MALVERN, Pa. — Jessie Whiteman needed a change. She had had a successful career in human resources in the retail industry for 20 years, but the demanding schedule left her with little free time.
“I had missed out on opportunities, and one of those was to continue my education and earn another degree. So that was the decision I made, to go back and redesign what the path was going to look like going forward,” she said.
Whiteman said she wanted to continue working in HR and employee relations in a different industry, and she knew an MBA offered the kind of broad business education she needed. She had earned her undergraduate degree at Penn State University Park and chose Great Valley for her MBA.
Whiteman’s first class was in statistics, and she found it so challenging that she questioned her decision to pursue a graduate degree.
“I felt like I had no business in the program,” she said. She remembered looking at her classmates and thinking, “I do not belong here at all.”
But when another student asked her, “Is any of this making sense to you?” Whiteman said she realized she wasn’t the only one struggling to understand the material.
“I started to feel like I do belong here, and we’re all learning together. I started to get more comfortable asking questions,” Whiteman said. She discovered other students could help her based on their strengths, and she could return the favor, she added.
As she and her classmates supported each other, Whiteman started to enjoy her classes, and one of her favorites focused on positive organizational behavior and well-being.
“When we have a workforce that is thriving in all parts of their lives, that is going to only enhance and build the success of the organization,” Whiteman reflected. “It comes back to taking good care of the people who are working in your organization.”
The class reinforced Whiteman’s desire to work in employee relations and support people, she said, similar to what she had done in retail leadership, but in a new sector.
“I wanted to get into different industries, and primarily I focused on health care, public service and higher education. That’s where I set my sights,” she said.
To reach that goal, Whiteman took advantage of Great Valley’s career services and participated in the Penn State Alumni Association’s My Career Transitions program, which brought in speakers with tips on resume writing, interviewing and networking.
“I gained so much value from that,” Whiteman said. She also benefited from attending Penn State’s Global Careers Institute, a professional development program designed to help both international and domestic students succeed in the global marketplace. Great Valley hosted last year’s event for graduate students.
“As a mid-career professional, I found it truly inspiring to hear from the speakers about how career paths are not always linear and can take unexpected twists and turns, building strengths along the journey and ultimately leading to success,” Whiteman said. She felt confirmed in her decision to pivot, as many of the speakers had done. The event reassured her: “I am doing what I'm meant to do, and I am on the right path,” she said.
Whiteman didn’t have to wait long for more reassurance.
“Right around the time that we had the Global Careers Institute, I ended up getting three job offers, one from each of the industries that I had set my sights on — which blew my mind,” she said. She accepted an employee relations analyst position in the public sector and started her new job last October, just before she completed her MBA in December.
“Coming into the public sector, I have tons of learning to do,” she said, comparing it to how much she had to learn in her more challenging MBA classes. She shared that her supervisors have told her they appreciate the questions she asks, which are especially important in her field for analyzing employees’ performance or behavioral changes.
“We have to ask the right questions to understand what's going on with that person, and at times there's something that ties back to their physical or their mental well-being that is contributing to the performance issues,” she said. She often connects employees with support resources to help them with personal problems and enable them to succeed at work.
“One of my favorite things to do in employee relations is problem-solve for both sides, so for management and for the employees, so that we get the best possible outcome for everyone who is involved,” she said. “That’s really what I love — helping people, problem-solving and supporting a healthy and thriving work environment.”
Whiteman named three MBA classes that have been especially useful in her new job. She took an ethics course that helped her understand how critical ethical leadership is and how to avoid unethical business practices. She appreciated her diversity and inclusion course, which she said prepared her to be more objective in fulfilling her work responsibilities.
“There seems to be a need for a lot more work on understanding unconscious biases and kind of rewiring people to think more inclusively,” she said. “Many organizations would function at a higher level if they invested in this.”
And Whiteman referenced her positive organizational behavior and well-being course, which she draws upon to help employees thrive.
“I use the information from those classes every single day,” she said. “I like to see people thrive in the workplace and feel like they're a part of something big. … Every time I was at Penn State, I felt like I was part of something big and felt like people had my back and supported what I was doing. And I think that whatever you are a part of, that is essential for positive outcomes.”
At Penn State Great Valley’s commencement ceremony in May, Whiteman received the outstanding achievement award in business administration. As much as she values her education and the award, she said she especially values her friendships with professors and classmates and her overall experience, including attending campus events and serving as a student ambassador and a member of the Great Valley Diversity Action Council.
“I did so much more than earn the degree,” she said. “That's what I'm most proud of, is walking away with lasting relationships and an experience that is going to stay in my heart forever.”
How to stand out in a competitive job market
Whiteman shared seven tips she learned from the Alumni Association’s My Career Transitions program:
- Research organizations you want to work for and choose at least eight as your targets. Set job alerts or bookmark their careers webpages so you can check for new postings daily.
- Post on LinkedIn regularly to make yourself more visible in your connections’ feeds. Share tips and articles that pertain to your target roles.
- Find natural ways in your LinkedIn posts to tag people in your network who are likely to reply. Tagging others expands the reach of your post, which leads to more views.
- Make your LinkedIn headline a concise summary of what you stand for, with keywords related to your desired role. Use vertical bars to break up sections and stars to add visual interest.
- When you reach out to connect with people, state a specific purpose and your willingness to reciprocate. For example, “I’m looking to build my network in your industry, and I’m wondering if you know of any openings. If I can ever help you in any way, please let me know.”
- Create a personal business card at a local print shop or online and hand it out at networking events. Include a QR code that goes to your LinkedIn profile or online portfolio.
- Keep a job search journal to track your networking activities, applications and contact with recruiters so you can stay organized and follow up appropriately. This practice can generate new ideas and remind you how much work you are investing, helping you feel encouraged.