Applying for jobs can sometimes feel like a full-time job of its own. It takes a lot of time to build your professional network, search for open positions, and craft unique applications. However, these steps are critical for finding a job that matches your goals and interests. This page will review each step in the job application process and how the College of the Liberal Arts can assist in your job search.
Finding Open Positions
Nittany Lion Careers is the best place to start your job search as a Penn State student. New positions are posted daily, and you can set up notifications based on your career interests. Any employer posting on Nittany Lion Careers is specifically interested in hiring Penn State students, and it’s a great way to leverage the power of Penn State’s alumni network.
Speaking of networks, professional networking can also be an effective strategy for finding a job. Start by reaching out to contacts you’ve made through internships and student activities, and ask them about any open positions in their companies or contacts they can introduce you to in your desired field. You can also reach out to family, friends, and anyone you can think of who might be able to help you find your ideal job.
The Liberal Arts Alumni Mentor Program is another great resource for building your professional network. When it comes to networking, there’s no such thing as casting too wide of a net!
Turning an Internship into a Job
Companies often try to select interns with the goal of eventually hiring them as full-time employees because they have a preview of your performance on the job. An internship also gives you an opportunity to become familiar with the type of work you would do and the company or work group culture.
If you think that your internship site is somewhere you’d like to work full-time, keep in touch with your supervisor after the internship ends, and let them know when you plan to graduate. If you apply for a position, use your cover letter to explain how your internship experience can translate into the job you’re applying for.
Cover Letters and Résumés
Your cover letter and résumé are opportunities for you to tell your story to the organization that you’d like to join. No two companies are the same, and no two cover letters or résumés should be the same either.
Cover Letters
A cover letter allows you to show your enthusiasm for the position and highlight some qualities that may not be clear from your résumé. Show your individuality, and make a good first impression on the recruiters who are looking through dozens, if not hundreds, of applications for any given position.
Résumés
Your résumé should succinctly explain your work history, extracurricular activities, and any other experience that’s relevant to the position. Utilize bullet points to summarize your experience, and keep the whole thing to two pages at most.
The résumé samples below were developed for Penn State Liberal Arts undergraduates by career coaches in the Career Enrichment Network. We encourage you to model your résumé after the samples below, and if you have any questions, schedule a meeting with a career coach.
Achieved
Administered
Advised
Advocated
Allocated
Analyzed
Anticipated
Applied
Approved
Arranged
Assessed
Attained
Audited
Balanced
Briefed
Budgeted
Built
Calculated
Cared
Coached
Collaborated
Collected
Comforted
Communicated
Compared
Competed
Completed
Composed
Computed
Conducted
Consulted
Contributed
Converted
Coordinated
Counseled
Created
Decided
Defined
Delegated
Demonstrated
Designed
Developed
Devised
Diagnosed
Directed
Documented
Drafted
Edited
Eliminated
Enforced
Enhanced
Ensured
Established
Estimated
Evaluated
Examined
Exceeded
Expanded
Facilitated
Financed
Formulated
Fostered
Founded
Gained
Generated
Guided
Identified
Implemented
Improved
Increased
Initiated
Instructed
Integrated
Interpreted
Introduced
Invented
Investigated
Launched
Learned
Led
Maintained
Managed
Mastered
Maximized
Mediated
Mentored
Met
Minimized
Modified
Monitored
Negotiated
Observed
Obtained
Offered
Operated
Organized
Partnered
Performed
Planned
Prepared
Presented
Produced
Programmed
Projected
Promoted
Proposed
Provided
Raised
Received
Recommended
Reduced
Reorganized
Reported
Researched
Responded
Reviewed
Revised
Screened
Sold
Solved
Strategized
Streamlined
Strengthened
Studied
Supervised
Supported
Targeted
Taught
Tested
Trained
Upgraded
Utilized
Validated
Visualized
Won
Wrote
This résumé template is applicable to all Liberal Arts students. Please note, Pre-Law Advising recommends that you utilize the general résumé format for law school applications.
This résumé sample is for students who participated in a global experience.
This résumé sample is for students who participated in an internship.
This résumé sample is for students who completed a research experience.
This résumé sample is for students applying to graduate school.
Liberal Arts students applying to internships or full-time positions in the federal government can reference this example and tips created by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Make sure to also reference the federal résumé checklist from USAJobs.gov.
This cover leter template is applicable to all Liberal Arts students.
This cover letter sample is applicable to all Liberal Arts students.
This is a generic CV sample.
Timeline for Grad School Preparation
*** The process and timeline needed to apply to graduate school is not a “one size fits all” process. The timeline below represents a general, typical process to consider when preparing for this next step in your education.
Grad School Essays
- An essay
- About who you are as a person, beyond your academics
- What you want to study and why
- Highlights your personal motivations for applying to the program and any major accomplishments you’ve had or obstacles you’ve faced along the way
- An essay
- About what you want to do
- Why are you applying to grad program?
- Highlights academic strengths and background, career goals, research interests, and fit with the program
- Formal letter (similar to a cover letter for an internship/job application)
- Addressed to the decision maker regarding application
- Provides an overview of goals in applying to graduate school
- Highlights experiences and why you’d be a good fit
- Close with a call to action
- Understand the Requirements
- Be Authentic
- Tell Your Story
- Focus on Your Goals
- Highlight Relevant Experience
- Show Fit with the Program
- Be Specific
- Keep It Organized
- Use Clear and Concise Language
- Proofread and Edit
- Answer the Questions/Prompts