Penn State University Career Toolkit

Penn State Career Services at University Park is housed in the Bank of America Career Services Center and offers drop-in, scheduled, and virtual advising. 40+ private interview rooms. Career coaches specialize by college and industry.

• Book a Career Coaching Appointment

  Schedule 1:1 career coaching appointments via Nittany Lion Careers. Mon–Fri 8am–5pm at the Bank of America Career Services Center (101 Bank of America Career Services Building, 566 Eisenhower Rd, University Park). Covers career exploration, résumé review, interview prep, job search strategy, and offer evaluation.

• Drop-In Career Advising

  Walk-in advising available during business hours. Fastest way to get quick feedback on résumés, cover letters, and career questions without a scheduled appointment. Check Career Services website for current drop-in times each semester.

• Smeal College of Business Career Services

  Dedicated career advising for Smeal business students. Industry-specific advisors with direct employer relationships in finance, consulting, accounting, and supply chain. Smeal runs its own employer recruiting events, career days, and career fair in addition to university-wide events.

• Career Pathways & Individual Career Exploration

  Penn State Career Services provides career exploration tools and assessments. Work with a career coach to explore majors, identify interests/values/skills, and develop an Individual Career Plan. Particularly useful for undeclared students or those uncertain about their career direction.

• Professional Attire Closet

  Free professional clothing resource for students preparing for interviews and networking events. Donated by the Penn State community. Access via Career Services. Removes a real financial barrier — if you need interview attire, use this before buying anything.

Penn State has one of the strongest undergraduate finance programs in the country, anchored by the Nittany Lion Fund (NLF) — over $10M AUM, one of the first student-managed funds in the nation. The PSIA → NLF pipeline is the clearest path to Wall Street from Penn State.

• Nittany Lion Fund (NLF) — $10M+ Student-Managed Fund

  One of the first student-managed investment funds in the country. $10M+ AUM, 70+ individual investors. Students make real investment decisions on equity securities. Mission: outperform the market AND educate students to obtain Wall Street careers. Entry path: join PSIA, attend meetings, then interview for NLF analyst/fund manager roles each semester. Verified active page.

• Penn State Investment Association (PSIA) — 400+ Members

  Umbrella organization for the Nittany Lion Fund. Open to all Penn State students of all majors and experience levels. 400+ students attend weekly general body meetings and sector breakout meetings. PSIA educates members on investing and Wall Street careers. At semester’s end, members can interview to become fund managers in the NLF. Verified via Smeal Finance annual update.

• Penn State Finance Society (PSFS) — Founded 2009

  Introduces students to all avenues of finance. Corporate partners include Bank of America, Vanguard, Johnson & Johnson, and Shell. Weekly meetings open to all majors. Covers finance career paths, financial modeling, markets, and current events. Eight sector teams available to interview into each semester. Email psfs.psu@gmail.com for information. Verified via Smeal Finance annual update.

• Penn State Fixed Income Association (PSFIA)

  Introduces students to fixed income markets and Wall Street careers in fixed income, rates, credit, and structured products. Strong for students targeting fixed income desks, credit research, and debt capital markets. Verified via Smeal Finance annual update.

• Penn State Wealth Management Association (PSWMA)

  Focuses on the investment and interpersonal sides of wealth management. Teaches portfolio building, relationship management, and financial planning. Brings in guest speakers including Financial Advisors working in the industry. Strong for students targeting private wealth, financial planning, and RIA careers. Verified via Smeal undergraduate organizations page.

• Penn State FinTech Group & Annual App Competition

  New FinTech club with a growing academic program. The inaugural Penn State FinTech App Competition (April 2025) awarded $8,000 in prize money judged by Goldman Sachs and Lovell Minnick Partners executives. Looking to become a nationwide competition. Includes guest lectures from Goldman Sachs FinTech IB professionals. Verified via Smeal Finance annual update.

Penn State has two distinct consulting pathways — the academic Nittany Lion Consulting Group (for-credit, real clients) and the Penn State Consulting Organization (the extracurricular club). Both are housed within the Smeal Management & Organization Department.

• Nittany Lion Consulting Group (NLCG) — Academic Program

  Student-led, faculty-supported consulting firm. Students earn academic credit as they work with real businesses on real challenges. Open to Penn State students of all majors at University Park. Sponsored by Smeal’s Management & Organization Department. Students develop structured problem-solving, client communication, and presentation skills — directly relevant to MBB recruiting. Verified active page.

• Penn State Consulting Organization (PSCO)

  Extracurricular club linked to NLCG. Focuses on preparing members for consulting careers, promoting consulting as a career path, and case interview preparation. NLCG participants are connected to PSCO for peer practice and professional development. Strong for MBB and Big Four strategy recruiting prep. Verified via NLCG page.

