Majors: Human Resources & Employment Relations and Labor & Employment Relations

Minor: Business

Hometown: West Chester, PA

How did you learn about this opportunity?

I found this internship with Air Products through the Penn State Career Fair.  I went to the fair and I talked to the recruiter. Later on that week, the same recruiter came to a meeting for a club I am involved in (Society for Human Resource Management). I talked to her again at the meeting and applied for the position online later that week.

Tell us a little bit about your experience.

This has been a great experience. Supplementing the knowledge I learned in the classroom with real life experience is crucial for my long term career aspirations. While working, I built my professional network and met many people who have similar career paths that I am striving towards. It is very beneficial as an aspiring professional in the field to meet with these people and get advice that will help me in my future career. Furthermore, this experience will make my resume more relevant for future employers because of the experience I developed this summer.

How did this experience impact you academically?

This internship will not only help me with my future career, but also academically. While interning, I was exposed to various situations which are often taught in the curriculum at school. By having relevant experience in topics discussed in class, I can contribute more in classroom discussions. My internship has also made me more motivated and excited about the career field that I am pursing. This excitement will carry over into my academic life and will provide a purpose to the topics learned in class.

"Through interning, I was able to gain valuable experience and knowledge about the field and how to eventually move into my dream position."

What are your career goals or plans? How did this experience impact them?

My career goal is to become a human resource manager. These positions are challenging to obtain and require years of experience and dedication. Through this internship, I was able to gain valuable experience and knowledge about the field and how to eventually move into my dream position. Through networking at this organization, I was able to learn how these individuals climbed their career ladders and learn from them. Overall, interning gave me early exposure to my career area of interest.

Would you recommend this experience to other liberal arts students?

Yes, this was a great experience that gave me relevant work experience in a field I am interested in.