Stories from the Desk of Career Development
This page features articles showcasing student success stories, student-led events, and career readiness competencies in action. These articles highlight the real-world impact of Career Development initiatives and provide insight into how students are preparing for future careers through hands-on experiences.
Chatham Students Shine at the Fall Mixer
The survey numbers from the Fall 2025 Job and Internship Mixer tell a clear story: students are more prepared for professional networking than they think. Nearly all employers strongly agreed that the event met their expectations, and most noted that students demonstrated the kinds of skills and confidence needed in the workplace.
Evening Bite and Career Insights with Allegheny Health Network
On September 23rd, the Chatham Pre-PA Club hosted Allegheny Health Network (AHN) on campus to help students improve their resume for healthcare related jobs and valuable interview tips. Keep reading to hear more about the event from Piper Young, President of Pre-PA Club, and Nicholas Joseph, Early Careers Talent Recruiter from AHN.
The Power of “I Don’t Know”: How to Navigate Uncertainty in Networking and Interviews
In professional environments, few phrases feel as intimidating as “I don’t know.” Many people fear that admitting uncertainty signals a lack of preparation or competence. Yet, in reality, acknowledging what you don’t know, when done thoughtfully, can enhance your credibility, demonstrate self-awareness, and position you as a problem-solver. Whether you’re building connections through networking, interviewing for a position, or advancing in your career, the way you respond to uncertainty can shape how others perceive your professionalism and preparedness.
Summer of Success: Stories from Chatham Interns
Many Chatham students spent this past summer semester completing an internship. These internships allow students the chance to engage with future careers paths and explore their interests outside of the classroom. Students find that this experiential learning can often solidify their future professional choices, and are extremely useful in preparing them to continue building their skillset and knowledge.
From First Handshake to First Job: A Networking Mixer Success Story
One of the best outcomes of the Networking Mixer is when connections become careers. As a close partner of Career Development that has attended many of our mixers, no one understands that better the Nick and Mike Carnicella of Transitional Options, Inc.
Beyond the Rainbow Logo: How Carnegie Museums Affirms LGBTQIA+ Employees and Identities
By highlighting Queer voices at all levels and ensuring visible inclusion at many leadership levels, Carnegie Museums is leading the way in what it means to be an advocate all year round
Chatham Interns Continue to Impress
The conclusion of Spring 2025 internship evaluations reflect continued excellence from Chatham University students in real-world settings. Students reported overwhelmingly positive experiences across measurable core competencies, with the highest ratings concentrated in teamwork, professionalism, and workplace technology. Supervisors echoed this positive feedback, citing Chatham interns’ preparedness, adaptability, and professional maturity.
Chatham University’s Spring Job and Internship Mixer: A Catalyst for Student Success
On April 2nd, Chatham University’s Career Development Office (CDO) hosted its biannual Spring Job and Internship Mixer, bringing together ambitious students and dynamic employers for a day of networking, opportunity, and professional growth. With an atmosphere that buzzed with purpose, students like Gage Bertovich (‘25) stepped into Athletic & Fitness Center ready to make connections that could shape their futures.
Suited for Success: Stop & Shop Empowers Chatham Students with Professional Attire
On February 21st, Chatham University students had the opportunity to take a significant step toward their professional futures at the Suited for Success: Stop & Shop event. Hosted in collaboration with Dress for Success Pittsburgh, this initiative provided students with free business attire and personal care items, helping them feel prepared and confident for upcoming job interviews, internships, and professional events.
Spencer Jenkins Shares His Experience as the Student Assistant for Design in Career Development
At the Office of Career Development, supporting the growth of our student employees is a key focus. Through personalized mentorship, goal setting, and a foundation of trust, Career Development helps students boost their confidence, strengthen their leadership abilities, and cultivate essential career readiness skills. Explore Spencer Jenkins’ journey as a Student Assistant for Design and discover how the knowledge and experiences he’s gained are shaping his path forward after Chatham.