• Penn State Consulting Group (External Engagements)

  Student-run consulting organization working with businesses across Pennsylvania and beyond on data-driven strategy problems. Advisory board oversight. All majors welcome. Real client work is the strongest consulting resume line available at Penn State. Verified via Smeal general interest organizations page.

• Management Consulted — Case Prep Resources

  Leading case interview prep platform. Use alongside Penn State consulting clubs for structured case practice. PSCO and NLCG members typically do peer case practice — supplement with Management Consulted for firm-specific case frameworks and practice cases. [⚠️ Not a Penn State-affiliated resource — independently sourced as widely used by Penn State consulting students]

Penn State’s Nittany Lion Careers platform has 1,000+ internship opportunities at any given time and a powerful on-campus recruiting program. The Penn State Small Business & Start-Up Fair is a unique annual event for students interested in entrepreneurship and emerging companies.

• Nittany Lion Careers — Primary Job & Internship Board

  Penn State’s single-system recruiting platform across all campuses. 1,000+ internship opportunities at any given time. Search by major, industry, and location. Set job alerts. On-Campus Interviewing (OCI) add-on available for $15/year — worth it if you’re targeting on-campus recruiting with major employers.

• On-Campus Interviewing (OCI) — 40+ Interview Rooms

  Penn State has 40+ private interview spaces at the Bank of America Career Services Center. Top employers conduct first-round interviews on campus. Add OCI to your Nittany Lion Careers account ($15/year) to access on-campus interview sign-ups. Finance and consulting firms actively recruit on campus at Penn State.

• Penn State Small Business & Start-Up Fair (Annual — March)

  Annual fair co-hosted with Startup Week each March. Connects students with small companies and startups local to Penn State campuses. Companies participate as guest lecturers, panelists, and resume reviewers in addition to recruiting. Strong for students interested in entrepreneurship, early-stage companies, and non-traditional career paths.

• Penn State Career Conversations Podcast

  Career podcast featuring companies like PPL, UPMC, Kohls, Allegheny Health Network, Lowe’s, and Enterprise. Use to research specific employers, understand hiring practices, and identify companies you want to target. Available through Career Services.

• LionLink — Alumni Job Shadowing & Mentorship

  Penn State alumni platform for informational interviews, job shadowing, and mentorship connections. Professors and advisors often know of less visible opportunities through LionLink. Use it alongside Nittany Lion Careers to find opportunities that never get formally posted — particularly useful for niche industries and smaller firms.

Penn State Career Services provides résumé resources and 1:1 reviews. The Smeal College of Business additionally runs its own career coaching with business-specific résumé and interview standards.

• Résumé Review — Career Services

  Drop-in or scheduled résumé review with Career Services staff. Available via Nittany Lion Careers appointment scheduling. Upload your résumé to Nittany Lion Careers before your appointment — some employers conduct direct résumé searches in the platform, so having it posted publicly (with permission) maximizes your exposure.

• Mock Interviews — Career Services

  Schedule mock interviews via Nittany Lion Careers. Both general and industry-specific formats. Employers also participate in mock interview events through Career Services each semester — check Nittany Lion Careers events for employer-hosted mock interview opportunities.

• Smeal Involvement Fairs — Fall & Spring

  The Smeal Involvement Fairs each semester are the best opportunity to meet club members, learn about Smeal organizations, and apply to the right ones before recruitment cycles close. Attend in your first week of each fall and spring semester. Most competitive Smeal clubs (PSIA, PSFS sector teams) recruit in September and January.

Penn State hosts multiple career fairs per year at University Park, including the massive Fall and Spring Career Days. Penn State’s scale — 45,000+ students at University Park — means major employers maintain active recruiting presences.

• Fall Career Days (Annual — September/October, University Park)

  Penn State’s flagship career fair. One of the largest career fairs in the country. Hundreds of employers recruiting across all majors. Register via Nittany Lion Careers. Arrive early, bring tailored résumés for each employer, and follow up within 48 hours. Fall Career Days are where most Penn State students make their first significant employer contacts.

• Spring Career Days (Annual)

  Spring career fair at University Park. Additional opportunity for students who didn’t secure fall internships/positions, and for spring graduating seniors finalizing full-time offers. Register via Nittany Lion Careers.

• Smeal Involvement Fairs — Club Recruiting

  Semi-annual fairs specifically for Smeal student organizations. The best place to meet club leaders, understand each club’s recruiting process, and begin relationships before formal application deadlines. 45+ Smeal organizations participate.

