myHR Archives
myHR: September 17, 2014
Career Forward: Penn Staff Pathways
Tope Ligali
“Graduating from college around the recession was a struggle,” recalls Tope Ligali. In 2010, Tope earned a bachelor’s degree from Penn State. She’d taken a job with the School District of Philadelphia, but layoffs sidetracked her public service career plans. Fortunately, Tope was able to get back on track. By signing on as Penn Jobs Center temp and building a reputation as an outstanding administrative professional, she found permanent work at Penn in a field close to her heart.
In her search for new employment, Tope clicked the “temporary admin jobs” link on the Jobs@Penn website and submitted an application to the Penn Jobs Center, managed by UA Staffing. Within a week, UA Staffing called her for an interview. Soon after that, they started to offer her assignments.
“When you’re a temp, you have something to prove,” Tope admits. So she made sure to establish a good name for herself at each assignment. For the next several months, Tope worked in Penn departments from Human Resources to the College of Liberal & Professional Studies. Her on-campus experience began opening doors. And so did her networking skills. During a stint at the Penn School of Design, Tope learned about an opening for a permanent administrative assistant in the school’s business office just one floor below her. She asked her coworkers for information about the post and wound up speaking directly to the person who would soon be her next supervisor. “I was encouraged to apply for the job, and fortunately I got it,” says Tope. “That was incredibly exciting!”
While Tope was taking a course at the Penn Graduate School of Education (GSE)—thanks to her staff member tuition benefits—job opportunities began to develop at GSE’s new Center for Minority Serving Institutions. Her professor, Marybeth Gasman, happened to be the center’s director. After class, Tope discussed her professional interest in higher education access issues with Professor Gasman, who recommended that she apply for a position. A few months later, the Center opened its new offices with Tope as administrative assistant. This role allows her to meet researchers and observe their craft. She enjoys working with Professor Gasman and others who are passionate about what they do.
With her sights on a master’s degree, Tope appreciates Penn’s employee tuition benefit along with its other educational programs. “I love that Penn always has a lecture series, talk, or a symposium that’s free and open to the public. I don’t think you can put a price tag on that.”
“I’m in the right place,” says Tope. “This is helping me to prepare for whatever my future dream job is.”
Learn more about great Penn people at the Career Forward webpage.
On November 5, Go From Overwhelmed to Leading the Life You Want
On November 5 from 4pm to 5:30pm, join Washington Post journalist Brigid Schulte and Wharton Professor Stew Friedman for From Overwhelmed to Leading the Life You Want, an inspiring discussion of today’s worklife issues. Please save the date and register now for this timely talk.
Brigid Schulte, author of Overwhelmed: Work, Love and Play When No One Has the Time, presents her personal journey along with extensive research on the pressures facing workers today, especially working parents. She offers insights and ideas that can improve your work and home life.
Stew Friedman, author of Leading the Life You Want: Skills for Integrating Work and Life and Founding Director of the Wharton Work/Life Integration Project, takes a practical, sustainable and enriching approach to the “work/life balance” question. He shares real-life examples of creating harmony between work, home, community, and the private self.
This free event is sponsored by Human Resources with the support of the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty, the Penn Women's Center, the Graduate Student Center, the Penn Forum for Women Faculty, the Wharton Work/Life Integration Project, the Perelman School of Medicine's FOCUS on Health & Leadership for Women, and Care.com.
Pre-registration is required. Faculty and staff can register online through Human Resources’ Event Registration.
For more information on this and other worklife programs, visit Penn’s Work and Life website or call 215-898-7729.
Learn to Coach, Coach to Succeed
When your team members succeed, you succeed. That’s why effective managers support their direct reports with coaching. Through coaching, you can help coworkers overcome obstacles and reach new heights. If you’re new to coaching or you would like to build your skills, register for the American Management Association’s Coaching: A Strategic Tool for Effective Leadership program. This highly-rated, practical course gives you the tools you need to guide others toward better performance.
The next Coaching: A Strategic Tool for Effective Leadership sessions will take place on October 29 and 30 from 9am to 5pm in Penn’s Learning and Education classroom located at 3624 Market Street. In this two-day seminar, you’ll learn how to uncover the root causes of substandard workplace performance, create a positive learning environment, give useful feedback, and handle difficult responses and attitudes. Plus you’ll gain new awareness of your personal communication and leadership habits and preferences.
Advanced registration is required and space is limited, so register online soon. Your department will be charged a nominal fee of $75 for the complete course when you register.
For more information on upcoming management classes, workshops and other educational opportunities, visit the Learning and Development website.
Did You Know?
To help you stay on track for a secure retirement, Penn Benefits will host Save for Retirement Week investment and financial literacy sessions from October 21 to October 23.