|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
  |
PennLink FAQ 
About OCR and PennLink What kinds of organizations recruit on campus? The majority of organizations choosing to interview at Penn are those that have regular, predictable hiring patterns - typically corporate employers hiring students for business-related and technical positions. Organizations that hire only as specific positions become available typically do not utilize OCR services. (However, many such organizations do post non-OCR job listings on PennLink.) OCR works through a system called PennLink, found on the Career Services web site at: http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/recruiting. PennLink is an integrated on-line system through which you have access to OCR as well as other jobs and internships that employers post for Penn students. Through PennLink you will be able to:
Every day. It is important to check daily so that you do not miss any deadlines. PennLink deadlines are 12:00 midnight. Be aware that although webservers sometimes go down, our deadlines don't change. If you wait until the last minute to meet recruiting deadlines and the PennLink server goes down, you may miss out on opportunities. We encourage you to complete all activities associated with recruiting at least 24 hours before each deadline. Who can participate in On-Campus Recruiting? OCR is open to students enrolled in degree programs (not certification programs) in the following schools: Annenberg, Arts and Sciences, Biomedical Graduate Studies, the College of General Studies (who have completed at least 16 credits), Engineering, Education, Design, Nursing, Social Policy and Practice, Wharton Undergraduate and Wharton Doctoral Programs, as well as alumni from these schools within one year of graduation upon request. Those eligible to interview for permanent positions in 2009-2010: Undergraduate and master's degree students graduating in December 2009, May 2010, or August 2010, and alumni within one year of graduation when given special permission by Career Services. Doctoral candidates (post-master's/ABD) whose last academic year at Penn is 2009-2010. Those eligible to interview for summer jobs: All full-time underclass, master's and doctoral students, and, upon request, seniors going directly to graduate school. (Note that alumni, even those within one year of graduation, are not able to use OCR for summer internships.) NOTE: Students in the Engineering EMTM are not eligible for OCR. December graduates automatically maintain on-campus recruiting privileges until the following May.
How do I register for PennLink? From the Career Services homepage, click on the "Students" link under "On Campus Recruiting Services". On the next page click on "Log in or Register for the First Time", and then "Click here to log-in to PennLink using your PennKey". Complete the login by using your Pennkey and password. The first time you login you will be asked to register. On subsequent logins you will simply be taken to your PennLink homepage. Alumni are not eligible to participate in on-campus recruiting. (The only exception to this is individuals within one year of graduation upon special permission from Career Services. These alumni are only able to interview for full-time opportunities, not internships.) ) It is possible that your account has an administrative setting (not viewable to users) that is removing the OCR listings from your PennLink account. Contact a staff member for your school or send an email to pennlink@pobox.upenn.edu including your name and graduation date to explain your situation. This setting can only be changed by a Career Services staff member. Be sure you are using your PennKey and password. If you still can't register, contact a staff member in Career Services. Go to PennLink and select " Profile." You will be able to edit all registration information, except Student ID, since this serves as your username. Be particularly sure to select the appropriate Applicant Type under the academic information section of your PennLink profile to ensure that you can apply for either internships or post-graduate, full-time positions. No. Employers have no access to your registration data. However, career counselors occasionally use the information to inform you of specific opportunities that match your interests. Can I change my login information for PennLink? No. You will always use your PennKey and password to login to the system. [Top] PennLink allows you to store resumes, cover letters, writing samples, unofficial transcripts, and "other documents". You indicate what type of document it is when you upload it to the system. How many documents can I store in the system at a time? You may store up to ten documents in PennLink at a time. Once you have submitted document(s) for a position, you may delete it to have room to upload new ones for other positions. How do I add a document to the PennLink system? Click on the “Documents” tab from the PennLink homepage. Click on the “Add New” button to upload a new document. Give the document a sensible name in the "Label" box (since employers will see it!) and indicate what type of document it is (i.e.: resume, cover letter, unofficial transcript, writing sample, or other document.) Use the “Browse” button to locate the file you wish to upload. It will take a moment for the system to convert your file to a PDF format. Upon completion, you will be able to preview the document in PDF format, which is what the employer will see. We strongly advise you to let the PennLink