Internship and Job Search

Think about how you can relate to employers and the skills and experiences that you have to offer. Take time to think about your interests, skills, knowledge, experience, and career values.

Consider your personal preferences when it comes to a work environment. Is there a specific geographic location? Would you be happiest in a larger organization or a smaller one? What work environment factors are most important to you?

Career Counselors assist students with reflecting upon current and past experiences, identifying and organizing career themes that likely relate to a wide array of career opportunities.

Start by researching career fields and industries using the online resource in the Career Resource Center (link). Explore industries and occupations within each to find an area of focus for your job search.

Once you identify a few companies of interest use their websites, LinkedIn, and online resources like GlassDoor to get an idea of what the company culture is like. Review job descriptions for entry-level positions within their organization and check to see if they are hosting an information session on campus.

Consider government opportunities (federal, state, and local levels) as well as working for a non-profit organization. Use the job search resources on this page to identify these opportunities and determine if they are interest to you.

Once you identify the positions you wish to apply to, start gathering your materials and preparing for the application process. Create a document to help you track needed application materials, submission timelines, and any contact information or notes that you may need.
 

Resume

Develop your resume and have it reviewed by a career counselor. Include your experiences and list them in order of relevancy to make them stand out to an employer.
 

Cover Letter

Create a cover letter for each opportunity you apply for. This can take time, but a personal and customized cover letter is your chance to show your interest in the position and to communicate how your experiences and education prepare you to be successful in the opportunity you are seeking.

Start connecting and networking with organizations and professionals in industries of interest to you.

• Use Linkedin or LionLink to identify contacts.

• Consider conducting an informational interview to learn about their experience in a career field and how they got started.

The primary resource for job postings at Penn State, Nittany Lion Careers provides all Penn State students with access to hundreds of opportunities.

• Log-in to view all current job and internship postings.

Upload your resume and apply for positions directly through the system. Some employers participate in On-Campus Interviewing (OCI) which allows you to apply and interview for positions right on campus. All OCI postings can also be accessed through Nittany Lion Careers.

Have questions about finding an internship or co-op opportunity?

• Connect with your college career office  to discuss opportunities and report an accepted internship or co-op offer.

Network face-to-face with potential employers on campus. This is a great way to personalize your resume and give details about your experience.

• Attend career fairs across campus to meet with recruiters and discuss opportunities.

• Organizations often schedule information sessions on campus throughout the year. These open meetings allow you to learn about the company, internship and full-time employment opportunities, and ask questions about their culture. Use this as a chance to put a face with a name and show recruiters your personality. Information sessions are listed in Nittany Lion Careers and are updated frequently.

Most fields have at least one or more professional associations that represent their career area. These often have information for current students interested in that discipline. Use these as a way to network with other professionals or find out about industry news or job opportunities.

• Explore by career interest to find lists of associations.

The internet is a very powerful tool to help you located organizations, opportunities, and endless amounts of information about a career path. 

Industry and Company Guides

• Mergent Intellect

• GoinGlobal
  Sign in to Nittany Lion Careers to access GoinGlobal

Job Boards

• Nittany Lion Careers

• Penn State University Jobs

• Career-specific job boards

• Internships.com

• Internships USA
  UserName: PennState; Password: NittanyLions

• Career Builder

• College Grad

• GoinGlobal
  Sign in to Nittany Lion Careers to access GoinGlobal

• Indeed

• Monster

• Simply Hired

Non-Profit Opportunities

• Idealist

• Peace Corps

• AmeriCorps

Academic Job Search

• The Chronicle of Higher Education

• HigherEd 360

• Academic Employment Network

• Academic Jobs Today

• Academic Keys

• Higher Ed Jobs

• National Postdoctoral Association

Each state have a government-sponsored employment agency to help residents find opportunities. There are also privately owned companies designed to help find employment. Be sure to research each agency to understand potential fees and policies for involvement.

State and Local Employment Agencies

• Pennsylvania Job Seeker Portal

• American Staffing Association

Yay! Once you've accepted, contact your college career office to report your internship and make sure you receive credit for any program requirements.

Congratulations! Make sure to review the ethics of accepting an offer and contact the appropriate parties to notify them of your success.