CS Radio - The Official Podcast of University of Pennsylvania Career Services

The entire CS Radio family has gathered for the holidays! Michael, Natty, Dustin and Lorna reflect on the past year and discuss the best ways to spend winter break on your job search while still having restful downtime. Also, Lorna sheds some light on what students consider "coffee chats" to be versus what Career Services staff thinks!Happy holidays from everyone at Career Services! We'll be back in 2026! Our theme music is “The Strip” by Mala, used under a Creative Commons Attribution license.CS Radio is also available as a video podcast! Visit our YouTube channel to watch!

On this week's CS Radio, Michael asks Natty about what "hot topics" he's been hearing in student appointments, and both reflect on what the Career Services staff have been discussing around the office. Topics covered include early recruiting, GRIP applications, balancing class schedules with recruiting and more.Mentioned in this episode:GRIP - https://global.upenn.edu/pennabroad/grip/ Our theme music is “The Strip” by Mala, used under a Creative Commons Attribution license.CS Radio is also available as a video podcast! Visit our YouTube channel to watch!

Michael and Natty welcome College senior Mtab Habib, one of our Peer Career Advisors, about her experiences as a first gen student.Mtab Habib (she/her/hers) is currently a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences studying Health and Societies, concentrating in Healthcare Markets and Finance, and minoring in Neuroscience and Healthcare Management. She has a strong interest in public health and healthcare reform, cultivated through coursework and her past internship experiences. Mtab has previously worked as a Research Assistant in a molecular biology lab, a Private Equity Summer Intern at Hamilton Lane, and a Summer Analyst at Chartis. After graduating this spring, she will be returning to Chartis in New York City as a full-time Analyst.On campus, Mtab is deeply involved in the First Generation-Low Income Dean’s Advisory Board and the DEI committee for her sorority. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, yoga, reading new books, and thrifting with her friends. Our theme music is “The Strip” by Mala, used under a Creative Commons Attribution license.CS Radio is also available as a video podcast! Visit our YouTube channel to watch!

This week, we're honored to interview College of Arts & Sciences alumna Randi Michel about her career journey. From Penn undergrad to the mail room to becoming a top manager-producer and then back to Penn again as a lecturer, Randi shares advice about how to leverage your Penn network to break into the industry of your choice!Talent Manager and Emmy Award-winning Producer (“Bessie” starring Queen Latifah for HBO) Randi Michel’s next film projects are:  producing two projects with client Queen Latifah and The Henson Company- the animated film “The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear”, based on the fantasy novel by popular German author- illustrator Walter Moers, and the globe-trotting family comedy “We’re The Hendersons” starring Latifah.Randi is also producing with client Travis Scott  "Chopped & Screwed" for his Cactus Jack label based on the life of DJ Screw, the legendary Houston D.J.  She also put together a comedy series that sold to Apple starring Smartless co-host Sean Hayes and written by “Bad Sisters” writer-producers Brett Baer and Dave Finkel to be Executive Produced by Ben Stiller.  Some of Randi’s other notable clients are: global movie star John Travolta, Jenna Elfman, Devon Sawa, Gina Gershon, Colton Underwood, Saudi comedy star Ibrahim Al Hajjaj, and Italian newcomer Manfredi Marini.  When client and Legendary Astronaut Buzz Aldrin celebrated 50+ years of walking on the moon- Randi closed an array of endorsement campaigns for him with Omega watches, IBM, YouTube for Major League Baseball and Verizon.  Randi is also involved in the film communities of Saudi Arabia and Southeast Asia, and a member of the PGA and BAFTA.Randi heads up the New York office of management-production company Artists First.  She has been featured on both The Hollywood Reporter and Variety Industry Power Lists.Randi started in the industry in the famous William Morris Agency mailroom. She was the youngest Agent Trainee to be promoted to agent, and the youngest to be given an agency contract. She went on to be a Partner at WME, and after 22 years at the agency became a manager/producer for her clients.Randi is a graduate of Beverly Hills High School and the University of Pennsylvania, where she is Faculty in two schools:  Visiting Lecturer in Cinema & Media Studies in the College of Arts & Sciences, and Lecturer in the new Master of Communication and Media Industries graduate program at the Annenberg School for Communication.Randi has been active at Penn as a leader and mentor since graduating.  She serves on the Director’s Advisory Council of Penn Live Arts, the University of Pennsylvania’s home for the performing arts.She is a founding member of Penn Arts & Sciences Professional Women’s Alliance, serves as an Alumni Ambassador and is a longtime Kelly Writers House RealArts@Penn Mentor providing internships to Penn undergrads.Randi is on the Advisory Board of The Said Project, a non-profit bringing theater arts access and mentorships into public schools in New York City and West Philadelphia (http://thesaidproject.com/).Mentioned in this episode:Masters of Communications and Media Industries - https://www.asc.upenn.edu/graduate/master-communication-and-media-industries-mcmi   Our theme music is “The Strip” by Mala, used under a Creative Commons Attribution license.CS Radio is also available as a video podcast! Visit our YouTube channel to watch!

