More than 500 employers to be at Fall Career Days recruiting events this month

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State’s annual Fall Career Days recruiting event will be offering students the opportunity to connect with over 500 employers, both in-person and virtually, over four days of recruiting events. Students of all years and interest areas are encouraged to attend.

“It’s the perfect opportunity to get face-time with employers who are hiring for a variety of internships and full-time jobs across all industries,” said Ashley Citarella, associate director of operations, programs and events at Penn State Career Services. 

This year marks the return of a virtual recruiting opportunity in addition to three days of networking at the Bryce Jordan Center. Virtual recruiting allows students and recruiters from varying locations the chance to connect without needing to travel to University Park. 

The 2023 Fall Career Days will be scheduled as follows: 

• Sept. 12 – non-technical full-time 

• Sept. 13 – internship and co-op 

• Sept. 14 – technical full-time 

• Sept. 15 – interviewing 

• Sept. 28 – virtual recruitment for all areas 

Students are encouraged to research companies attending the fair and the positions they are recruiting for in advance of the fair. Some organizations only attend one day, even if they are looking for students from a wide variety of majors and colleges. Students can use this link to determine which companies are seeking their qualifications and which days the companies are attending. 

Most companies require students complete an online application, while some make their application available prior to the fair. Students can apply to these jobs via Nittany Lion Careers  to kick-start the process. 

The Symplicity Jobs and Careers mobile app is another tool students can use to navigate Fall Career Days. The app is available for IOS and Android, and a link for it can be found in the Penn State Go app. By logging into the app with Penn State credentials, students can view event information, including attending organizations and maps. 

Students are encouraged to come to Fall Career Days with questions for the companies they plan to visit and several copies of an updated resumé.  

Those in need of a resumé can attend the Career Services resume review event from 2 to 5 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 11, at the Bank of America Career Services Center. No registration or appointment is necessary for this drop-in service. Information on resumé building can also be found here. 

“Composing a resume is one of the most difficult parts of the internship, job and graduate school search process,” Citarella said. “There is an art to conveying who you are, your interests, and what you can offer in a concise and meaningful way.  Employers often review hundreds of resumes for one position.  We can help you stand out and catch things that are easy to miss on your own.”

In addition to resumé help, Career Services offers free professional headshots from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Wednesdays and 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursdays this semester. The service is offered on a walk-in basis, including the week of Fall Career Days. Professional headshots will be offered at the Bryce Jordan Center in the Star Room during the career fair.

Penn State’s Professional Attire Closet is open for appointments and will be available during the fair at the Bryce Jordan Center in the Star Room.

Fall Career Days is a collaboration between Career Services — a unit in the division of Penn State Student Affairs — and college career offices. Students can find additional information about preparing for the career fair at the  Fall Career Days website or the Career Services website.