After spending four years on Penn's campus, some students just cannot get enough of the college experience. And with a new University recruitment effort underway, it does not have to be over just yet.
Publicizing more than 300 employment positions available for graduates, Penn's Human Resources and Career Services programs have collaborated in an effort to recruit current seniors, stressing a variety of advantages that come with hiring Penn students.
What makes these graduates such prime choices for University-affiliated employment is that they "have lived for at least four years in the Philadelphia area, so they can certainly bring to the interview [and in turn, the job] a knowledge of what it is like to live here and enthusiasm for the region -- something outside candidates might not offer employers," said Barbara Hewitt, associate director of Career Services.
In order to jump-start this initiative, last week the Division of Human Resources and Career Services helped sponsor an event called "Books to Benefits."
Held on March 15, the event recognized the fact that the University is among the largest private employers in the area and thus has many jobs to offer. Hiring officers looked for upcoming graduates to fill positions in fields ranging from information technology to scientific research opportunities, along with departments like Development and Alumni Relations and the Wharton School.
In order to take part in this event, students submitted their resum‚s in mid-February for evaluation. Those selected were asked to come to the event in order to be interviewed by an employer in their job area of preference.
According to Heather Carson, the senior staff recruiter for Human Resources, the goals of this event were to "open up Penn's 300-plus opportunities to graduating students [and] expose hiring officers to the incredible talent available in Penn graduates."
To accomplish this feat, 20 hiring officers "interviewed around 30 graduating students for various positions across the University. Feedback from the hiring officers that participated has been very positive," Carson added.
Bob Baer, the director of market research and analysis for DAR -- a group that analyzes and disseminates information regarding fundraisers and alumni relations activities -- was one of the employers present during this event.
"Recent Penn graduates are often well-suited for our staff," Baer said.
Acknowledging that these graduates have "a blend of critical text skills and especially report-writing skills," Baer added that DAR intends to continue recruiting at more Books to Benefits events in the future.
For those students eager to find jobs within the campus community, it is essential to understand what Penn employers are looking for when recruiting. Carson said that students must meet a variety of criteria ranging from being motivated professionals to having "a strong work ethic with [a] desire to contribute not just to Penn as their employer, but to the entire Penn community."
This event, however, is not the first time Penn has tried to entice graduating students to stay in the Philadelphia region.
"In the past, we have also co-sponsored programs with groups such as ATTRACT Philadelphia, a group devoted to keeping talent in Philadelphia," Hewitt said.
