Lynn Atanasoff
If you’re new to Penn State World Campus, you might not know about the many career resources available to you. There are many ways that we can help you develop your career well before your last semester (so start early—even your first semester!). As World Campus’s career counselor, I am dedicated to helping students develop professionally.…
You can reduce your interview jitters by knowing what to expect at your next job or internship interview. Here are ten strategies that can help you be more prepared. 1. Show standard politeness and quiet confidence When you’re greeted, smile warmly, shake hands firmly, and make eye contact. During the interview, show standard politeness such…
People frequently overlook the important step of interview preparation. You can go to an interview cold, but why create extra stress in what is already a stressful time? A more effective approach is to do some preparation such as taking time to know who you are, doing employer research, practicing interview skills, and selecting appropriate…
I asked some fellow colleagues about student misconceptions regarding Career Services – here’s what they identified. You only need to go to Career Services when you’re a looking for a job. Career Services is for seniors. They don’t help freshman and sophomores. Career Services can give me a test that will tell me what to…
A colleague recently asked me what common mistakes I see when reviewing resumes. Here are the top five–plus three takeaway tips. 1. No particular audience or objective: Whenever you write anything – even a resume – you have to consider the reader and the purpose of your writing. Think about what you are trying to…
I know that doing a mock job interview is intimidating. Let’s face it, who really wants to watch themselves perform during an interview with all the “um,” “like,” and “you know” comments we all make? Yes, I understand the anxiety, but let me share two facts with you: When employers rate the importance of job…
As explained in The Career Counselor Handbook (Figler & Bolles, 2007), not much happens in career development until you meet face-to-face with others. Whether you are in the middle of a job search or exploring your career direction, there’s a way to allocate your time to increase your effectiveness. Figler suggests that you should allocate…
Penn State World Campus students have access to Going Global, a leading provider of career and employment resources for evaluating, selecting and transitioning into a successful career in a foreign country. Boasting more than one million individual users, Going Global is used around the world by university career centers, educational and institutional organizations, libraries, corporate…
With the many pig posts I thought it fitting to share a picture that inspired the downtown bronze pig in State College — it’s from Penn State archives out of a book, Story of the century: The borough of State College Pennsylvania 1896-1996, by Jo Chesworth. According to our local paper, “this 1894 photograph shows a pig…
Often we believe that getting a degree—having that paper in hand—is enough. But is it? Does graduating with a college degree prepare you for the rest of your career? Let me ask my question a little differently. When a student waves a diploma, does it have the same effect that a magic wand has? I…