system convert your documents to pdf files. If you choose to do it outside of the system, please use one of the following approved converters to ensure proper display: PrimoPDF, CutePDF, or the print to PDF option for Mac OS. Make sure to turn off tracking on Word documents before submitting them so that the tracking changes do not show up in the converted documents sent to employers. A copy of the document in its original format will also be available in PennLink if you wish to edit it in the future. Employers select students for interviews using the name exactly as it appears on the documents they have received (your resume, cover letter, etc.). These names are then matched with the PennLink registration system. Be sure that the name you put on all the documents you upload into PennLink is identical to the name you used to register for PennLink. Make sure that all information on your resume, including intended graduation date and grade point average, if included, is true. If you have any questions about resume guidelines, check the "Official Guidelines for Resume Preparation" in the resume guide for your school or talk to a counselor at Career Services. Falsification of data on your resume is an academic integrity violation and will result in revocation of OCR privileges and a charge of academic dishonesty. Career Services randomly checks resumes against academic transcripts to ensure accuracy. I am uploading several resumes. Do I need to designate one as a "default" resume? If you upload more than one resume, PennLink requires you to designate one as your “default" resume. The “default" resume will then appear as the first choice when applying for jobs. Can I change documents after I have submitted them to an OCR employer? In the event that you want to change or withdraw your resume or other job search documents after you’ve submitted them, find the particular job listing in the “Interview Request” subtab (under “Interviews”) and use the “Withdraw Application” button. You will be able to withdraw materials and resubmit new ones for a particular position as long as the resume submission period for the position is still open. Once the resume submission period ends, you will not be able to withdraw your materials or submit new ones. (Note that you are not able to withdraw materials for non-OCR job listings once you've submitted them, as these employers have the option of reviewing application materials immediately.) While you cannot change your resume after an employer has downloaded it, you can bring an updated copy of your resume to the interview and give it to the employer. A resume will always be required, and sometimes employers will also require other documents such as cover letters and unofficial transcripts. You must submit all the required documents when you reply. (You will know that a document is required because there will be a red asterisk next to the box. If not required, there will be no asterisk.) If employers simply “request” additional documents, you may choose to submit the additional materials if you wish. Some employers will only accept resumes and do not want to receive additional materials, in which case you will not be able to submit them. Read this section carefully, as occasionally employers will provide additional application information in the space. The PennLink system will not give you the option to submit additional documents (other than a resume) for a position unless the employer requests or requires them. Can I change or correct a document after I have submitted it to an employer? You will be able to withdraw your OCR application materials and resubmit new ones (if you wish) for a particular position as long as the submission period for the position is still open through the Interview Requests subtab (under the main "Interviews" tab). To submit an unofficial copy of your transcript to an employer through PennLink, copy and paste your transcript from “Penn-in-Touch” into a Word document. Since “Penn-in-Touch” does not have your name on each page, you’ll need to add it. If you don’t, the employer will not know whose transcript it is, and will consider your application incomplete. Make sure your name on this document matches the name on your resume and the name you registered with on PennLink. The Word document can then be uploaded in the "Documents" part of PennLink and submitted to the employer during the application process. It is common for employers to request an official transcript later in the hiring process or upon start of employment. Career Services will spot-check transcripts on PennLink for accuracy. Be aware that falsification of data on your transcript is an academic integrity violation and will result in revocation of OCR privileges and a charge of academic dishonesty. You get your official transcript from the Registrar’s Office, located in the Franklin Building, Suite 221, or by phone at 898-7511. There is a fee for this service, and it may take several days to process. If requested by an employer, include your test scores on your resume or in your cover letter. We recommend not including them as a separate document in PennLink. Applying for OCR Jobs What methods are there for securing OCR interviews? There are a variety of ways to secure on-campus interviews with employers visiting Penn. Organizations recruiting on campus may choose from the following options for filling their interview schedules: Pre-selection, Open Interviews, and Recruiter Add-On Interviews. What does it mean if I am pre-selected for an interview? What is an