The Career and Professional Development Center (CPDC) at IUP is an invaluable resource for students, offering expert guidance and personalized support to help them navigate and thrive in their career journeys.
The CPDC urges students to take advantage of the resources that they have to offer. Students are able to attend career coaching, mock interviews, cover letter reviews and more to reach their full career-focused potential.
After being asked for some advice for students thinking about utilizing the center, Jeremy Risinger, Assistant Director of the CPDC, said, “My advice would be to take advantage of all the resources IUP has to offer.”
“The more we get to see students, the more helpful we can be as they are looking for internships and jobs,” said Risinger.
The CPDC website offers helpful, printable guides for creating a resume, cover letters and business cards.
There are also guides on the CPDC website for learning about manners and etiquette, handshakes and the elevator speech which can help people thrive in a professional scene.
Tammy Manko, the executive director of the Career and Professional Development Center, is experienced in body language and communication, professional networking and many other professional development related topics.
“The CPDC is here to support students (and alumni/graduates) with their career and professional development,” said Manko. “Being well prepared for an appointment allows students to make the most of their appointment time. For example, having a resume/cover letter draft will be a great way to prepare for an appointment of that nature.”
When booking appointments online, one can select what service they are interested in and have the option of picking a specific staff member they want to meet with.
Appointments can be made two weeks prior to the meeting date but must be scheduled 24 hours in advance. All appointments have the option of being in-person, on the phone or via Zoom.
The CPDC launched the professional photo booth last spring where students, alumni and community members can go to get professional-grade headshots.
“This is something we have wanted to offer to the IUP community for quite a while, so it’s nice to finally have this service available for students to take advantage of,” said Kelsey Pilotta, Associate Director of the CPDC.
For students and alumni, the photo booth is free to use while there is a small fee for community members not associated with IUP.
Pilotta also mentioned that there are many events hosted by the CPDC throughout the semester such as the upcoming Spring Career Fair at the KCAC on Feb 19.
The CPDC is a useful tool on campus for students to take advantage of that can help anyone succeed in career-related topics.
Students interested in getting in touch with the CPDC can book an appointment to meet with a member of the CPDC team on the IUP website, where they can also find more information on the services to offer, internships and job opportunities as well as professional resources.
The CPDC is located in room B20 in the Stabley Library.
Other ways to get more information and tips relating to career planning can be found at any of the CPDC’s social media accounts such as Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook @IUPCPDC.