PHILADELPHIA--Resume pitfalls, interview faux pas, and using one’s myspace page to land a job were the topics of conversation for 33 juniors from Carver High School of Engineering and Science, Philadelphia, who recently spent the day honing their job seeking skills as of the part of the “Inside with Intel” job workshop sponsored by the Information Technology and Society Research Group (ITSRG) at Temple University with additional volunteer support  from graduate students from the Geography and Urban Studies program at Temple.

The “Inside with Intel” workshop is one of a series of job-skills workshops created by ITSRG in conjunction with Philadelphia-area Intel employees. These workshops are designed to give students the opportunity to learn from and network with local IT industry executives and to ask questions in a small, informal, group atmosphere.

The event is part of ITSRG's larger mission to provide avenues for local high school students to  explore and enter careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Medicine fields (or “STEM”) fields.

ITSRG sponsors an ongoing National Science Foundation-funded after-school program and a summer intensive experience for Philadelphia-area high-school students to encourage women and minority students to purse degrees and careers in STEM fields, which traditionally have remained close to women and minority students.

Currently, the Philadelphia region lags behind the nation in training its high-school students to enter college in careers in science and technology despite the growing need for science and technology workers.

Intel provided a team of eight employees through a company- sponsored community-volunteer program, which provides company time for its employees to volunteer in their communities throughout the year.

Intel was a natural fit to lead the workshop.  The company has made significant investments to grow its own workforce diversity program and had been consistently listed among Fortune Magazine's 100 Best Companies to Work For.

The day long event was attended by juniors from Carver High School, a magnet school focused on science and technology. The juniors will use the skills and tips from the workshop and apply them to their own upcoming internship experiences.  "I liked how these workshops gave me a feel of what I need to prepare for a job," noted a student at the end of the day.

The Intel participants spent the day running small workshops for students on topics such as how to create competitive resume; how to build personal networks to find a job; and what employers are looking for in an employee. Students also spent time learning how to use social-networking sites such as Myspace and Facebook to increase their chances of finding a job and providing a positive face to potential employers. "Employers look at Myspace and Facebook pages to see what kind of an employee you would be, noted one presenter. Show them a positive face. Make these pages work for you and not against you."

Students also spent time practicing their interview skills with real industry leaders and gaining valuable feedback as to what to say and how to interact in a corporate environment. "We learned from real workers rather than someone who just read us resources,” reported one participating student. “I appreciated that workshop more because it was a life skill," added another.

Carver students got the chance to offer their own feedback to the Intel presenters during one workshop designed to showcase Intel's innovation. As part of the workshop, the students provided product feedback on some of Intel's products that are currently in development. "I enjoyed how we got to interact with the workers from Intel and test some of their products," said a student.

Two other workshops focused on acquainting students with the Intel technology and the paths that the various employees at have taken over the years. Several presenters shared how they started their careers as engineers and have moved onto jobs as trainers or sales persons for Intel highlighting the variety of opportunities open to students who pursue STEM careers. "I really enjoyed myself and I learned a lot about Intel that I didn't know before," said one student.

For more information on upcoming workshops, industry volunteer opportunities, or more information about ITSRG please contact Caroline Guigar, ITSRG Program Coordinator at makati@temple.edu. Originally posted on 3/26/08.

Caroline Guigar
Temple University