alternate? Pre-selection is the most common way for students to get interviews. Using this option, employers receive and review the resumes students submit electronically via PennLink. Employers select the students they wish to interview. Selected students are designated as "pre-selects" or "alternates". If you are pre-selected, you are guaranteed an interview spot, provided you sign up for your interview during the pre-select sign-up period. Alternates will be able to sign up for interviews after the pre-select sign-up period, provided that not all pre-selects opt to sign up. How do I find out which organizations are recruiting? How do I sort results by deadlines? To find OCR positions from the main PennLink home page, simply click on the “Jobs” tab to see all job listings in the system. Under “Jobs” you will see various choices including PennLink Listings, Additional NaceLink Job Listings, and iNet Internship Network. The PennLink Listings tab will allow you to view all job listings (including OCR and non-OCR positions) that employers have chosen to advertise to Penn students. The other links will take you outside of the PennLink system into other databases.The “Show Me” filter will enable you to quickly screen jobs to show On-Campus Recruiting Listings Only, Non-OCR Listings Only, OCR Interviews You Qualify For (based on whether you are seeking a summer or post-graduate position), and Career Fair postings. Click on the "Deadline" column to sort results by application deadline. To access job descriptions for OCR employers, sort the listings as noted above. To see complete information for each organization, you simply need to click on the job title. First click on the job title to read the job description and determine if you would like to apply. At the top of the right column you will see a box called Application Status. You may apply here if the resume submission period is open and you are eligible for the position (i.e.: determined by whether it is a full-time or internship position). It will indicate if the resume submission period is closed. A resume will always be required, and sometimes employers will also require other documents such as cover letters and unofficial transcripts. You must submit all the required documents when you apply. (A red asterisk will indicate if a document is required.) If employers simply “request” additional documents, you may choose to submit the additional materials if you wish. Some employers will only accept resumes and do not want to receive additional materials, in which case you will not be able to submit them. Read the application section carefully, as occasionally employers will provide additional application information in the space. If the employer asks for information such as SAT scores, include it in your cover letter or resume. Do not include it as an additional document in PennLink. Submit the requested materials by clicking on the “submit” button when you are finished. Some employers will require that you apply on their organization’s Web site as well as through PennLink. Make sure to review the job descriptions and follow any additional application instructions specified. For “Open Interview” schedules simply submit the requested materials and sign up for an interview time on the same page if slots are still available. I am only interested in very specific fields. Can I limit my search to those areas? You may use the “Advanced Search” tab to narrow your search by parameters such as job function, location, or keyword. However, we suggest keeping your searches as open as possible, as you may miss opportunities if you narrow your search too much (for example, by searching on a specific location, keyword, and job type all at once). Through PennLink you can also set up Search Agents which will alert you via email when there are new jobs posted to the system that meet specific criteria you have set. It is not a smart strategy to drop your resume for "everything" and see where it lands. You should always read the job description and review the qualifications before submitting your resume. It is a waste of both your time and the employer's to apply for a position for which you are unqualified or have no interest. You are not required to be a complete expert on an organization or type of job in order to apply for it. However, you should know enough to believe that you'd be interested in interviewing for the position and that you have the requisite qualifications for it. No, you should submit materials only for the specific position for which the organization is coming on campus. If, however, you want to let an employer know of your interest in a different position, you may write directly to the recruiter to express your interest and to ask for an appropriate contact if he or she is not it. Organizations vary on this. Many allow you to apply for more than one position, provided you are genuinely interested and meet the qualifications. Some, however, will limit you to one application only. The job description should specify if the organization limits the number of positions to which you can apply. If you choose to apply for multiple positions, be aware that the same individual(s) at the organization may receive all your materials. If you apply to too many positions, you may end up appearing unfocused and unsure of your career goals. There can be several reasons that you might not be able to submit your materials. Make sure you are eligible for the type of position to which you are applying (summer or full-time - see eligibility requirements) and