Landing Your Dream Job: An Overview of Career Services
Navigating the complexities of a career transition or job search can be challenging – who wouldn’t want professional guidance and expertise? That’s why students and alumni at Penn Engineering Online are supported by a robust collection of career services and resources, under the leadership of Emily Parry, the Associate Director of Professional Development & Networking. Parry’s role encompasses a wide range of services designed to assist students in defining and achieving their professional objectives. This support is particularly beneficial for students seeking to expand their career opportunities by transitioning into new fields or advancing in their current roles.
Personalized Career Coaching: A Tailored Approach to Career Development
One of the most valuable aspects of the Penn Engineering Online experience is the access to personalized career coaching. Under the guidance of Parry, students engage in one-on-one virtual advising sessions that are tailored to their unique career goals, backgrounds, and aspirations. As Parry explains, her approach is highly individualized, focusing on understanding each student’s personal and professional trajectory.
“I like to understand where students are coming from and where they want to go,” says Parry. “By understanding their goals and motivations, we can craft a personalized career strategy that aligns with their vision and maximizes their potential.”
These coaching sessions provide students with an opportunity to review and revise resumes and cover letters, develop effective job-search strategies, and prepare for critical career milestones such as job interviews and salary negotiations. Moreover, Parry helps students strengthen their professional brand, equipping them with the tools necessary to engage successfully with potential employers.
Workshops and Networking Opportunities: Cultivating Professional Skills
In addition to individualized coaching, Penn Engineering Online offers a variety of virtual workshops and networking events designed to enhance students’ career readiness. These programs focus on a range of critical topics, from refining professional documents to improving networking and interviewing techniques.
Key Workshops and Events:
- Resume Building: Guidance on crafting a well-structured, impactful resume that effectively showcases both technical skills and professional experience.
- Job Search Strategies: Support in developing a strategic, targeted approach to finding job opportunities that align with individual career goals.
- Interview Preparation: Practice sessions aimed at honing interview skills and gaining insight into employer expectations.
- Negotiating Job Offers: Training on how to negotiate job offers confidently and effectively, ensuring that students can secure favorable terms.
- Live Alumni Interviews: Opportunities to engage with Penn alumni who have successfully navigated their own career transitions, offering valuable advice and perspectives.
- Monthly Sessions with Career Services: In-depth discussions on topics such as enhancing one’s digital footprint, refining career narratives, and building a strong professional brand.
Students may also participate in smaller networking sessions, which are organized around specific areas of interest, such as fintech or software engineering. These sessions foster a sense of community and enable students to connect with peers who share similar career goals, facilitating the exchange of ideas and the development of professional relationships.
As Parry notes, “Students can attend a workshop with me where we’ll work through topics such as resume development, offer negotiation, and enhancing your digital footprint. All of these building blocks help you formulate your brand and help employers understand who you are.”
Connecting Students with Employers: Pathways to Career Opportunities
A key feature of the Penn Engineering Online program is its strong ties to employers actively seeking skilled candidates. Through a variety of platforms and events, Penn Engineering Online provides students with multiple opportunities to connect with employers and explore potential career opportunities.
Key Employer Engagement Opportunities:
- Virtual Career Fair: Held annually on Penn’s online recruiting platform, this event allows students to meet with a diverse range of employers in one-on-one and group settings, providing an opportunity to explore job openings and company cultures.
- Employer Information Sessions: These online sessions allow students to learn more about specific organizations, including their mission, culture, and hiring practices, making it easier to identify suitable opportunities.
Networking Redefined: Building Meaningful Professional Relationships
Networking is often viewed as a formal, sometimes intimidating process, but Parry is committed to changing this perception for Penn Engineering Online students. Through a variety of networking events, students are encouraged to develop authentic professional relationships in a more informal and approachable manner.
“Networking doesn’t have to be a stressful experience,” Parry asserts. “Networking is about forming meaningful relationships and engaging in interesting conversations. We strive to demystify the process and provide students with the tools to network in a way that feels authentic and comfortable.”
To support this, Penn Engineering Online hosts a range of networking opportunities, including virtual small-group sessions, in-person events through the Road Trip program, and access to a dedicated Penn alumni network.
What is a Penn Engineering Online Road Trip?
Road Trips bring Penn Engineering Online students and staff members to cities around the world that are hubs for future graduates and employers. Staff facilitate networking sessions, visits to prominent employers in the region, and informal social events. Over the course of several days, students connect with local companies, tour offices, meet Penn Engineering alumni who work in the city, get to know their classmates in-person, and connect with the Penn Engineering Online team.
“The Road Trips help students feel connected, even if they are learning from all over the world,” says Parry. “They also provide opportunities to connect with employers who are interested in this talent and eager to meet our students. It’s the community building that really drives the value of these events.”
Parry recalls a memorable Road Trip to Seattle, where she had the opportunity to meet many students and alumni at social and professional events. The week included small-group advising, site visits to companies like Microsoft and Amazon, and recruitment sessions led by industry professionals.
“The energy that we get from seeing everyone and meeting everyone in person is really infectious in a good way.” Parry shares. “During those sessions, we had some alumni and current students come join us and talk a little bit about their experiences with those companies. We also had a recruiter come and do a presentation about how you can get connected, timeline, deadline, interview process for working with those two organizations. ”
Navigating Career Change and Job Search
When prospective students inquire about enrolling in a master’s degree program, one of their most pressing questions often revolves around career prospects. Parry notes that many students are eager to know if the skills they would gain will lead to meaningful job opportunities.
“As students think about enrolling or exploring degree options, one of their top questions is whether there will be a job at the end of the journey,” Parry explains. “And my long story short is: Yes, there will be. We have a series of ways to help support you in that career change or in that next career for yourself. Our goal is to make sure you have the tools, connections, and opportunities to find success.”
Alumni and Peer Networks: Leveraging the Power of Community
In the worldwide Penn Engineering Online community, networking is not confined to formal events. The Penn Engineering Online LinkedIn Group currently has over 2,000 active members around the globe. This group provides a space for current students and alumni to connect, share advice, and exchange career insights. Parry notes, “It’s a very powerful tool. It’s exciting to see people interact. It’s exciting to see alumni giving their advice, having new students introduce themselves. It’s just a very rich space where our community does a lot of giving back and information sharing.”
Penn Engineering Online also benefits from its robust Slack workspace, which serves as a dynamic platform for students to engage with peers and alumni. The platform also features industry-specific channels centered around common professional goals, such as internships, fintech, and tech entrepreneurship. Students can engage in discussions on these channels to seek advice, referrals, and build professional connections.
Equipping Students for Career Success
The career services that Penn Engineering Online students have access to can provide the personalized, hands-on support they need to take their education and transform it into professional success. With a wealth of resources, including career coaching, employer connections, networking platforms, and mentorship opportunities, students are empowered to take control of their career trajectories and pursue their goals with confidence.
Parry summarizes, “As students go through our curriculum and gain new skill sets and new credentials, we are working with our employer partners to be able to make new connections. Our students graduate ready to join the workforce and meet the needs of employers who are here, ready to mentor them and accept them into new positions.”
Penn Engineering Online offers many programs to help you succeed in the next phase of your professional journey. To learn more about the resources available, visit our Career Services webpage. To learn more about our online master’s degree programs, visit our Degrees webpage.