“Everything worked out the way it was supposed to,” says Fiona Langan, a recent graduate from the University of Pittsburgh.

Majoring in Computational Social Science, with a minor in Law, Criminal Justice, and Society, Fiona graduated in the Spring of 2025 with new knowledge, and, perhaps most notably, new connections. 

During her sophomore year, Fiona joined Pitt Digital’s Tech Ambassadors program. In this student facing role, she spent nearly three years helping her peers navigate the technologies and resources available to them through the university’s technology services.

But Fiona’s most transformative experiences came from the place students often find the most intimidating: the Career & Internship Fair.

As part of her position as a Tech Ambassador, Fiona was able to serve as an escort at the Career & Internship Fair. During the three-day event, Fiona had the privilege of getting one-on-one interaction with recruiters along with early access to the fair.

Through this experience, Fiona met a recruiter for GuidePoint Security, where she made a strong impression that ultimately led to an internship offer. In a full-circle moment, Fiona returned to the next Career Fair on the other side of the table. Representing GuidePoint, Fiona stood in the exact spot where she once introduced herself as an internship seeker.

Fiona left her mark at this fair too. At the SCI recruiter breakfast, she struck up conversation with recruiters from a big four consulting firm who gave her some insight about the company and connected her with a position that suited her interests in political science, information science, and risk management. What began as a curious conversation with an alumnus soon became a career-defining moment that led Fiona to her upcoming role. She was sure to touch base with them at the fair, and started the application process soon after.

This January Fiona began in her new position as an analyst for public and government sectors at the firm she initially met at the networking event and fair. Stepping into this role with confidence and gratitude, she is excited to learn new things as she works on different projects and certifications. She looks forward to returning to in-person collaboration and traveling opportunities included in a position she has always aspired to have.

Fiona credits the success of her journey to networking and emphasizes how valuable consistency, confidence, and preparation are in shaping her path. She encourages students to prepare for networking events and fairs by researching companies, updating and printing resumes, and being ready to engage in meaningful connections with recruiters. Thankfully, the Career Center makes all of this information easily accessible in Handshake. 

Don’t wait for connections to come to you. Join us for the Spring 2026 Career & Internship Fair on February 17-19 to experience the defining moments that led Fiona where she is today!

by Madison Bozik

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Barrak Wali was in his fourth year of studying Biology at the University of Pittsburgh and on track to graduate.  He had always intended to go to medical school to become a doctor when he finally decided to confront the difficult truth. The path he was following no longer felt like the right one.

Like many students entering Pitt, Barrak arrived with a clear goal in mind. He respected the healthcare field and was committed to becoming a doctor. For four years, he had immersed himself in biology and the pre-med track, took advice from family in the medical field, and pushed himself academically so the hard work could pay off.

“I realized that while I was working hard and aiming for medicine, my efforts weren’t aligned with what I was truly passionate about,” Barrak reflected.

Alongside his biology major, Barrak had been taking economics classes as a minor. Those classes sparked a new curiosity and introduced him to a different way of thinking about his future.

The realization didn’t come easily, though. Barrak describes last year as a “storm”: A time filled with uncertainty and pressure to figure out his future. Although he had some friends in finance and related fields, Barrak lacked the roadmap he once had in healthcare. The world of economics had many directions, and he did not know where to start.

That’s when Barrak decided to visit the Career Center.

“I honestly didn’t think it would be very helpful at first,” Barrak admitted. He met with Career Consultant Erin Wheeler just before his fall semester began, and she quickly changed his perception. Erin was the first person to give him the push to make the jump to Economics. She gave him guidance and resources to help him create a clear path.

“He had a true go-getter attitude. He was very personable, easy-going, and curious,” recalled Erin. “He was excited about what could be next. He saw a new road that he hadn’t thought about before and learned that his medical knowledge could be a catapult rather than a challenge when transitioning into economics,”

Since then, Barrak has returned to the Career Center many times. At one point he was stopping nearly every day. He met other students, attended workshops, made plans for his future, and worked closely with Erin to build his very first resume, cover letters, LinkedIn, and Handshake profiles. With Erin’s help, and the connections from his career advisor, Barrak finally felt more confident in his path forward.