that you have selected the appropriate applicant type in your PennLink profile. Be sure that the submission period for the particular position is open. If you are not within the exact dates for submission, you will not be able to apply. You must also have at least one resume uploaded to the system in order to be able to apply for opportunities. If the information is correct and you still can't apply, email your Career Services counselor with your name, graduation date, and the specific problem you are having accessing OCR. It is also helpful if you include the organization's name, position applying for, and PennLink Job ID in the email. If you miss the deadline for submitting your resume to a specific employer, you can get the name and address of the appropriate contact person by clicking on the job title. It will be in the right column at the bottom of the page. (If there is no contact information, the employer chose not to provide it.) Mail or e-mail your resume, cover letter and any other required materials directly to the recruiter. You will be added directly to the organization's pre-selection list if the recruiter wishes to interview you. Keep in mind, however, that employers review resumes and select students for interviews relatively quickly after the on-line submission deadline. If you send your materials well after the final resume drop date, they may not arrive in time for consideration. If you are chosen for an interview as a “Pre-select” or “Alternate”, PennLink will automatically send you an e-mail inviting you to schedule an interview. (Note that if an employer is late in making interview selections in the PennLink system, or if you have selected "no" to receiving emails on the privacy tab in your PennLink profile, you may not receive these emails. Therefore, we strongly recommend logging into PennLink on a daily basis to check interview invitations (as opposed to relying on emailed notifications) to ensure that you do not miss any sign-ups.) If you are eligible to sign up for any interviews you will also see a notification under “Alerts” on your PennLink home page indicating that you may sign up. Clicking on the “Quick Link” will allow you to either schedule an interview time or decline the interview if you wish. You can also track your status for each particular position that you have applied for under the “Interview Requests” subtab. It will indicate if your status is still pending, if you have been selected as a pre-select or alternate candidate, or if the employer has declined your request for an interview. In addition, you may also receive an e-mail directly from the employer, congratulating you on receiving the interview, and inviting you to sign up. Often this e-mail will arrive before the sign-up period starts. Keep in mind that you will not be able to sign-up until the appropriate sign-up period begins. You may sign up for interviews using the “Quick Link” under “Alerts” on your homepage (which will only be visible if in fact you are currently eligible to sign up for an interview) or by going directly to the “Interview Requests” subtab. Once you have signed up for a specific interview time, the position will show up under the “Scheduled Interview” subtab. Pay very close attention to deadlines when signing up for interviews. Pre-selected candidates can begin signing up for interviews on the first day of sign-ups for the particular interview schedule. Simply click on the link and all available times will show up . Times that conflict with interviews you already have scheduled will not appear, so you are protected from signing up for two interviews at the same time. If you’ve been designated as an “Alternate,” your sign up generally starts three days after the pre-select sign-up begins. From the time that alternate sign-up begins, pre-selects and alternates become equal, and alternates are able to sign up for any remaining interview slots. If you are selected as an alternate, but cannot sign up, it indicates that all the interview slots have been filled.
While a majority of employers enter their invitations through PennLink, some employers contact students directly to invite them for an interview. If you find yourself in this situation, you should check PennLink for a schedule of when sign-ups will begin for the particular position. Sometimes employers send e-mails before sign-ups officially begin. Note that you won't be able to sign up early. If, however, after sign-ups have officially started on PennLink, the employer has not submitted your name to OCR and you would like to interview with the organization when they are on campus, you must contact the employer and ask them to contact their recruiting liaison in OCR so that you may be added to the schedule. Contact information for employers can generally be found in the job description in PennLink, provided the employer chose to release that information for students. Check with Career Services if you are not able to resolve the problem with the recruiter. No. If you're pre-selected but don't want to interview you can decline the interview on the "Interview Requests" subtab. First of all, make sure that the sign-up period is open. If you are a pre-select YOU MUST PAY CAREFUL ATTENTION TO WHEN ALTERNATE SIGN-UPS START! If you do not sign up for an interview before the alternate sign-ups begin, your time slot may go to another student. In addition, time slots will not show up that conflict with other interviews that you already have scheduled, so on days that you have been invited for many interviews