Career and Corporate Connections - 114 Business Building – 814-863-6161 – SmealCareers@smeal.psu.edu
Sign on to
SmealConnect
and begin
exploring
internship/co-op
opportunities
and more
Save & explore
our website

Carefully ready and sign the electronic user agreement every year. You can’t use SmealConnect until you
have done this and have allowed 1-2 business days to process your access. An overview of SmealConnect is
available here: http://careerconnections.smeal.psu.edu/internships-co-ops/smeal-connect/
 Then watch your 9 minute webshop for an introduction:
https://media.smeal.psu.edu/content_student/undergrad/careers/smealconnect_screencast/smealconnect_
screencast.mp4
 For questions or concerns regarding SmealConnect, email SmealCareers@smeal.psu.edu
 Bookmark and become familiar with what’s available on careerconnections.smeal.psu.edu
 Personalize your Smeal career alerts under “Manage CareerConnections Alerts”
Follow us
Twitter: @SmealCareers
Facebook: facebook.com/smealcorporateconnections
Put these
 Supply Chain Career Fair: 2/2 and 2/3, Business Building, 11am-4pm
Career Fair
 Corporate Partner Spring Career Fair (all Smeal majors): 2/4, Business Building, 11am-4pm
dates on your
 Spring Career Days (Non-Technical Full-Time/Internship/Co-op): 2/9, Bryce Jordan Center, 11am-4pm
and decide which
to attend
Prepare for the
career fairs
Research
companies
Request
informational
interviews to
research
companies,
careers, and to
network
Get on
LinkedIn
Review Smeal
Events and
attend as desired
 Spring Career Days (Technical Full-Time/Internship/Co-op): 2/10, Bryce Jordan Center, 11am-4pm
 PSMA Career Fair (Marketing): 2/10, Business Building, 5pm-8pm
 Career Fair Prep Webinar: Wednesday, January 27, 5pm – 6pm, http://meeting.psu.edu/careerfairprep
 Career Fair Prep Presentation (Altoona): Tuesday, January 19, 12:15pm-1:05pm, 150 Hawthorne
 Career Fair Prep Lunch & Learn (University Park): Friday, January 29, 12:20pm-1:10pm, room TBD
 Tips: http://cdn.uconnectlabs.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2015/10/Research-Resources.pdf
 Internship Evaluation Database: https://php.smeal.psu.edu/corp/experience/index.php
 Other resources that provide insight: http://careerconnections.smeal.psu.edu/resources/?ctag[]=students
Want to learn about a particular company? Interested in understanding different career paths? Looking for
advice and insight from those who have already been through your next steps? You can achieve this while
networking at the same time. Contact relevant alumni by asking to conduct brief informational interviews via
phone, Skype, or in-person: http://cdn.uconnectlabs.com/wpcontent/uploads/sites/15/2015/10/Informational-Interviewing.pdf Use the “find alumni tool” under the
“connections” tab in LinkedIn to find alumni to connect with. You can also identify alumni on
http://www.CandidCareer.com/pennstateuniversity
Learn how to develop a strong profile and network as a student user:
https://university.linkedin.com/linkedin-for-students?trk=micro-mktg-stu-us-more
 Find all events on SmealConnect and careerconnections.smeal.psu.edu to ensure you are in the loop about
Smeal events and programs, including employer information sessions. Also check our social media pages.
 http://www.smeal.psu.edu/events
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 Watch your 6 minute resume crash course web shop:
Strengthen your
http://media.smeal.psu.edu/content_student/undergrad/careers/webshop_resumes/index.htm
resume and
 Review sample Smeal resumes: http://careerconnections.smeal.psu.edu/resources/
utilize Vmock
 Submit up to 10 revisions to Vmock.com/Smeal for immediate electronic feedback
 Resume presentations (University Park): 1/20 & 1/22 from 12:20pm-1:10pm, 1/21 from 5pm-6pm, room TBD
 For the latest information, visit http://summersession.psu.edu/step/
Consider doing
 Summer Session II at University Park between sophomore and junior year (June 29, 2016 – August 12, 2016)
STEP summer
 Take 6-7 credits in a small Pride of other Smeal students transitioning from Commonwealth campuses
transition
program
 All Smeal STEP students take BA 342 and can choose from: MIS 204, MKTG 330, FIN 406, SCM 301. Can
also add on BA 297A (see below)
 Register for the above courses for Summer II 2016 and notify Debbie Lissenden dwl15@psu.edu
Give serious consideration to scheduling BA 297A (1 credit): Career Preparation and Strategies. This course has
Schedule
BA 297A (1 cr.)
content offered by employers and is specifically for Smeal students. An online section is now available for
Commonwealth campus Smeal students and it is also offered at University Park every fall and spring. You can
also take it as a 7th credit in the STEP summer transition program (see above).
Explore
Study Abroad
opportunities
Decide which
Student
Organizations
you want to get
involved with at
University Park
Apply for an
 Studying abroad is an enriching, educational experience with long-term value for students of any major
 Smeal students who study abroad tend to do so in the summers
 For more information or to schedule an appointment to discuss your plan, visit:
http://ugstudents.smeal.psu.edu/international-programs/study-abroad/
 Getting involved with a student organization will help you establish new relationships, gain leadership
experience, and consider different perspectives. Learn more about the 43 Smeal organizations by visiting:
http://careerconnections.smeal.psu.edu/student-organizations/contact-an-organization/
 Visit the Smeal Student Organization Involvement Fair at The Big Event on January 26, 2016 from 5pm –
7:45pm in the Business Building Atrium. There is also a fair at the beginning of Fall semester.
 *Note that AT UP was created specifically for Smeal students new to University Park!
You’ll receive an email invitation to apply for a Smeal Alumni Mentor in the middle of spring semester. This is
Alumni
an academic year program that begins each fall after assignments have been made over the summer.
Mentor
http://www.smeal.psu.edu/alumni/student-resources/mentoring-program-frequently-asked-questions
Take
Learn what kind of leader you are: http://linkedin.kornferry.com Leaders are not defined by those in titled
Korn Ferry
roles. This tool can help you communicate your strengths during interviews and networking opportunities.
Use your
campus’s
Career
Services
 Bring a list of the following topics to an appointment with a Career Services staff member at your campus and
ask them for their insight on these topics and how you can prepare in these areas: 30 second pitch,
involvement and leadership, networking, researching companies, career decision-making
 Refer to your Penn State Career Services booklet of tips and ask your Career Services staff follow-up questions
http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/career/pdf/2015-2015%20Career%20Guide%20-%20Campuses.pdf
Schedule an
Meet for guidance on your resume/cover letter or for any general coaching on your career preparation. You can
appointment
also schedule a mock interview appointment. Schedule half-hour appointments here:
with your Smeal
career coach
https://php.smeal.psu.edu/corp/schedule/index.php Commonwealth campus students can do their
appointments via phone. For more information, contact Lauren Watson at lmw268@psu.edu
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