Michael returns from his annual visit to the Austin Film Festival Writer's Conference to report on the state of the entertainment industry and share stories about how people get their first jobs as writers.Mentioned in this episode:Austin Film Festival - https://www.austinfilmfestival.com Our theme music is “The Strip” by Mala, used under a Creative Commons Attribution license.CS Radio is also available as a video podcast! Visit our YouTube channel to watch!

Dustin Miller guest hosts and helps Natty dissect the many moving pieces that go into offer negotiation. He and Natty then relay the advice they give to students who come to them with questions about how to get the most out of an offer. Our theme music is “The Strip” by Mala, used under a Creative Commons Attribution license.CS Radio is also available as a video podcast! Visit our YouTube channel to watch!

Having just been on vacation, Michael is motivated to talk about careers in leisure and hospitality. Like many other industries, hospitality can contain so much more than the obvious, including tracks in finance, technology, even consulting. Coming along with Michael and Natty for this industry deep dive.Mentioned in this episode:Career Services Sports & Hospitality Community - https://careerservices.upenn.edu/channels/sports-hospitality/Cornell's Nolan School of Hotel Administration - https://sha.cornell.edu/  Our theme music is “The Strip” by Mala, used under a Creative Commons Attribution license.CS Radio is also available as a video podcast! Visit our YouTube channel to watch!

It's Miller time! Associate Director Dustin Miller steps in for a vacationing Michael to school Natty on the best ways to leverage LinkedIN, the ultimate tips and tricks to get yourself noticed there, and what to avoid.Mentioned in this episode:LinkedIN - https://linkedin.comCareer Services LinkedIN Workshop - https://careerservices.upenn.edu/videos/career-champions-2025-linkedin-workshop/ Our theme music is “The Strip” by Mala, used under a Creative Commons Attribution license.CS Radio is also available as a video podcast! Visit our YouTube channel to watch!

Michael and Natty take a deep dive into the Career Services website, and campus resources broadly,  to find "hidden gems" that can be game changers in your career development or job search.Please note that the links below may only be accessible to current University of Pennsylvania students, while others may be open to students and alumni.Mentioned in this episode:Career Communities - https://careerservices.upenn.edu/channels/industry-communities/Handshake People Tool - https://upenn.joinhandshake.com/people?page=1&per_page=25Handshake Collections - https://upenn.joinhandshake.com/stu/collectionsLinkedIN Learning - https://careerservices.upenn.edu/classes/?ctag%5B%5D=linkedin-learningLippincott Library - https://www.library.upenn.edu/lippincottCareer Services YouTube - https://youtube.com/@PennCareerServicesExponent - https://careerservices.upenn.edu/resources/exponent/ Our theme music is “The Strip” by Mala, used under a Creative Commons Attribution license.CS Radio is also available as a video podcast! Visit our YouTube channel to watch!

Our student producer, Lorna Lin, sits down on the other side of the cameras this week to discuss her spring semester participating in the Penn In Washington program.Mentioned in this episode:Penn In Washington: https://www.piw.sas.upenn.edu/semester-program/ Our theme music is “The Strip” by Mala, used under a Creative Commons Attribution license.CS Radio is also available as a video podcast! Visit our YouTube channel to watch!