Beyond finance, Smeal has 45+ clubs covering every business discipline. The diversity and inclusion organizations have strong employer partnerships and run their own recruiting pipelines in addition to the standard Smeal channels.

• Penn State Consulting Organization (see Section 3)

  Connected to the academic NLCG program. The strongest consulting club at Penn State. See Section 3 for full detail.

• ALPFA — Association of Latino Professionals For America

  Supports Latino students pursuing business careers through networking, professional development, and mentoring. Strong employer partner network. Verified via Smeal diversity organizations page.

• NABA — National Association of Black Accountants

  Works with business firms, corporations, and Penn State alumni to place diverse candidates in accounting, finance, marketing, and management roles. Hosts the annual Netiquette conference open to all Smeal students — covers professional development and career fair preparation. Verified via Smeal diversity organizations page.

• Women in Business (WiB) at Smeal

  Increases retention of women students and faculty at Smeal. Empowers members through professional development, networking, and community. Fosters environment for women to discuss personal and professional issues in the corporate world. Verified via Smeal diversity organizations page.

• Business Fraternities — AKPsi, DSP, PBL, PCT, PSE

  Penn State hosts Alpha Kappa Psi, Delta Sigma Pi, Phi Beta Lambda, Phi Chi Theta, and Pi Sigma Epsilon co-ed business fraternities. Offer professional development, leadership experience, and alumni networking. Strong for students who want structured community alongside professional development. Verified via Smeal organizations page.

• Full Smeal Organizations Directory

  Complete directory of 45+ Smeal business organizations. Covers accounting, marketing, supply chain, hospitality, sports business, international business, sustainability, and diversity organizations. Start here to find the right fit for your specific major and career interests. Verified active page.

Penn State’s scale and alumni network produce strong outcomes across a wide range of industries. Finance and consulting placement from Smeal is competitive with peer programs.

• Penn State Career Services Outcomes & Statistics

  Career Services publishes annual outcomes data. Access through the Career Services website. Covers employment rates, top employers, industries, and salary data by college. Use to set expectations and identify which firms actively recruit Penn State students.

• Smeal Finance Alumni Placements — Annual Update

  Smeal Finance Department publishes an annual update covering student placements, alumni spotlights, and club activity. Includes specific firm placements for NLF and PSIA members. Verified active page. Use to understand the realistic range of Wall Street outcomes for Penn State finance students.

Penn State Career Services at University Park is housed in the Bank of America Career Services Center and offers drop-in, scheduled, and virtual advising. 40+ private interview rooms. Career coaches specialize by college and industry.

• Book a Career Coaching Appointment

  Schedule 1:1 career coaching appointments via Nittany Lion Careers. Mon–Fri 8am–5pm at the Bank of America Career Services Center (101 Bank of America Career Services Building, 566 Eisenhower Rd, University Park). Covers career exploration, résumé review, interview prep, job search strategy, and offer evaluation.

• Drop-In Career Advising

  Walk-in advising available during business hours. Fastest way to get quick feedback on résumés, cover letters, and career questions without a scheduled appointment. Check Career Services website for current drop-in times each semester.

• Smeal College of Business Career Services

  Dedicated career advising for Smeal business students. Industry-specific advisors with direct employer relationships in finance, consulting, accounting, and supply chain. Smeal runs its own employer recruiting events, career days, and career fair in addition to university-wide events.

• Career Pathways & Individual Career Exploration

  Penn State Career Services provides career exploration tools and assessments. Work with a career coach to explore majors, identify interests/values/skills, and develop an Individual Career Plan. Particularly useful for undeclared students or those uncertain about their career direction.

• Professional Attire Closet

  Free professional clothing resource for students preparing for interviews and networking events. Donated by the Penn State community. Access via Career Services. Removes a real financial barrier — if you need interview attire, use this before buying anything.

Penn State has one of the strongest undergraduate finance programs in the country, anchored by the Nittany Lion Fund (NLF) — over $10M AUM, one of the first student-managed funds in the nation. The PSIA → NLF pipeline is the clearest path to Wall Street from Penn State.

• Nittany Lion Fund (NLF) — $10M+ Student-Managed Fund

  One of the first student-managed investment funds in the country. $10M+ AUM, 70+ individual investors. Students make real investment decisions on equity securities. Mission: outperform the market AND educate students to obtain Wall Street careers. Entry path: join PSIA, attend meetings, then interview for NLF analyst/fund manager roles each semester. Verified active page.

• Penn State Investment Association (PSIA) — 400+ Members

  Umbrella organization for the Nittany Lion Fund. Open to all Penn State students of all majors and experience levels. 400+ students attend weekly general body meetings and sector breakout meetings. PSIA educates members on investing and Wall Street careers. At semester’s end, members can interview to become fund managers in the NLF. Verified via Smeal Finance annual update.