One of the most impactful moments came during the Fall Career & Internship Fair. As a new economics major, Barrak initially felt behind, especially when comparing himself to students who had been in the major for years. He had never interacted with recruiters before. Still, he came prepared. He researched the companies and employers attending, made notes, and brought copies of his resume. Barrak went into the fair feeling confident and excited to see what employers thought of him.

After attending all three days of the Fall Career & Internship fair, Barrak continued to apply for positions and attend other events and workshops. While he hasn’t landed his ideal role yet, he is staying persistent and using each application and conversation as a means for growth.

This spring, Barrak secured an internship at the City of Pittsburgh’s Department of City Planning, where he will work in economic development. The role allows him to apply his background in economics in a real-world setting while exploring the intersection of business, policy, and community.

Barrak is excited to continue learning about himself academically as he finishes his bachelors of science degrees in Economics and Biological Sciences. He looks forward to using the Career Center to stay on track with the plan he built alongside Erin and to seek guidance whenever new questions arise. He dreams of finding a position where he can combine his love for healthcare with his growing expertise in economics.

Story by Madison Bozik

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Finding an internship can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re unsure where to begin. For junior Lana Elsehemi, the Career Center became a key partner in turning uncertainty into confidence and ultimately, into multiple internship offers.

Lana is double majoring in English Writing (Fiction) and Public and Professional Writing with a minor in Poetry.

Despite being active in student publications like Cherry Bomb and Blending Magazine, the internship search initially felt daunting. “When I began my internship search, I was completely lost on how to even start my resume and which experiences were necessary to include,” she shared.

After connecting with Pitt’s Career Center, Lana worked closely with Experiential Learning Consultant Gabby Brumond to strengthen her application materials and develop a clear strategy. “The Career Center helped me prioritize and highlight my strongest experiences while keeping everything within a single page,” she said. The support included resume and cover letter guidance, worksheets, and interview preparation. “They were patient and provided helpful worksheets as grounding tools, then met with me on multiple occasions to polish everything together.”

That preparation paid off! This January, Lana will begin a hybrid internship with Autumn House Press. “Preparing my materials and practicing for interviews made me feel much more confident, which ultimately helped me secure my internship,” she said. The twist? This wasn’t her only offer. “The Career Center really helped me refine myself as a strong candidate for my internship. In fact, I received a second offer as well, so the Career Center clearly worked very well.”

Beyond landing the internship, Lana says the experience reshaped how she approaches professional development. “I have become more confident and learned that a longer resume does not necessarily mean a better one,” she reflected.

Students looking to take the next step in their internship search can attend Internship Week, January 26–29, hosted by the Career Center. The week offers workshops and resources to help students prepare application materials and explore internship opportunities.

Her advice for other students is simple: “Go as soon as possible! Update your resume and draft your cover letter early… The first time is the hardest, but once it’s done, it’s done, so I highly recommend taking the time while you still can.”

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Henryque Alles Diehl, a Pitt senior from southern Brazil was fascinated by human behavior and mental health. After high school, he started studying Psychology at a school near home.    

“I found myself increasingly drawn to the tangible world of neurons and synapses, to the idea that electrical and chemical properties could govern our ability to learn and remember,” Henryque recalls. This led him to look further and make the switch from Psychology to Neuroscience. 

Henryque gravitated towards Pitt because of its highly ranked Department of Neuroscience. Joined by his increasing feelings of ambition, Henryque felt a sense of uncertainty about what may lay ahead in a new country.  

Navigating his new life and studies in a country that was unfamiliar to him was exciting yet intimidating to Henryque. Seeking guidance about conducting independent research, he turned to the Career Center. Ingrid Beute, a Career Consultant for STEM majors, related to him because she had also been an international student in college. She helped Henryque organize his ideas and goals and even offered new insights that he hadn’t thought of before.  