Career Development Partners with Chatham Marketing Association to Create Successful ‘Resume Roast’ Event
After the success of the Resume Roast event on January 29, Olivia Harris interviewed Chatham Marketing Association (CMA) co-presidents Kylin Rosnick ‘25 (left) and Abby Musser ‘25 (right). Kylin is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in International Business, and Abby is pursuing a Master of Business Administration in Project Management. Read their answers below!
Hannah Fischer Shares Her Journey as the Student Assistant for Employer Engagement in Career Development
At the Office of Career Development, the growth of our student employees is a top priority. By providing personalized guidance, setting meaningful goals, and fostering a foundation of trust, Career Development empowers students to build confidence, enhance their leadership skills, and develop critical career readiness competencies. Dive into Hannah’s journey as the Student Assistant for Employer Engagement and learn how the valuable insights and experiences she’s gained are paving the way for her future beyond Chatham.
Mercy Nyoni Reflects on Her Experience as a Graduate Associate in the Office of Career Development
The Office of Career Development prioritizes the professional growth and development of all its student employees. Through intentional supervision, goal setting, and deep trust, Career Development helps students become more confident, grow their leadership abilities, and master essential career readiness skills. Read about Mercy’s transformative experience as a Graduate Associate in Career Development and discover how the lessons she’s learned will shape her next steps after Chatham.
Welcoming Grace Conde, Assistant Director of Experiential Learning, to Career Development
The Office of Career Development is excited to welcome Grace Conde to the position of Assistant Director of Experiential Learning. Grace is a graduate of the University of Vermont and holds proficiency in both French and Russian. She previously served the Office of Career Development as the Student Employment Assistant. We are excited to see what Grace will achieve in her new role!
How Working at Career Development has Helped Our Career Readiness
The Student Assistant team at the Office of Career Development has gained invaluable experiences that have significantly contributed to their career readiness. In a recent interview conducted by Olivia Harris, the Student Assistant for Student Outreach, she delves into how working in this dynamic environment has shaped her professional skills and growth. Through conversations with her fellow Student Assistants, Olivia provides unique insights into how their roles have helped them build critical abilities such as communication, leadership, and problem-solving—skills that are essential as they prepare for their future careers.
Confident Voices: How Impromptu Interview and Chatham Honors Students Impressed Employers
Hannah Fischer, Student Assistant for Employer Engagement, partnered with Chatham Honors Program for Impromptu Interview this Fall 2024 semester. Many of the students in the honors program are pursuing humanities-focused majors, which helped decide which employers to invite to Impromptu Interview. This year the office had the privilege of welcoming Terra Teets and Lisa Morse with Literacy Pittsburgh, and Erin Pace with Artists Image Resource (AIR) to campus.
How I Prepared for My First “High Stakes” Interviews and Tips I Learned Post-Interview
Olivia Harris, Student Assistant for Student Outreach, discusses her experiences with high-stakes interviews for dream internships and jobs that align with her career goals. She emphasizes the importance of thorough preparation, particularly in providing in-depth answers that highlight the impact of her actions. Harris encourages candidates to ask insightful questions that demonstrate genuine interest in the company and position, such as the career paths of past interns and the office culture..
Welcoming Joshua Zeigler, the Assistant Director of Employer Relations, to Career Development
Joshua Ziegler, better known around the office as ‘Josh’, graduated from the Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania with a Master of Arts in Student Affairs in Higher Education. At Slippery Rock University, he received two awards, the Swope Citizenship Award, and The Baton, both recognizing his outstanding leadership skills. We are excited for Josh to bring his skills and personality to this office!
Chatham Interns Are Highly Competitive
This report examines the key strengths of interns based on assessments by their employers, with a particular emphasis on employers who were engaging with Chatham students for the first time. Impressively, 79 out of 86 first-time employers indicated their interest in hosting another intern from the school in the future, indicating a high satisfaction level with the interns' work.
Spring 2024 & Summer 2024 Internship Spotlight
Internships offer invaluable opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience and develop professional skills. Internships also help a student decide if the field or industry is what they would like to continue to pursue. Three students, Alyssa, Maddie, and Hannah, shared their internship experiences and highlighted the lessons they learned and the impact on their future careers.