UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- The Office of Career Services at Penn State New Kensington has scheduled six job fairs and career events for the spring semester. These student-centered activities will help recent and soon-to-be graduates get started in a career.

Leader LaunchLeader Launch is set for Friday, Jan. 29, at Penn State’s Pittsburgh Center. A professional conference for student leaders, Leader Launch is an opportunity for Penn State students from the western campuses to enhance their knowledge of transferable skills, networking and professionalism. Current students and recent alumni from New Kensington and the western campuses of Beaver, Fayette, Greater Allegheny and Shenango will be joined by business leaders in a professional conference environment. Topics included communications, goal setting, the job search process, social media, networking, business ethics, leadership, and presentation skills.

Penn State Career DaysSpring Career Days run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 9 and 10, in the Bryce Jordan Center at Penn State University Park. More than 400 national and regional employers will be recruiting in all technical and nontechnical majors. The event is the best opportunity for all Penn Staters, students and alumni, to meet with major state and national recruiters. Not only is this an excellent opportunity to gain employment, but it is a great learning experience and offers "real life" practice for professional presentation, interviewing and networking skills.

WANTPenn State students and recent graduates can get a head start on the job market at the Westmoreland Assists Native Talent (WANT) Job and Career Expo from 1 to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 23, at the Ramada Hotel and Conference Center in Greensburg. The WANT job fair is designed to link the region's students and graduates with employers and careers in Westmoreland and surrounding counties. The job fair is open to the public. More than 70 employers will be on hand, and job seekers are encouraged to bring resumes and to dress professionally.

WestPacsWestPacs is set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday, March 9, at the Monroeville Convention Center along Route 22 in Monroeville. The job fair is open to current students and graduates of two- and four-year programs. Recruiters from a wide variety of industries, including telecommunications, engineering, technologies, health care, government, human services, retail, hospitality and financial services will attend. The fair is geared to fall 2015 and spring 2016 graduates and recent alumni with program certificates and degrees in all majors. There are also many internship opportunities for current undergraduates.

Professional Etiquette DinnerThe campus is providing the keys to unlock the doors to starting a career at the annual professional etiquette dinner at 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, March 30, in the campus Conference Center. The event is designed as a workshop on proper business dinner etiquette and on best practices for networking and handling of awkward social situations. The guest speaker will present dining and business etiquette tips for the interactive dinner. The focus is how to handle an interview that includes a meal, be it an interview over lunch or networking with professionals over appetizers or dinner.

Penn State New Kensington Career DayIn conjunction with the research expo, Penn State New Kensington will host the sixth annual Career Day from noon to 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, in the Athletics Center. Career Day complements the annual Research Fair and Creative Exposition by creating new opportunities for the students and faculty to build stronger contacts with local industries through sharing of career information while also highlighting the campus' numerous research and creative activities. Representatives from more than 30 companies will discuss career options, internships and job opportunities for current students and recent graduates. Organizations attending Career Day represent a variety of fields, including business, engineering, science, information technology, psychology, marketing, administration of justice, communications, finance, accounting, social services and human services. The campus faculty is encouraged to attend as companies will focus on career paths within their organizations that relate to academic disciplines.

Registration for all events can be made by contacting Jim Shields at 724-334-6065 or xjs8@psu.edu

For more on job fairs and career events at the campus, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/StudentServices/CareerServices/29179.htm