UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — For recent graduates and seasoned professionals alike, effectively communicating one’s value is essential for career growth — but it’s a skill many people struggle with. A panel of recruitment, talent career advancement and compensation professionals will share their top tips on negotiating job offers and asking for a promotion at the next Penn State Alumni Expert Series webinar from 7-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 7.
Registration for the event is open now.
Presented by Penn State’s Alumni Career Services, the Alumni Expert Series shares career insights and advice from Penn State alumni each month, supporting the unit’s mission to help Penn Staters of all ages and experience pursue a lifetime of career success.
In this session, the panelists will answer key questions and provide actionable insights on topics including:
- How to prepare for salary negotiations.
- Effective strategies for negotiating job benefits and perks.
- When and how to ask for a promotion.
- How to position oneself for advancement within your company.
- Navigating tough conversations with confidence and professionalism.
Penn Staters can take this opportunity to learn negotiation tactics that work, and get questions answered from alumni experts. The panel will include:
Lorraine Finello ’92 is a dynamic national talent acquisition leader renowned for her expertise in accelerating high-level talent initiatives and driving substantial growth. With a proven track record of cultivating strong relationships, she excels in leading talent programs and enhancing both candidate and client experiences through innovative outreach and employment branding strategies.
Drew Kovacs is a 25-year veteran of helping organizations and the people who power them succeed and grow. As Zappos.com’s first in-house tech recruiter, he consulted with client companies on leveraging organizational culture to drive performance. He then became Penn State’s first internal professional services recruiter, where he established a framework to hire and retain top talent in higher education philanthropy. In his current role as the director of talent for advancement in Penn State’s Division of Development and Alumni Relations, Drew is expanding the talent management program he helped build to sustainably enhance employee experience and organizational health.
Donovin Lindsay is a talent acquisition expert whose years of experience have given him deep insight into what hiring managers truly look for, on paper and in person. Drawing from his extensive recruitment background, he shares strategies rooted in the science of resume reading and effective job search tactics.
Nicole Wagner ’16 is a compensation manager at PNC Bank, helping to guide and advise business leaders through compensation decisions. She started her career at PNC as an HR intern and has held various roles in the compensation space for over nine years. Wagner graduated from Penn State with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
Penn State Alumni Career Services helps graduates of all ages pursue a success by mapping out a career path, finding a new job, planning a next step, or connecting to the powerful Penn State network. They provide alumni with objective guidance and feedback, career education, and a variety of programs to hone their job-seeking skills. Penn State Alumni Association members have access to additional offerings, including professional document reviews, one-on-one career coaching, and mock interviews.
Penn State alumni can get started with Alumni Career Services by visiting alumni.psu.edu/career.