The Penn State Abington Career and Professional Development team hosts career fairs and networking events along with providing one-on-one guidance to prepare students to thrive after graduation. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

ABINGTON, Pa. — The Penn State Abington Career and Professional Development (CPD) team helps students connect their college experience to their future careers through customized advice, internships, employer connections, and hands-on resume development and interview preparation tools. These services along with career fairs and networking and other events are part of the Abington Experience, the roadmap that takes students from campus to career.

One of CPD’s goals is to help students make informed choices about internships, job searches and professional goals by weaving together their academic, extracurricular and professional experiences while they are still on campus.

“It's more than helping students find their first job out of college; it's about helping them discover possibilities and preparing them for their future success,” career counselor Krissie Deck said.

For career counselor Jennifer Rae, a crucial step is helping students understand how to communicate skills to prospective employers.

“As more employers embrace skills-based hiring and focus on competencies rather than specific degrees, our goal is to help students reflect on and articulate how the many experiences they have at Penn State Abington translate into valuable professional skills," she said.

CPD staffers encourage students to meet with them as early as their first semester at Abington and continue throughout their time on campus. They work with students to identify their interests, strengthen their application materials and build confidence as they prepare for internships and the transition to the workplace.

The team smoothed the internship process for Olamiji Ogunleye.

“Abington staff supported me throughout the internship process, while faculty provided guidance regarding the academic internship requirements,” the mechanical engineering major said. “Their support helped me make sure the internship was properly connected to my education and career goals.”

“The Career and Professional Development team has their finger on the pulse of the employment market in the greater Philadelphia region,” Gina Kaufman, director of Student Affairs, said. “We are preparing tomorrow's community and industry leaders today through real life experiences and opportunities.”

CPD staff efforts are often supplemented by alumni and professional volunteers who participate in panel discussions focused on specific industries and career fairs.

Alumnus Jim Creighton provides students with feedback on their resumes and practices with them for job interviews. It’s not uncommon to find him at 6:30 a.m. in a campus parking lot teaching students to knot their ties before a career fair or dispensing advice to students on the sidelines of a soccer game.

CPD’s work reflects the campus’s robust commitment to helping all students move from college to career through the Abington Experience, which features leadership development, internships, research with faculty and academic travel.

“We want students to see a clear path from campus to their future careers,” Abington Chancellor Gary Liguori said. “Through the Abington Experience, we provide the support and opportunities that help students turn that pathway into reality.”

Penn State Abington, home to nearly 3,000 students in greater Philadelphia, offers four-year degrees, the first two years of any Penn State degree, and NCAA Division III athletics. The Abington Experience launches students from campus to career through internships, leadership development, academic travel, and faculty-led research and creative work. Penn State Abington — where the city's energy meets the best of the suburbs.