Professional & Personal Development Programs

Improve your skills and get ahead in your career by taking advantage of the many development opportunities provided by Human Resources. You can register for programs by visiting knowledgelink.upenn.edu or contacting Learning and Education at (215) 898-3400.

The Gift of Feedback; 5/4; 12:30-1:30 p.m.; free. Feedback can be an amazing gift when given well. In this session you will learn how to give and receive feedback so that it is viewed as a gift.

Cover Letters that Get Results; 5/10; 12:30-1:30 p.m.; free. We all know that employers get so many resumes in response to just one job opening. It becomes more important than ever to find ways to make your information stand out from the crowd. A well written cover letter gives you that great opportunity to communicate your ‘match’ to the position and your ‘fit’ to the organization. Come to this session to learn the steps to creating a powerful cover letter.

Learning with Lynda: Developing Resourcefulness; 5/17; 12:30-1:30 p.m.; free. Being able to do more with less is a highly valued skill in any organization, and not just in down times. Management expert and trainer Todd Dewett helps you assess your resourcefulness by first evaluating your professional resources (personal network, expertise, information, and access to finances) and how to decide when and how to use them. He also provides advice on developing habits to cultivate resourcefulness, such as asking the right questions and building your network across a broad spectrum. Learning with Lynda utilizes the University’s enterprise-wide license of Lynda.com to provide a blended learning solution to the Penn campus. Prior to attending the in-class session it is strongly recommended that you take the online Lynda module. During the classroom session we apply the concepts from the online module.

TED Talk Tuesday—Julian Treasure— 5 Ways to Listen Better; 5/23; 12:30-1:30 p.m.; free. Humans are losing the ability to listen. Modern recording devices have invalidated the need to listen; modern technology has reduced the frequency of spoken conversations; and people retreat into their own individual soundscapes via their headphones. Sound consultant Julian Treasure proposes five exercises to improve your listening skills. TED Talks are videos that present a great idea in 18 minutes or less. After screening these videos a group setting, we encourage discussion with your Penn peers on these exciting topics.

Understanding Your Strengths; 5/24; 9 a.m.-noon; $75. “If you spend your life trying to be good at everything, you will never be great at anything.” Do you have the opportunity to do what you do best every day? Research has shown that employees who know how to be the best and use their talents and strengths in the workplace tend to be more successful, engaged, and productive. Prior to the class you will take the online StrengthsQuest assessment (included in the cost) and will receive a customized report that lists your top five signature strengths. In this program you will learn how to use your top five signature strengths more effectively in the workplace; discover ways to use your strengths to better interact with others; determine which strengths you are not currently optimizing for personal and professional success and set goals and actions items for your using your strengths to maximize your personal development.

STEP-UP: Introduction (First Steps to Excellence); 5/25; 9 a.m.-noon; $150 for the complete seven-course STEP-UP program. STEP-UP is a pre-supervisory training program designed for motivated individuals who aspire to be supervisors or managers. First Steps to Excellence is the entry point for the seven-course Curriculum and must be completed before the other courses in the program. All courses are offered multiple times on a rotating basis throughout the year. Also enroll in the STEP-UP Pre-Supervisory Curriculum which tracks your program completion. By the end of the First Steps to Excellence, you’ll have a deeper understanding of your five signature strengths and discover additional ways to take charge of your career at Penn.

Quality of Worklife Workshops

Dealing with the demands of work and your personal life can be challenging. These free workshops, sponsored by HR and led by experts from Penn’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Quality of Worklife Department, offer information and support for your personal and professional life challenges. For details and to register, visit Event and Program Registration or contact Human Resources at (215) 573-2471 or qowl@hr.upenn.edu.

Mindfulness Monday: From Mind Full to Mindful; 5/1; 12:30-1:30 p.m.; free. Mindfulness practice develops awareness of your present thoughts and feelings to help you manage different situations. In this once-a-month experiential workshop, you’ll see how mindfulness can help you become more engaged and effective both at home and in the workplace. No prior meditation experience necessary.

Guided Meditation; 5/9; noon-1 p.m. also 5/19; 12:30–1:30 p.m; free. Practice mindful breathing that focuses your attention on the present moment with kindness, compassion, and awareness. Self-massage and gentle mindful movements that promote relaxation and reduce stress may also be included in the workshop. No experience necessary.

Work and Caregiving: Tips to Finding a Balance; 5/9; 1-2 p.m.; free. Mom’s caregiver is sick and you need to find a replacement last minute. Or you just learned that Dad is going to be discharged from the hospital but it is not safe for him to return home alone. And you have a project deadline that you just can’t miss. Your caregiving responsibilities don’t stop once you get to work, which is one of the reasons this role is so challenging. This webinar will discuss how to approach caregiving, while also managing your job responsibilities—and stay sane at the same time.

Mindfulness Skills Course; 5/23-6/20; 3-4:30 p.m.; free four-week course. Offered by Penn’s EAP, this is designed to teach the core principles and practices of mindfulness, which include breathing meditation, body scan, sitting meditation and movement meditation. Each class will focus on a theme linking mindfulness, stress and quality of life, and time will be devoted to experiential guided meditations. The best way to learn about mindfulness is to practice it! To register, call the EAP at 1-888-321-4433, select option 3, and ask to register for the mindfulness course.

Managing Up; 5/25; 12:30-1:30 p.m.; free. Having a positive and productive work relationship with your supervisor is vital. This seminar will discuss strategies to manage yourself in such a way that promotes camaraderie between you and your supervisor, communicates your work style, and maximizes your productivity.

Healthy Living Workshops

Get the tools you need to live well year-round. From expert nutrition and weight loss advice to exercise and disease prevention strategies, we can help you kick-start your body and embrace a healthy lifestyle. These free workshops are sponsored by HR. For details and to register, visit Event and Program Registration. Or contact HR at (215) 573-2471 or qowl@hr.upenn.edu.

Gentle Yoga; 5/2 and 5/16; noon-1 p.m.; free. Let your body reward itself with movement! Explore the natural movements of the spine with slow and fluid moving bends and soft twists. Flow into modified sun salutations that loosen those tightened muscles and joints of the lower back, neck, shoulders, and wrists. Get a workout in the process. Mats and props will be provided.

Body Pump; 5/8; 11 a.m.-noon; free. A toning and conditioning class with weights that is for everybody! It’s for anyone who wants to add strength training into their aerobic workout. So meet the challenge and reap the rewards!

Spinning; 5/18; 11:30 a.m-12:30 p.m.; free. Pedal your way to a fantastic workout with the use of stationary cycles on a “virtual” outdoor road, complete with a variety of exercises. This will give you an energizing, calorie-burning, fun workout and it is great for all fitness levels because you will ride at a self-directed pace.