Reflecting on his first meeting with Ingrid, Henryque says it “made a difference to my journey, since it strengthened a sense of direction in me and made me feel comfortable reaching out again whenever I needed feedback on my plans or just a qualified second opinion.” 

“The Career Center serves as an integrated hub—an accessible place where you can find initial direction and return to whenever you need guidance in shaping your career path.” 

Ingrid has continued to guide Henryque through his academic journey. Together, they refined his two-year plan for applying to PhD programs and strengthened his Curriculum Vitae using Career Center templates. Ingrid also introduced him to the Grad School Toolkit, which helped him organize his grad school applications and craft strong statements of purpose. Henryque credits these Career Center resources, along with Ingrid’s mentorship, as key factors in his success.  

Henryque is now in his last year of undergrad conducting research at the Schlüter Lab and was awarded an Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship to pursue his own project. Ingrid describes him as “highly self-directed, inquisitive, and thoughtful in both his academic pursuits and long-term career planning.” She added, “Henryque has the ability to turn challenges into opportunities, and with his perseverance and motivation to succeed, along with understanding and utilizing the value in reaching out to networks and resources and professional development initiatives, Henryque has a very exciting journey ahead of him!  

As Henryque continues to prepare for grad school and advance his research, he remains grateful to the people and experiences that helped him. Looking ahead, Henryque hopes to one day teach and run his own lab so he can inspire others to pursue the same curiosity that drives him. His story reflects not only academic excellence but seeking guidance and embracing new experiences. The Career Center offers the same guidance that helps students like Henryque. Whether you’re exploring graduate schools, connecting with professionals, or achieving new research opportunities, the Career Center is here to support you! 

Story by Madison Bozik

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Ramsey Smith came to Pitt as a student who seemed to have it all figured out. A double major in Chemical Engineering and Biological Sciences with excellent grades, Ramsey was prepared, focused, and ambitious. He landed a summer internship with a pharmaceutical company after his freshman year. Naturally, he thought that finding the next one would be easy, but he was wrong.

Ramsey knew that he needed to work hard to be competitive for the global pharmaceutical internships he was interested in, but he couldn’t do that by simply having experience and good grades. He needed the Career & Internship Fair and Handshake. To prepare, Ramsey knew that he needed to make himself stand out from his classmates.

He did this by planning out his time at the fair with every global pharmaceutical company in attendance. He did extensive research on these companies: learning about opportunities on Handshake, researching their websites, identifying skills required for their positions, and even reaching out to Pitt alumni on LinkedIn to get inside knowledge on company culture.

This preparation paid off when he met a Merck & Co, Inc. recruiter who was impressed by the information Ramsey knew, like how Merck’s West Point location outside of Philadelphia was primarily a vaccine manufacturing hub. Ramsey left this conversation with a feeling of confidence, and the recruiter left remembering an eager student who took interest in the details of their company.

Ultimately, Ramsey interviewed for a Merck internship that year but did not get the position. Instead of giving up, he continued applying to roles at other companies and secured a great opportunity at GSK. He credits this summer for helping him develop critical skills in digital transformation and lab automation.

When he got to campus for his third year, not only was his resume stronger—he already knew about Merck’s recruiting process because of his contact from the Career & Internship Fair. This is where Handshake comes in. Through the Handshake app, Ramsey was able to get messages from recruiters, learn about new opportunities, and get updates about which companies were attending at the fairs. Through Handshake, Ramsey was able to connect with the same recruiter he met the previous year.

The fact is this: Ramsey would not have landed this job if he hadn’t attended the Career & Internship Fair his sophomore year. He wouldn’t have made a lasting impression on the Merck recruiter if he had not done his research on the company. He wouldn’t have reconnected with this recruiter if he had not made an effort on Handshake to stay up to date on opportunities. “I owe my job at Merck to the career fairs, resources, and advisors at Pitt,” Ramsey says.

FAIR NOTE: Merck & Co., Inc. will be at the Fall Career & Internship Fair on September 16, 2025 at Booth 208.

Story by Madison Bozik.

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