Parents

The Business Career Center has resources for families that are looking to encourage their student in the career development process. There are many ways that families can help their students achieve their career goals. We recommend encouraging your student to engage with the BCC early in their academic career so they can take advantage of all the resources office has to offer.

How to Help Your Student with Career Planning

Encourage your student to schedule an appointment at the Smeal Business Career Center (BCC). We provide:

  • Resume/cover letter reviews
  • Career fair and interview prep
  • Information on Nittany Lion Careers (Penn State’s job/internship board) and job search platforms/processes
  • Networking/LinkedIn help
  • Offer selection/negotiation assistance
  • More! If it relates to career, we handle it!

Show your student the value of networking.

  • Introduce your student to people who have careers/jobs that are of interest
  • Suggest your student reach out to contacts in your personal and professional networks for informational interviews
  • Encourage “shadowing” experiences to increase awareness of various career fields

Direct your student to career resources on our website. Resources include:

  • Resume/cover letting writing tips
  • Featured employer job postings
  • Networking and career fair tips
  • Information on upcoming events (career fairs, employer information sessions, professional development workshops)
  • Tips for communicating with employers (email etiquette, thank you notes, etc.)
  • Nittany Lion Careers & other internship/job search strategies
  • Information on involvement in student organizations and case competitions
  • Professional communication and etiquette tips

Emphasize the importance of internships. With an internship, students can:

  • Pursue an opportunity that matches their academic and personal interests
  • Develop professional skills such as teamwork, individual responsibility, and industry-specific skills
  • Build a professional network
  • Increase their chances of a full-time job offer— employers look for related experiences on resumes and often hire from within their own internship programs
  • Stand out among job applicants— having a high GPA is not enough

Challenge your student to become “occupationally Iiterate”.

  • Discuss ideas about current goals and plans for post-graduation
  • Talk about personal qualities you see as talents and strengths
  • Encourage them to make an appointment with a career coach in the BCC

Support co-curricular involvement.

Qualities such as interpersonal and leadership skills can be developed through co-curricular activities. Encourage your student to engage with a student club, participate in a case competition, or connect with a faculty member on research opportunities.

Help your student to stay knowledgeable about current events.

Employers will expect students to know what is happening around them and their company. Encourage your student to subscribe to a business-specific news source.

Consult the Smeal recruiting employment reports and hiring statistics.

These reports  detail full-time, internship, and co-op employment outcomes for Smeal students for the past 10 years.

Review the Smeal Plan for Career Success with your student.

This resource lists suggested activities your student can do each year to prepare for a successful career.

Share your company’s opportunities with the Smeal Business Career Center!

Let the BCC know if your company hires interns or entry-level hires — the office can help you get the position posted on Nittany Lion Careers.