Jill Panté

Director, Lerner College Career Services Center University of Delaware

  • Newark DE

Prof. Panté can comment on workplace issues such as hiring, professional etiquette, personal branding, interviewing, and job search.

Contact

University of Delaware

View more experts managed by University of Delaware

View all Experts

Spotlight

1 min

How college graduates can find success in a tough job market

Commencement season is an exciting time for soon-to-be college graduates – at least for those who will jump into a job once the caps are tossed. For others, it's a time of stress and uncertainty. Jill Gugino Panté, director of the Lerner Career Services Center at the University of Delaware, identified three areas where concerned graduates should focus to boost their chances of scoring interviews and potentially securing employment this summer. Stay industry-informed: Keeping up with skills, trends and news in your field to stay current and competitive. Network with purpose: Because many jobs are landed through connections, use LinkedIn to engage with others and grow your brand. Leverage AI Smartly. Use tools like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot or Google Gemini to refine your resume, prep for interviews or analyze job descriptions. One key: Remember to maintain your authentic self. To arrange an interview with Panté visit her profile and click on the "contact" button.

Jill Panté

2 min

Career advice: Expert provides tips for acing job interviews

Later this month, a whole new class of graduating seniors will hit the job market. University of Delaware career expert Jill Gugino Panté has advice for them and others seeking employment that can help boost confidence and chances for success when entering job interviews. Panté, director of the Lerner Career Services Center in UD's Lerner College of Business & Economics, provided the following tips: Hand write your answers to common interview questions. Research shows that people have a better chance of remembering information if it’s handwritten. So, rather than typing answers out on your computer, grab an “interview prep” notebook and start writing down your stories to have a better chance of remembering them when it comes time to interview. Practice saying your answers out loud. Written communication is very different from verbal communication. Once you have your answers written down, practice them out loud. This allows you to warm up your voice and get used to talking about yourself out loud. You can do this alone in a room or with a trusted friend who will give you honest feedback. Fan out notes around your screen. Now that most interviews have moved to a virtual format, take advantage of having some extra help. Put post it notes around your screen instead of in a notebook at your side so your eyes and attention stay toward the camera. Exercise beforehand. Of course, you don’t want to run a marathon right before your interview, but you can do some quick exercises to get your blood and endorphins pumping which can have a positive effect on the body and mind. I personally like to dance to an upbeat song that triggers happy memories. To set up an interview with Panté, visit her profile and click on the "contact button." This will send a message directly to her.

Jill Panté

2 min

Leap year: Tips for using extra day on career and professional development

Having an extra day in a leap year provides you with a unique opportunity to invest time in your career and professional development. Jill Gugino Panté, director of the Lerner Career Services Center at the University of Delaware, offers six ideas to maximize the day. Dedicate time to enhance your skills. It is easy to find free courses, workshops and training videos on just about anything. Take five minutes to reflect on a skill you wish you had or were better, such as, say, Excel. YouTube, TikTok and LinkedIn Learning have hundreds of thousands of videos that can teach shortcuts, visual design, formulas and more. Use the day for networking. Reach out to professionals in your industry and schedule informational interviews. Reconnect with old classmates, former bosses or colleagues from another department and invite them to meet for coffee or lunch. Spend the day talking with someone about your career/professional development goals. Reflect on your career goals. Many of us do not take the time to articulate where we want to be this time next year or even four years from now. Start with three months, then move to six months, then a year. Do you want to learn a new skill? Meet with someone whose career you’ve admired? Change jobs? Ask for a raise? Career development can be thought of as a series of projects because thinking four years ahead can seem a little daunting. However, making goals for the next six months makes the process more manageable and tangible. Update your career documents. This means not only your resume but your LinkedIn profile and professional bio. If you don’t have access to a Career Coach, use Generative AI (like Chat GPT) to help you write better bullet points or update your “About” section on LinkedIn. Keep in mind that AI should be viewed as a supportive tool rather than a replacement for your active involvement in the process. Maintain a personal touch and let your unique personality shine through in your application materials and interviews. Focus on your well-being. How often do we get an extra day to focus on ourselves? And on this particular leap year, you may be feeling stressed and overwhelmed so focusing on career goals isn’t an option. Take the opportunity for self-care – go for a leisurely walk, engage in meditation or stretching exercises, or schedule an online session with a therapist or counselor. Investing time in personal wellness is important to address before you leap into professional development. Make deliberate choices that not only contribute to your career growth but also foster a sense of well-being. Here's a pro tip: mark a "professional/personal development boost" block on your calendar for each leap year, ensuring you fully capitalize on the extra day. This strategic scheduling will serve as a reminder to prioritize both your professional growth and personal wellness. To set up an interview with Gugino Panté, visit her profile and click on the contact button.

Jill Panté
Show More +

Social

Biography

Jill Gugino Panté is the director of the Lerner Career Services Center. She has been with the University of Delaware for over 15 years and in higher education for almost 20 years.

Previously, Panté served in the Peace Corps focused on health education. After her service, she traveled the world and returned to the United States to serve as a leader in an AmeriCorps VISTA program where she recruited and led a team to create mentoring and tutoring programs in underserved K-12 schools.

In addition to managing the Lerner Career Services Center, Ms. Pante also teaches MBA and undergraduate courses covering topics around career agility, branding, communication and the entrepreneurial mindset.

Industry Expertise

Education/Learning
Research

Areas of Expertise

Job Search
Linkedin
Recruitment
Hiring
Resume
Salary Negotiation
Mentoring

Answers

What does it mean if you are bored at work?
Jill Panté

Jill Gugino Panté, director of the Lerner Career Services Center at the University of Delaware, says boredom at work could definitely be a sign that you are not interested in what you’re doing and/or the direction of the department/ company. She added the following:There is nothing more UN-motivating than not believing in what you’re doing and who you’re doing it for. This lack of motivation or shared sense of purpose could easily turn into boredom because employees will revert to doing the basic tasks expected of them. They will go through the motions of completing their work and avoiding contributing creative or innovative ideas. For employees who find themselves in this position, some self-reflection is in order. Do a likes and dislikes inventory of your job responsibilities, company, supervisor and co-workers. Turn that “likes” column into the blueprint of creating a new path for yourself.

Continue reading

Media Appearances

6 signs you’ve got a toxic mentor

Fast Company  online

2023-04-03

More than 90% of Fortune 500 companies have mentoring programs, according to a study by MentorcliQ. Mentorships can be a good way to keep employees engaged at work and moving forward in their careers.

View More

Five Tips On Searching For A Job

University of Delaware UDaily  online

2020-04-15

Who could have imagined a few weeks ago that we would be facing so many questions about the economy and the job market? If you’re overwhelmed and unsure what to do, you are not alone. UD’s Lerner Career Services Center is here to help.

View More

How to Battle Bullying in the Workplace

U.S. News & World Report  online

2020-04-08

Workplace bullying can occur in almost any employment setting. Even remote workers who are part of a team can find themselves the target of negative behavior from a colleague or supervisor.

View More

Show All +

Education

Professional in Human Resources

PHR

Certification

University of Delaware

MEd

Counseling in Higher Education

2005

University of Dayton

BS

Criminal Justice

1997

Powered by