Two BU students attend a Career Expo

Professional U

Every college has a career center, but at Commonwealth University, we leverage our career community of faculty/staff, alumni volunteers, and employer partners to provide students with career experiences, professional connections, and financial support for the opportunities that move them from college student to confident professional.

Customize each phase of YOUR career journey

Whether you are at Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, or Mansfield, Professional U is what YOU DO to engage with the career community of faculty, staff, alumni, and employer partners to gain the experiences and professional connections you need to graduate a confident professional.   

Since Professional U looks different in every college, on every career path, and for every student, see your faculty advisor to take advantage of all the career opportunities in your major. Consider attending networking events, career expos, career road trips, alumni panels, workshops, and your annual college conference. For additional help, and 1:1 career coaching, make an appointment on Handshake or check the events page for drop in hours.

So...how will YOU do Professional U?

First thing's first: Handshake and FOCUS 2

Activate your Handshake Profile to keep up with every opportunity and connect with employers! Sign up for 1:1 career coaching, professional development workshops, labs, alumni panels and networking events like Career Expos. Find a job shadow host, register for a mock or on-campus interview., and find / apply for internships and jobs as you near graduation. Take the FOCUS 2 assessment to help decide what you want to pursue. Login with your university email and use access code "explore"

Explore industries and practice networking

Explore industries, get comfortable interacting with employers, and find internships at a Career Connections Expo. Build relationships with recruiters who may hire you later! Visit the Greenly Center to find out what to expect and get a free professional outfit so you can dress for success.

Gain valuable experience

Internships, field study, research and study abroad experiences are vital to finding that first professional position! Talk to a faculty member, advisor, or department secretary about the best fit for your path, then search Handshake and the LinkedIn Alumni Group  and get ideas from alumni at college conferences like CASSHCon, ZIPD, COST Pathways, or CATCH. Once you have a site, speak with your adviser, make sure there is a clinical or non clinical affiliation agreement on file and submit a 509 form to receive credit. If you're on the Bloomsburg Campus, reserve a Sekisui Professional Experience Lab at the Greenly Center for a quiet, professional space to practice or participate in presentations, interviews, webinars and conference calls. 

Professional experiences can be expensive, especially if they involve travel, so apply for a Professional Experience Grant (PEG) to help defray costs.

Continue your climb, long after you leave campus

Make the transition from college student to confident professional with some last-minute polish and preparation at the Career Intensive Boot Camp. Then, return as an alumni volunteer to lift up the rest of the pack!

illustration of Carver Hall
Halle Zulkoski '22 sits at a table in the Alumni Room on the third floor of the Greenly Center in downtown Bloomsburg

“It is never too early to attend expos or start networking, networking is so important. Life is a lot about who you know and how you talk to people, so utilize these events that the school offers to get better communication skills in a professional environment.”

Halle Zulkoski '22
Business Marketing
Robert Bozarth '23 stands next to the SEKISUI sign in the hallway of the Alumni and Professional Engagement space on the third floor of the Greenly Center in downtown Bloomsburg.

“I'm so glad I participated in the ZIPD conference. You get to experience networking events, professional dinner etiquette, get advice and hear stories from successful business professionals.”

Robert Bozarth '23
Business Administration
Ashley Davis '23 sits on a red couch in the alumni room on the third floor of the Greenly Center in downtown Bloomsburg

“I think everyone should take [the Career Intensive Boot Camp] because it sets you up for your career and provides that foundation that you need before you go out into the work force. I am so much more confident than I was before."

Ashley Davis '23
International Business
Schyler Kelsch on the steps of Ben Franklin Hall

“I did a few networking sessions and heavily utilized the 1:1 coaching sessions which were, hands down, the most helpful. They were always available when I needed to ask the dumbest career questions, and made me feel confident going into interviews. I start in September as a Solution Analyst (Systems Development & Administration) for Deloitte and it feels great to have something lined up before graduation instead of spending my time finding a job. Actually, a better word would probably be “secure”, because it means instead of applying for jobs, I’m looking for a place to live and enjoying my summer.”

Schyler Kelsch ‘21
Computer Science / Math
Morgan Edwards-Lewis ‘22 sits on a couch in the second floor lobby of Sutliff Hall

“The networking events helped build my confidence so much…“Getting to talk to all those employers and noticing that [they] were interested in me had a really big impact on my college career”

Morgan Edwards-Lewis ‘22
Business/Accounting
Robert Bozarth '23 stands next to the SEKISUI sign in the hallway of the Alumni and Professional Engagement space on the third floor of the Greenly Center in downtown Bloomsburg.
Ashley Davis '23 sits on a red couch in the alumni room on the third floor of the Greenly Center in downtown Bloomsburg
Schyler Kelsch on the steps of Ben Franklin Hall
Morgan Edwards-Lewis ‘22 sits on a couch in the second floor lobby of Sutliff Hall
Halle Zulkoski '22 sits at a table in the Alumni Room on the third floor of the Greenly Center in downtown Bloomsburg

All Professional and Career Events - via Handshake

Experience Matters

When it comes to landing that first professional position, professional skills and connections mean as much as a degree. Talk to your faculty and visit the Greenly Center for ways to prepare and practice.

36%
of BU students have job offers before graduation
17,465
hours volunteered by BU alumni in support of Professional U since July, 2017
9200
employers registered in Handshake to recruit BU students
$748K
in Professional Experience Grants awarded to students since 2016

Need some 1:1 advice?

Below is a listing of Professional U fellows for each college of study, and career coaches from the Dept. of Alumni and Professional Engagement.