• Penn State Finance Society (PSFS) — Founded 2009

  Introduces students to all avenues of finance. Corporate partners include Bank of America, Vanguard, Johnson & Johnson, and Shell. Weekly meetings open to all majors. Covers finance career paths, financial modeling, markets, and current events. Eight sector teams available to interview into each semester. Email psfs.psu@gmail.com for information. Verified via Smeal Finance annual update.

• Penn State Fixed Income Association (PSFIA)

  Introduces students to fixed income markets and Wall Street careers in fixed income, rates, credit, and structured products. Strong for students targeting fixed income desks, credit research, and debt capital markets. Verified via Smeal Finance annual update.

• Penn State Wealth Management Association (PSWMA)

  Focuses on the investment and interpersonal sides of wealth management. Teaches portfolio building, relationship management, and financial planning. Brings in guest speakers including Financial Advisors working in the industry. Strong for students targeting private wealth, financial planning, and RIA careers. Verified via Smeal undergraduate organizations page.

• Penn State FinTech Group & Annual App Competition

  New FinTech club with a growing academic program. The inaugural Penn State FinTech App Competition (April 2025) awarded $8,000 in prize money judged by Goldman Sachs and Lovell Minnick Partners executives. Looking to become a nationwide competition. Includes guest lectures from Goldman Sachs FinTech IB professionals. Verified via Smeal Finance annual update.

Penn State has two distinct consulting pathways — the academic Nittany Lion Consulting Group (for-credit, real clients) and the Penn State Consulting Organization (the extracurricular club). Both are housed within the Smeal Management & Organization Department.

• Nittany Lion Consulting Group (NLCG) — Academic Program

  Student-led, faculty-supported consulting firm. Students earn academic credit as they work with real businesses on real challenges. Open to Penn State students of all majors at University Park. Sponsored by Smeal’s Management & Organization Department. Students develop structured problem-solving, client communication, and presentation skills — directly relevant to MBB recruiting. Verified active page.

• Penn State Consulting Organization (PSCO)

  Extracurricular club linked to NLCG. Focuses on preparing members for consulting careers, promoting consulting as a career path, and case interview preparation. NLCG participants are connected to PSCO for peer practice and professional development. Strong for MBB and Big Four strategy recruiting prep. Verified via NLCG page.

• Penn State Consulting Group (External Engagements)

  Student-run consulting organization working with businesses across Pennsylvania and beyond on data-driven strategy problems. Advisory board oversight. All majors welcome. Real client work is the strongest consulting resume line available at Penn State. Verified via Smeal general interest organizations page.

• Management Consulted — Case Prep Resources

  Leading case interview prep platform. Use alongside Penn State consulting clubs for structured case practice. PSCO and NLCG members typically do peer case practice — supplement with Management Consulted for firm-specific case frameworks and practice cases. [⚠️ Not a Penn State-affiliated resource — independently sourced as widely used by Penn State consulting students]

Penn State’s Nittany Lion Careers platform has 1,000+ internship opportunities at any given time and a powerful on-campus recruiting program. The Penn State Small Business & Start-Up Fair is a unique annual event for students interested in entrepreneurship and emerging companies.

• Nittany Lion Careers — Primary Job & Internship Board

  Penn State’s single-system recruiting platform across all campuses. 1,000+ internship opportunities at any given time. Search by major, industry, and location. Set job alerts. On-Campus Interviewing (OCI) add-on available for $15/year — worth it if you’re targeting on-campus recruiting with major employers.

• On-Campus Interviewing (OCI) — 40+ Interview Rooms

  Penn State has 40+ private interview spaces at the Bank of America Career Services Center. Top employers conduct first-round interviews on campus. Add OCI to your Nittany Lion Careers account ($15/year) to access on-campus interview sign-ups. Finance and consulting firms actively recruit on campus at Penn State.

• Penn State Small Business & Start-Up Fair (Annual — March)

  Annual fair co-hosted with Startup Week each March. Connects students with small companies and startups local to Penn State campuses. Companies participate as guest lecturers, panelists, and resume reviewers in addition to recruiting. Strong for students interested in entrepreneurship, early-stage companies, and non-traditional career paths.

• Penn State Career Conversations Podcast

  Career podcast featuring companies like PPL, UPMC, Kohls, Allegheny Health Network, Lowe’s, and Enterprise. Use to research specific employers, understand hiring practices, and identify companies you want to target. Available through Career Services.