Michael and Natty discuss a recent article published on The Muse about how you should and shouldn't use AI in your job application materials. Mentioned in this episode:How to Use AI in Your Job Applications via TheMuse.com - https://www.themuse.com/advice/ai-in-job-applicationsBio Sciences Career Fair 2025 - https://careerservices.upenn.edu/biosciences-career-fair-2025-students-and-postdocs/ Our theme music is “The Strip” by Mala, used under a Creative Commons Attribution license.CS Radio is also available as a video podcast! Visit our YouTube channel to watch!

We're back for the start of a new school year and our eleventh season on the air! This week, Natty and Michael welcome back Lorna from her time in Washington, D.C., look back at the career fairs and networking events that have already happened this semester and ahead at those to come. Our theme music is “The Strip” by Mala, used under a Creative Commons Attribution license.CS Radio is also available as a video podcast! Visit our YouTube channel to watch!

The staff of Penn Career Services have put together a summer playlist of career related songs! Michael and Natty walk us through each track and discuss the career-related ideas they conjure up in this celebratory tenth season finale! We'll be taking a hiatus for the summer, but we'll be back in September with all new shows! We'll see you next time...Special thanks to Chris Klaniecki for helping to produce our episodes this semester!Mentioned in this episode:Our Career Playlist on Spotify  Our theme music is “The Strip” by Mala, used under a Creative Commons Attribution license.CS Radio is also available as a video podcast! Visit our YouTube channel to watch!

Our former colleague, Megan Chambers, returns to the podcast to talk about her year of major career changes. In her conversation with Michael and Natty, she reflects on how tools like career inventories and self-assessments have helped her, and how important identifying transferable skills for maximum career satisfaction.Mentioned in this episode:Career Services' Self Assessments PageCareer Explorer Our theme music is “The Strip” by Mala, used under a Creative Commons Attribution license.CS Radio is also available as a video podcast! Visit our YouTube channel to watch!

This week, we're joined by special guest Dustin Miller as Michael recaps his recent participation in a Handshake user's workshop, and the entire CS Radio team highlights some of their favorite Handshake tricks and tips. Our theme music is “The Strip” by Mala, used under a Creative Commons Attribution license.CS Radio is also available as a video podcast! Visit our YouTube channel to watch!

As the semester draws to a close, students may face stress on many fronts. From finals to starting a new position, Michael and Natty offer advice on how to get through it all.Additional resources:Penn Libraries Destress FestPenn Wellness  Our theme music is “The Strip” by Mala, used under a Creative Commons Attribution license.CS Radio is also available as a video podcast! Visit our YouTube channel to watch!

Michael and Natty brave the depths of Reddit's r/linkedinlunatics to see if there is any real career advice to be mined from it. From weaponizing unlimited PTO to understanding when it's appropriate to be early for an interview, some truly bizarre hot takes from LinkedIN users actually spark some great discussion that can be useful when evaluating your own job search!Note that Reddit's comment sections can be wild places, so visit at your own discretion. Mentioned in this episode:Post OnePost TwoPost ThreePost FourPost Five Our theme music is “The Strip” by Mala, used under a Creative Commons Attribution license.CS Radio is also available as a video podcast! Visit our YouTube channel to watch!

Michael and Natty debate the merits of joining professional organizations and going to conferences. Our theme music is “The Strip” by Mala, used under a Creative Commons Attribution license.CS Radio is also available as a video podcast! Visit our YouTube channel to watch!

Michael sits down with the newest addition to the Career Services staff, Hannah Smith, Coordinator for the Graduate Students teams. Together, they explore Hannah's wildly diverse career experiences and talk about how having a resume that might seem disjointed at a glance can actually make you the strongest candidate.Read more about Hannah here. Our theme music is “The Strip” by Mala, used under a Creative Commons Attribution license.CS Radio is also available as a video podcast! Visit our YouTube channel to watch!

While it's just barely spring, Natty is already dreaming of the summer. So this week, he and Michael discuss the various ways undergrad students can spend their summer, from retail jobs to internships. We also take a look at how early summer recruiting can have ripple effects, both positive and negative. Our theme music is “The Strip” by Mala, used under a Creative Commons Attribution license.CS Radio is also available as a video podcast! Visit our YouTube channel to watch!