LionLink

Join the professional networking platform exclusively for Penn Staters.

LionLink is a networking platform created specifically as a resource for Penn State alumni and students to make professional connections with other Penn Staters. It’s a bit like LinkedIn, but exclusively for Nittany Lions. Using LionLink will allow you to grow your network with fellow Penn Staters by helping you find others with similar interests and career paths.

LionLink is multi-faceted, allowing alumni to network with each other and to pay it forward by sharing career insights with current students. Students and alumni are able to build connections based on shared interests, majors, industries, geographic locations and more.

In addition, LionLink contains a great collection of resources about different aspects of professional life, from searching for opportunities to applying and interviewing for positions, and from making career shifts to transitioning out of the workforce. Consulting these resources can answer many questions, and will help you get the greatest benefit from direct consultations with Alumni Career Services staff members.

Getting the most out of LionLink

Everyone on LionLink has Penn State in common, so the platform provides an easy way to begin building professional relationships. Penn Staters join LionLink because we want to connect with other alumni and students, and we are happy to answer career questions and provide our insights.

When Penn Staters access LionLink, an easy first step is to build a profile that reflects their career and educational background. All users of LionLink are verified to be sure that the system is only accessed by alumni and students. Parents, employers, and other members of the Penn State community are welcome to join, too, but there may be limits to the scope of their access.
Once approved, alumni and students have access to a full range of tools including:

• Community: The Community page allows users to search through all members of the LionLink community. There are various filters to use to customize a search. In addition to topics such as major and industry, many of our alumni have expertise or experience in accessibility, diversity, LGBTQ, and first-generation students in regard to the workplace.
• Discussion: The discussion tab was created for the purpose of reaching out to the entire LionLink community. It is important to know that the discussion page has an approval system for every post that is sent to it. The purpose of this page is not for asking about job opportunities or internships. Rather, its job is to help get the answers to quick questions or get input from the entire community.
• Resources: The resources tab has a large amount of information available on professional development. These various pages and videos can be of much help when applying to jobs, starting new conversations, creating a résumé and more.
• Programs: These are more formalized paired mentoring programs. It is important to review the criteria and dates to determine eligibility.
• Community: These are communities based on common career backgrounds, career interests, or specific career topic. Penn Staters are welcome to join all appropriate groups, but please review criteria and dates before requesting to join a learning community.
• Share: Please use the share page to invite fellow classmates or peers to join LionLink! The platform gets better with the more Penn Staters who join.

As you build your network, focus on learning from fellow Penn Staters, rather than immediately finding career opportunities. Consider how you may be able to help others on LionLink, even if it is as simple as sending them an article or book on one of their topics of interest.

Projects

LionLink also is the home of Penn State Projects, an initiative to connect Penn State alumni to students and recent graduates through project-based work. This program enables alumni to propose limited-duration projects appropriate for current Penn State students or recent graduates. Alumni and their employers benefit by tapping into the skills of talented Penn Staters, while the students and recent graduates who work on the projects gain real-world experience to strengthen their résumés as well as professional contacts for their network. Learn More

Resources on LionLink

LionLink’s resources section has a large amount of text and video information available on professional development, including many items that can help you strengthen your resume, hone your interviewing skills, improve your LinkedIn profile, expand your professional network, and more. Reviewing these resources, and incorporating their basic suggestions as appropriate to your situation, will enable Alumni Career Services staff members to provide you with more substantive 1:1 coaching and feedback.

• LionLink Resources: Everything you need to know about using LionLink.
• Alumni Career Services Webinars: These recorded webinars delivered by the Alumni Career Services team are a great way to learn about a variety of topics.
• Alumni Career Resources: Resources to help alumni who are searching for jobs.
• Student Career Resources: Resources for current students seeking internships, co-ops, or future job opportunities.
• Résumé Resources: Sample résumés and tips for refining your résumé based on best practices.
• Cover Letter and CV Resources: Videos and written resources to help you craft a compelling cover letter.
• Interview Resources: Advice for acing interviews and resources that can help you practice interviewing online.
• Networking Resources: Insight into networking activities, including how to get started, using LinkedIn, approaching contacts and talking to recruiters.
• Career Fair Resources: Information about Penn State’s fall and spring career fairs.