Secrets of getting the job revealed by Philadelphia employers at Peirce College event

SECRETS TO SUCCESS: Philadelphia employers
share advice for how to land the job

It’s extremely rare that you get to hear from the people who decide what can make or break an interview, or even keep you from ever getting your foot in the door. But those secrets were revealed for all at a recent event hosted by Peirce’s Career Development Services.

Have you ever wondered how to make a great impression on an employer? Or wanted to know why you got passed up for a job that seemed like the perfect match for your skills and experience? What if you’ve been in the same industry for 20 years but are thinking about a career transition -- where do you start?

Employers from across the Philadelphia region answered these questions and more at our recent Human Resources Panel Discussion. We want to arm you with the skills you need to translate your career-related degree into a job. That’s why we brought in the people who can best answer all of your questions about landing the job -- the employers! Here’s who we heard from:

• Vaneeda McDonald-Clyburn, Manager of Labor Relations, Philadelphia Gas Works (Peirce ‘06)
• Karl Fritz, Director of Business Operations, Philadelphia Zoo (Peirce ‘06)
• Deb Weinstein, Vice President of Human Resources, GlaxoSmithKline
• Barry James, Technical Support Manager, Osisoft (Peirce ’83 and ’07)
• Kelly Davis, Information Systems Program Manager, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia 
• Tiffanie McFadden, HR Director, Cintas Corporation 
• Chris Solecki, Director of Human Resources and Legal Affairs, Givnish Family Funeral Home

Our panel talked about employers’ expectations; what they look for in a cover letter, resume, and during the interview; and the skills employees need to remain competitive in the workplace. Attendees asked questions and heard advice on career change, being laid-off, and how to improve your job search and stand out from the crowd of job seekers.

And here’s some good news for anyone who missed it -- we captured it all on camera! Want to learn how to stand out from other job candidates? Watch the video below for highlights from our HR Panel Discussion.



What we heard loud and clear from our employer panel was the importance of being targeted and strategic in everything you do. The job search can be a daunting process, but when the time is right and the opportunity is the right match, it will work out! So be patient, be strategic, and don’t forget to use all of the resources at your fingertips.