Participate in Extracurricular/Volunteer Activities
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Join student organizations to meet people, get involved and develop leadership and other skills
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Seek opportunities for leadership within an organization (i.e. become an officer or take on a position that demands responsibility)
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Volunteer at Penn State (i.e. help with department activities or faculty research)
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Volunteer in the community
Seek Part-time/Summer Jobs
- Your seemingly unrelated summer/part-time job will help you develop additional skills that can carry over into your professional future
- Example: Being a food server will teach you patience, customer service, efficiency, time management and interpersonal skills
- Consider connecting your summer/part-time work with your academic and career goals
- Example: If you are interested in publishing, seek employment with a local media outlet
- Attend Job Fairs and Career Events
- Check out part-time and summer opportunities
- Look into part-time jobs on campus through the Federal Work Study financial aid program
- Be proactive and ask employers about summer/part-time work opportunities (don’t wait for something to be advertised)
Take a Class or Conduct Research in a Field of Interest
- Select general education or elective courses that interest you
- Explore undergraduate research opportunities to work with faculty in a specific academic area
Seek Internships/Co-ops related to your Field
- Visit the Internships page
- Check with your Academic College (pdf)