Guaranteed Placement Program (GPP)

The Guaranteed Placement Program (GPP) is a professional development program designed to supplement a student's formal education.

Established in 1999, the GPP integrates classroom instruction, experiential education, service leadership, and career focused workshops. The program is designed to prepare students looking to enter the workforce or graduate school after graduation and is facilitated through workshops and individual appointments. The GPP is structured developmentally for all class levels with each year building on the next; students fulfill basic career development requirements in their freshman and sophomore years, such as drafting their resume and creating a LinkedIn profile. Junior year they get a glimpse of financial literacy and professional etiquette.

In their final semesters, program requirements increase as students begin to focus on professional skills appropriate to the job search and job interviewing such as: resume and cover letter refinement; interview skills and completing a half-hour mock interview with a real employer, attending a job and networking fair, and of course, conducting an effective job search.

Our Guarantee states that if any student, who fully participates in our program for the entire duration of their specific academic program, does not receive a job offer or is not accepted into graduate/professional school within six months of graduation, the University provides that student a paid internship* in their chosen field.

If you have additional questions, please e-mail Bernadette Rushmer, Director, at brushmer@misericordia.edu.

*Terms and conditions apply.

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Roadmap to Success

Getting Started

In your First Year at Misericordia University, we encourage you to start thinking about your career path early. This is a time to explore your interests, skills, and values to better understand how they align with potential career options. You can visit with our staff to utilize career assessment tools and resources that help you discover various professions and industries. Participation in career exploration workshops, networking events, and informational interviews will provide a strong foundation for your future career journey. Additionally, this is a great time to begin drafting your resume and tracking the activities you'll be engaging in while in college.

Sophomore Year

During your Sophomore Year, the focus shifts to skill development and deeper exploration of career options. You will have the opportunity to enhance your resume by engaging in volunteer work, joining student organizations, or participating in part-time employment. Our career advisors will guide you in developing a LinkedIn profile and beginning to build your brand. Additionally, you’ll start to consider internship opportunities and learn how to leverage those experiences to align with your career goals.

Junior Year

The Junior Year at Misericordia University is all about gaining hands-on experience in your chosen field. This is the ideal time to secure internships or cooperative education placements to apply what you’ve learned in the classroom to real-world settings. You’ll receive support in networking with professionals, attending career fairs, exploring financial literacy and learning professional etiquette. These experiences will help you build a professional network, refine your career objectives, and gain insight into industry expectations.

Senior Year

In your Senior Year, the focus is on making a successful transition from the university to the workforce or a desired graduate school program. We provide targeted assistance in job search strategies, including advanced interview preparation with mock interviews, salary negotiation techniques, and effective job search methods. Career advisors work closely with you to ensure that your application materials, such as your resume, CV, cover letter and personal statements, are polished and that you are prepared to enter the job market or graduate school confidently. Students are highly encouraged to attend our career and networking fairs, especially during the junior and senior years, to explore career and internship opportunities with some of our regions top employers. Additionally, we facilitate connections with alumni and employers to help you secure employment or further education opportunities.

Career Competencies

Career competencies and readiness refer to the essential skills and abilities that equip college graduates for success in the workplace and ongoing career development. These core competencies form the foundation for thriving in professional environments and managing one's career throughout life. Through our GPP program, as well as programming in other areas of the university, we help students develop and use these career competencies.

Career & Self Development

Actively enhance personal and career development through continuous learning, self-awareness of strengths and weaknesses, exploring career opportunities and networking both within and outside the organization.

Example Behaviors:
• Recognize personal strengths and areas needing improvement.
•  Identify opportunities for continuous growth and actively seek and apply feedback.
•  Set and pursue plans and goals for future development.
• Advocate professionally for oneself and others.
•  Demonstrate curiosity by seeking learning opportunities.
•  Take on roles or responsibilities that contribute to professional advancement.
• Build and maintain relationships with individuals who can provide professional support.
• Pursue and embrace opportunities for development.
• Voluntarily engage in further education, training or events to enhance career prospects.

Communication

Effectively and clearly share information, ideas, facts, and perspectives with individuals both within and outside of an organization

Example Behaviors:
• Recognize the significance of and demonstrate abilities in verbal, written, and non-verbal/body language communication.
•  Utilize active listening, persuasion, and influencing skills.
•  Communicate in a clear and structured manner to ensure understanding by others.
•  Tailor communication to accommodate diverse learning styles, individual communication abilities, and cultural differences.
•  Ask relevant questions to obtain specific information from supervisors, experts, and others.
•  Promptly notify relevant individuals when seeking guidance on assigned tasks.