it may not be possible to schedule them all because of time conflicts. As long as the sign-up period is still open, you may change or withdraw from your interview with no repercussions. If you need to change the time of your interview, or you decide that you want to cancel your interview entirely, you can do so on the “Scheduled Interviews” subtab. Sign-ups generally end two working days before the interview date. Note that it may be difficult to find alternate times if the schedule is full. If the sign-up period has passed, the only way to change your interview time would be to find another student willing to swap times with you. You’ll need to do this on your own; Career Services cannot assist with this process. If the sign-up period is still open, click on the "Scheduled Interviews" subtab to cancel the interview. If the sign-up period has passed, it will constitute a late cancellation. Follow the procedures for late cancellations below. Cancel your interview as soon as possible but at least one hour before the interview by calling OCR at 215-898-4068. (You may also stop by the receptionist's desk in the OCR Suite to fill out a cancellation form.) This is considered a "late cancellation." If you have late cancellations on more than two separate recruiting dates, your recruiting privileges and PennLink access may be rescinded for the remainder of the academic year. Failing to show up for your interview, or canceling less than 60 minutes before the interview, is considered a "no show". If you no-show on more than one recruiting date, your recruiting privileges and PennLink access may be rescinded for the remainder of the academic year. (Please note that because of heightened concerns about the H1N1 virus this year, we are urging students who do not feel well to cancel their interviews. Such students will not be penalized by Career Services.) In either case, you must send the recruiter an e-mail apologizing for missing the interview. The e-mail must be sent specifically to the recruiter who interviewed on campus. The name of the recruiter and his/her e-mail are available the day after the interview from the “Recruiters Business Card Binder” in the Career Services library. However, if your interview was held at the Inn at Penn, no recruiter cards will be available. In that case, you will need to write to the employer’s recruiting contact, whose name can be found (if s/he chose to show it) on the job description in PennLink. In addition, you must send a BCC (blind carbon copy) to apology@pobox.upenn.edu so that OCR knows that the apology has been sent to the recruiter. If OCR does not receive the blind carbon copy within three working days of the interview date your recruiting privileges and PennLink access will be suspended until it is received. NOTE: THERE ARE NO CANCELLATIONS BY E-MAIL PERMITTED! PLEASE CANCEL BY PHONE OR IN PERSON AT THE OCR RECEPTIONIST'S DESK. DO NOT CONTACT A CAREER SERVICES COUNSELOR TO CANCEL. I missed an interview. What do I do. This counts as a "no show". You will need to follow the procedures outlined above. It is better not to, as it is possible your first interview may run late or long. Also, be sure to check the length of the interview. Don’t assume that an interview is a half-hour. Back-to-back interviews are two consecutive interviews with the same organization. Occasionally interviews run 45 or 60 minutes in length. Always make sure you check the interview length and leave an ample amount of time to reach your next interview. OCR provides a "Back-to-Back" form for you to fill out for the second interview and place the form on the door of the second recruiter so that s/he will know that you might be late. Yes. You will not have the option of selecting interview times that conflict with interviews you already have scheduled. You will have to find a person to swap with using your own resources. Neither OCR nor Career Services can provide the names or contact information of other students who have signed up for interviews. Occasionally, organizations opt not to review resumes in advance, but rather let you sign up for interviews on a first-come, first-served basis. These are called "Open" schedules and are indicated by a green O in the "type" column in PennLink. As a reminder, "open sign-ups" occur when an organization preselects candidates, but the schedule still does not fill up. In this case, the employer may allow the schedule to go "open" on the last day of sign-ups, and the remaining interviews are available to students on a first-come, first-served basis. You can check under the "Schedule Details" section of the job description to see if a particular position is scheduled to have open sign-ups. (Many OCR schedules simply have sign-ups for pre-selected and alternate candidates, and employers opt to fill any remaining open slots on the schedule through "Recruiter Add On Interviews" on the day of the interview.) Recruiter Add-On Interviews Some organizations will fill any open interview slots on the day of their on-campus interviews by accepting "Recruiter Add-On Interviews". If you want to try to get an "add-on" interview, fill out a "Recruiter Add-On Interview Request Form" (available from the main OCR web page) for each position that interests you, attach it to your resume, and deposit it in the "Recruiter Add-On Interview Request Box" outside of Career Services. Collection hours are 9:15 am - 2:00 pm one working day before the interview date. Your add-on request(s) will be given to the recruiter(s) when they check in to OCR the following