• LionLink — Alumni Job Shadowing & Mentorship

  Penn State alumni platform for informational interviews, job shadowing, and mentorship connections. Professors and advisors often know of less visible opportunities through LionLink. Use it alongside Nittany Lion Careers to find opportunities that never get formally posted — particularly useful for niche industries and smaller firms.

Penn State Career Services provides résumé resources and 1:1 reviews. The Smeal College of Business additionally runs its own career coaching with business-specific résumé and interview standards.

• Résumé Review — Career Services

  Drop-in or scheduled résumé review with Career Services staff. Available via Nittany Lion Careers appointment scheduling. Upload your résumé to Nittany Lion Careers before your appointment — some employers conduct direct résumé searches in the platform, so having it posted publicly (with permission) maximizes your exposure.

• Mock Interviews — Career Services

  Schedule mock interviews via Nittany Lion Careers. Both general and industry-specific formats. Employers also participate in mock interview events through Career Services each semester — check Nittany Lion Careers events for employer-hosted mock interview opportunities.

• Smeal Involvement Fairs — Fall & Spring

  The Smeal Involvement Fairs each semester are the best opportunity to meet club members, learn about Smeal organizations, and apply to the right ones before recruitment cycles close. Attend in your first week of each fall and spring semester. Most competitive Smeal clubs (PSIA, PSFS sector teams) recruit in September and January.

Penn State hosts multiple career fairs per year at University Park, including the massive Fall and Spring Career Days. Penn State’s scale — 45,000+ students at University Park — means major employers maintain active recruiting presences.

• Fall Career Days (Annual — September/October, University Park)

  Penn State’s flagship career fair. One of the largest career fairs in the country. Hundreds of employers recruiting across all majors. Register via Nittany Lion Careers. Arrive early, bring tailored résumés for each employer, and follow up within 48 hours. Fall Career Days are where most Penn State students make their first significant employer contacts.

• Spring Career Days (Annual)

  Spring career fair at University Park. Additional opportunity for students who didn’t secure fall internships/positions, and for spring graduating seniors finalizing full-time offers. Register via Nittany Lion Careers.

• Smeal Involvement Fairs — Club Recruiting

  Semi-annual fairs specifically for Smeal student organizations. The best place to meet club leaders, understand each club’s recruiting process, and begin relationships before formal application deadlines. 45+ Smeal organizations participate.

Beyond finance, Smeal has 45+ clubs covering every business discipline. The diversity and inclusion organizations have strong employer partnerships and run their own recruiting pipelines in addition to the standard Smeal channels.

• Penn State Consulting Organization (see Section 3)

  Connected to the academic NLCG program. The strongest consulting club at Penn State. See Section 3 for full detail.

• ALPFA — Association of Latino Professionals For America

  Supports Latino students pursuing business careers through networking, professional development, and mentoring. Strong employer partner network. Verified via Smeal diversity organizations page.

• NABA — National Association of Black Accountants

  Works with business firms, corporations, and Penn State alumni to place diverse candidates in accounting, finance, marketing, and management roles. Hosts the annual Netiquette conference open to all Smeal students — covers professional development and career fair preparation. Verified via Smeal diversity organizations page.

• Women in Business (WiB) at Smeal

  Increases retention of women students and faculty at Smeal. Empowers members through professional development, networking, and community. Fosters environment for women to discuss personal and professional issues in the corporate world. Verified via Smeal diversity organizations page.

• Business Fraternities — AKPsi, DSP, PBL, PCT, PSE

  Penn State hosts Alpha Kappa Psi, Delta Sigma Pi, Phi Beta Lambda, Phi Chi Theta, and Pi Sigma Epsilon co-ed business fraternities. Offer professional development, leadership experience, and alumni networking. Strong for students who want structured community alongside professional development. Verified via Smeal organizations page.

• Full Smeal Organizations Directory

  Complete directory of 45+ Smeal business organizations. Covers accounting, marketing, supply chain, hospitality, sports business, international business, sustainability, and diversity organizations. Start here to find the right fit for your specific major and career interests. Verified active page.

Penn State’s scale and alumni network produce strong outcomes across a wide range of industries. Finance and consulting placement from Smeal is competitive with peer programs.

• Penn State Career Services Outcomes & Statistics

  Career Services publishes annual outcomes data. Access through the Career Services website. Covers employment rates, top employers, industries, and salary data by college. Use to set expectations and identify which firms actively recruit Penn State students.

• Smeal Finance Alumni Placements — Annual Update

  Smeal Finance Department publishes an annual update covering student placements, alumni spotlights, and club activity. Includes specific firm placements for NLF and PSIA members. Verified active page. Use to understand the realistic range of Wall Street outcomes for Penn State finance students.