Session I: What Will Your Story Be? Exploring Opportunities and Non-Linear Career Paths, 4:00 p.m.
Watch the livestream at: https://psu.zoom.us/s/441620225
Panelists:
- Kayla Hales, User Experience Researcher, Google
- Kathy Hume, Owner, Funky Trunk Happy Valley Consignments
- Cathy Rusinko, Professor of Management, Thomas Jefferson University
Have you started thinking about where your career path will lead you in five, ten, fifteen years? Don’t worry if an answer eludes you. Ever-changing goals and personal priorities are prompting individuals to continuously reassess their goals and aspirations, including where they want to work and for how long. Participants in this session will hear from professionals who have embraced new opportunities and pivoted their careers, diverging from the traditional career paths associated with their degrees. Discussions will focus on defining the job you want and carefully analyzing the factors that influence the decision-making process when pursuit of full-time employment begins, or when the search for a new job commences.
Session II: The Art and Science of the Job Interview, 5:15 p.m.
Watch the livestream at: https://psu.zoom.us/s/194864872
Panelists:
- Tierra Caldwell, Assistant Director for the Office of Graduate Educational Equity Programs, Penn State
- William Clark, Associate Dean, The Graduate School, Penn State
- Jay Kovacs, Vice President and Chief Engineer, Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies
Interviewing for a job is both art and science. Panelists who have been on both sides of the table during interviews in academic and non-academic settings will provide insights into the types of questions – and responses – that can impact a candidate’s fate. Which topics of discussion during the interview are appropriate and which are best left unspoken? What are the best ways to prepare for the different stages in an interview? How can you stand out as a strong candidate? How do you translate the skills you mastered in graduate school to skills desired by employers? This session will emphasize the importance of interview preparation, and panelists will share specific interviewing and negotiation skills that are most effective. All questions about the interview process are welcome and encouraged.
Networking Reception, 6:30 p.m.
Participants are invited to join the panelists and members of the Graduate School Alumni Society’s Board of Directors for an informal Networking Reception. This is also an opportunity for participants to network with their fellow graduate students.