morning. The recruiter(s) will review the resumes at their convenience and will inform the OCR receptionist should they wish to interview you. Please do not call to check on the status of your add-on request. The OCR receptionist will contact students whose requests have been accepted. Students whose requests are denied will not be contacted. Most interviews are held in the OCR Recruiting Suite on the ground floor of the McNeil Building, although some are held at the Inn at Penn. You can verify the location by looking at the "Scheduled Interviews" subtab in PennLink. If your interview is in the OCR Suite, you will find interview schedules posted for each organization on the University Recruiting Bulletin Board in the lobby. Sign in by placing your initials beside your name on the posted schedule. The alphabetical part of the room number indicates the waiting area: A, B, C, D, or E. Take a seat in the designated waiting area and do not knock on the interview door. The interviewer will come out and ask for you when s/he is ready. Check with the Concierge to find out where to go if your interview is held at the Inn at Penn. The copy you submitted through PennLink for the specific schedule. Feel free to bring an updated copy of your resume to the interview to give to the recruiter if you have recently made changes to it. For almost all interviews on campus, you want to wear formal business attire. Men should wear a suit, tie, dark socks and dark shoes. For women, a suit, stockings and conservative accessories are the expectation. (While pants are acceptable for some industries, women are generally safer with a skirt suit.) Both men and women who opt to use fragrances should keep them to a minimum. Interviewing rooms are small and some people are allergic to particular scents. Remember, you only have one chance to make a first impression, and you want to make the most professional one possible. Discreet clothing is always preferable in an interview. For interviews in OCR, the business card of your recruiter is attached to the sheet where you signed in. If you neglected to get the recruiter’s contact information, you should check the business card binder in the Career Services library the following day. This is updated daily, and is found towards the back of the library across from the computers. BE AWARE-- INN AT PENN INTERVIEWS: If your interview takes place at the Inn at Penn, you must ask for a business card at the time of the interview. If you forget to get the business card of your interviewer, you will need to write to the recruiting contact listed on PennLink (who most likely will not have been your interviewer). No one in OCR or Career Services has information on specific interviewers from the Inn at Penn. To be really well prepared for an interview, you want to both read as much as you can about the organization, and also talk to people about it. Be sure to review the job description the organization has provided on PennLink. Scour the organization's Web site. Do a Lexis/Nexis search for recent articles about the organization. Check the Penn Alumni Career Network, our alumni network, and talk to Penn graduates working at the organization. Learn as much as you can about the industry of which the employer is a part. Talk to people who work in the field. Be sure to check if the organization is holding any information sessions. These will either be open sessions for general information or "night before interview" sessions for students who will be interviewing the next day. If you are interviewing, you will be expected to attend the "night before interview" session. Employers are looking for students who are interested in them and seem sure of their career choice. They seek applicants who project self-confidence, are aware of their skills, interests, and goals, and who can demonstrate knowledge of the specific position, the organization, and the industry in which the organization fits. Think carefully about your personality and your goals, skills and interests. First, review the interviewing tips on the Career Services Web site. Attend a Career Services interviewing workshop offered throughout the semester. Schedule a mock interview with a Career Services counselor to practice and refine your interviewing skills. Based on the success of your initial interview, you may be invited to a second round interview, often within a day or two of your first interview. Sometimes this conflicts with first round interviews you already have scheduled. We ask organizations to refrain from holding second round interviews outside of Philadelphia on the following dates: September 29, 30 and October 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, and 15. Second rounds in Philadelphia may be held on these dates, but we encourage recruiters to be flexible with students in scheduling times. Students should not be asked to cancel a first round interview at the last minute in order to make a second round. During internship recruiting, employers are asked to adhere to the following policy on holding second round interviews: February 1, 2, 3, and 5: First round interviews only. No second round interviews either on or off-campus during the day. (Evening second round interviews are permitted.) It is always appropriate to send a thank-you note after an interview. Your note should refer to your conversation and reiterate your interest in the position. It needn't be very long, but it should be specific and personal. There is no "right answer" as to whether your thank-you note should be e-mailed or