Liberal Arts Major: Psychology
Minor: Labor Studies and Employment Relations
Hometown: Jackson, NJ
Current Location: Delran, NJ
What enrichment activities did you participate in as a student?
I completed a human resources internship at Borton-Lawson Engineering, Inc. in Wilkes-Barre, PA fulfilling responsibilities such as implementing strategies into recruiting processes to align with diversity and inclusivity, and other general HR duties in the summer leading into my senior year. I participated in the Diversity Recruiting & Retention Lab as an undergraduate research assistant. My research projects included studying African American career trajectories, childhood socioeconomic statuses and their influences on workplace perceptions, and evaluating signaling methods on corporate diversity recruitment webpages.
What was your first job after graduating from Penn State?
I am still at my first job after graduating from Penn State: recruiting college students to work at Lockheed Martin! I originally moved to upstate New York and staffed for the Owego site. I have since back to New Jersey to be closer to family and friends. I still staff for Owego, and now Syracuse too, but 100% remote. Some special projects I have been on include working on scholarship endowments at Penn State, planning end-to-end events for our Penn State Lobby Day, and staffing for the Presidential Helicopter.
What was your favorite class?
My favorite class was Selection and Assessment in Organizations with Dr. Greg Loviscky. I/O has always been the area of Psychology I am most passionate about, especially when staffing practices are involved. I loved learning about KSAOs and the different predictors organizations use when building a selection assessment for jobs they hire for.
How did your liberal arts education and skills prepare you for life after graduation?
The College of the Liberal Arts prepared me for every facet of my progression from student to full-time professional. The curriculum in every class is full of skills that improve your intellectual agility and diversity that seamlessly transfers to the real world. Outside of the classroom, the staff and faculty in the Career Enrichment Network equipped me with the tools and resources needed to successfully seek out job opportunities and thoughtfully plan my future with me.
What networking advice would you share with current students?
Networking is what got my career off the ground before it even was a career. The basis of every successful career is an even more powerful network. All throughout my undergrad years, I was poked fun at by my friends for firmly shaking hands with anyone I met in any setting (in the HUB, downtown, in class... you get the idea). While it may have been a practice you're a bit uncomfortable with at first, you make a great first impression. Don't just reserve the handshake for professional events like career fairs! To this day, I utilize the people I met during my first years as a Penn State student for initiatives I am now starting as a working adult. They reach out to me for my help too! It is never too early to make a great first connection and to start building and growing your network. You're investing in your future when you do so.
What role have mentors played in your career progression?
I have had mentors both as a student and now as a full-time employee at Lockheed Martin. Whether formal or informal, having a mentor is as vital to your career progression as wings are to a plane; they will take you places they have been able to go to before because you may not quite know how to get there yet. Mentors are there to guide you, provide insight, and best prepare you for growth in your career — not just your current role. Every decision you make in your career should have your future in mind! (Recruiter tip: Make sure to identify 3 mentors in your career - a peer mentor, an experienced mentor in your field, and an experienced mentor outside of your field. You perform much better and learn much more about yourself and your job when you have a full picture.)