Critical Thinking

Recognize and respond to needs by comprehending the situational context and logically analyzing relevant information.

Example Behaviors:
•  Utilize sound and inclusive reasoning and judgment to make decisions and solve problems.
•  Collect and analyze information from a variety of sources and individuals to gain a thorough understanding of a problem.
•  Anticipate needs proactively and prioritize steps to take action.
•  Summarize and interpret data accurately, while being mindful of personal biases that could influence outcomes.
•  Communicate actions and reasoning effectively, considering the diverse perspectives and experiences of stakeholders.
•  Handle multiple tasks efficiently in a dynamic environment.

Equity and Inclusion

Exhibit the awareness, attitude, knowledge, and skills necessary to engage with and include individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds fairly. Engage in practices that challenge and dismantle systems, structures, and policies of racism and inequity

Example Behaviors:
•  Seek and incorporate feedback from multiple cultural perspectives to make decisions that are inclusive and equity-focused.
•  Actively participate in practices that promote inclusivity and equity, contributing to both individual and systemic change.
•  Advocate for inclusion, fair practices, justice, and empowerment for historically marginalized communities.
•  Pursue cross-cultural interactions and experiences globally to deepen understanding of people from various demographic groups, fostering personal growth.
•  Maintain an open mind to diverse ideas and innovative ways of thinking.
•  Identify and utilize resources to eliminate barriers caused by individual and systemic racism, inequities, and biases.
•  Demonstrate adaptability by adjusting to diverse environments.
•  Confront and address systems of privilege that restrict opportunities for historically marginalized communities.

Leadership

Identify and utilize personal and team strengths to accomplish organizational objectives.

Example Behaviors:
•  Inspire, persuade, and motivate oneself and others toward a common vision.
•  Seek and utilize diverse resources and feedback from others to guide direction.
•  Apply innovative thinking to surpass traditional methods.
•  Act as a role model by tackling tasks with confidence and a positive outlook.
•  Encourage and inspire others by fostering mutual trust and support.
•  Plan, initiate, manage, complete, and evaluate projects effectively.

Professionalism

Recognize that work environments vary significantly, understand and exhibit effective work habits, and act in the best interest of the broader community and workplace.

Example Behaviors:
•  Act with integrity and accountability toward oneself, others, and the organization, ensuring fairness.
•  Maintain a positive personal brand that aligns with both organizational and personal career values.
•  Be present, prepared, and punctual.
•  Demonstrate reliability by consistently attending work or meetings.
•  Prioritize and complete tasks to achieve organizational objectives.
•  Regularly meet or exceed goals and expectations.
•  Pay close attention to detail, resulting in minimal errors.
•  Exhibit a high level of dedication to performing tasks well.

Teamwork

Develop and sustain collaborative relationships to work efficiently towards shared goals, while valuing diverse perspectives and collective responsibilities.

Example Behaviors:
•  Listen attentively to others, taking the time to understand and ask relevant questions without interrupting.
•  Manage conflicts effectively, interact respectfully with diverse personalities, and handle ambiguity with resilience.
•  Take responsibility for individual and team tasks and deliverables.
•  Utilize personal strengths, knowledge, and talents to complement those of others.
•  Show the ability to compromise and adapt.
•  Work together with others to achieve common objectives.
•  Foster strong, positive working relationships with supervisors and team members/coworkers.

Technology

Understand and ethically utilize technologies to increase efficiency, complete tasks, and achieve goals.

Example Behaviors:
•  Embrace change and be willing to learn new technologies.
•  Utilize technology to enhance the efficiency and productivity of their work.
•  Select the appropriate technology for completing specific tasks.
•  Manage technology to integrate information for relevant, effective, and timely decision-making.
•  Adapt quickly to new or unfamiliar technologies.
•  Manipulate information, generate ideas, and use technology to achieve strategic objectives.

I am so grateful for Misericordia’s career center because it prepared me for my future in a graduate program. The workshops and deadlines allowed me to grow as a student while staying on track. "

Brittany C., 2019 graduate

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