume for investment banking internship applications.

A resume that is effective for investment banking may be different than …

By David Ross
David Ross Director, Undergraduate Career Initiatives
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