posted, as employers differ in their preferences. What is important is that the letter be sent shortly after the interview. We realize that exploding offers and bonuses put enormous pressure on students to make decisions before they have completed the interviewing process. We therefore ask that employers give summer interns returning for senior year until November 2, 2009 to decide on offers so that these students may participate in on-campus recruiting. Employers who make offers to students through fall recruiting (for summer 2010 start dates), should give students three weeks or until December 1, 2009 (whichever comes later) to decide, and that offers made on or after January 1, 2010 be held open for two weeks. Employers interviewing for summer interns are asked to give students until February 22, or one week, which ever comes later, to decide on offers. However, we discourage students who are sure that they are not going to accept a particular offer from "holding" on to the offer until the last date, as this makes it difficult for employers to move forward on extending offers to other candidates. Students are encouraged to speak with their career counselor if they have questions about negotiating offer deadlines. Your acceptance of a job offer - whether by voice, e-mail or letter - indicates your commitment to that employer. Once you have accepted a job offer, you should discontinue any job searching, and decline or cancel any remaining interviews as soon as you can. It is unethical and unprofessional to continue searching once you have accepted a job. There may be occasions when you are pressured to accept a job offer before you have completed your interviewing or before you are ready to decide. Discuss your concerns with a Career Services counselor before accepting an offer you are not sure of. Where do I find the most up-to-date presentation information? You can search for presentations through the Information Sessions subtab under Events in PennLink. You can also use the Calendar search to quickly find information sessions. Are presentations accessible to all Penn students? This will be indicated in the presentation listings on our website or in your PennLink account. There are a number of categories for presentations: Open: The presentation is open to all Penn students, though typically targeted towards graduating seniors during the fall semester. Night Before Open: The presentation is primarily geared toward students who will be interviewing with the employer. Students with scheduled interviews should make a point of attending. However, the presentation is open to other students as well. (Students requesting "recruiter add-on interviews" may particularly want to attend.) Night Before Closed: If you are on an interview schedule you are expected to attend this presentation. You should notify the employer in advance if you will not be able to attend. It is your responsibility to check to see if the employer is holding a "night before" presentation. Do not expect them to e-mail you about it. Graduating Students Only: The presentation is limited to graduating students. Invitation Only: The presentation is limited to those directly invited by the employer. What is the proper attire for employer presentations? Most employer presentations are business casual, unless otherwise noted. While many feel that "business casual" exists on a continuum between t-shirts and formal business suit, it is important to remember that this is a professional interaction. A safe bet is for men to wear shirts with a collar and long pants (not jeans) and for women to wear pants or skirts with a nice blouse or sweater. For "night before" presentations, you should plan to dress more formally. What typically happens during a presentation? Usually, the event begins with a presentation on the organization and the positions for which it is recruiting. The presentation is typically facilitated by a manager and/or human resources representative. Penn alumni who work for the organization may also give remarks about their experiences at the organization. This may be followed by a question and answer period and an informal reception where students have a chance to chat with representatives. It is wise to get business cards from representatives for follow-up if you are particularly interested in the opportunity.
Technical Troubleshooting We cannot guarantee that PennLink will not experience server problems, nor can we adjust recruiting deadlines to allow for software malfunctions. For this reason, we strongly recommend that you apply for positions early--well ahead of PennLink deadlines. If you experience a problem within PennLink, send an e-mail to one of the counselors for your school to let them know of the problem or report the problem in the "Comments and Questions" box in the right bottom corner of your PennLink homepage. I have questions not answered above. What do I do? First, check the on-line FAQ (Quick Find) available from the main OCR page to see if your question is answered there. If not, feel free to contact a Career Services staff member if you have other questions or difficulties not answered above. Although we try to answer emails and other inquiries promptly, we do not have round-the-clock technical support, but will answer your question as soon as possible. |
© Career Services, University of Pennsylvania. Not to be copied or distributed without permission.
Career Services • University of Pennsylvania
Suite 20, McNeil Building • 3718 Locust Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6209