University of Pennsylvania’s cutthroat recruiting landscape, which currently focuses on jobs in finance and consulting, might be evolving. Hosted by the premier business fraternity, Delta Sigma Pi, and the Wharton Undergraduate Cohort System, a start-up called Lynxsy recently visited campus to promote its network for students seeking a new recruiting avenue: namely, opportunities at start-ups. The company provides a platform through which students can find valuable information about and connect with various start-ups around the country. This reduces some of the risks associated with signing on with young companies, a main deterrent for many students who might otherwise cherish the opportunity to pursue an alternative career path.
The success of an organization like Lynxsy on Penn’s campus could have great significance for the transformation of the culture and norms surrounding campus recruiting. As evidenced by the variety of student groups on campus, as well as attendance at the newly initiated Start-Up Career Fair provided by Career Services, the demand for alternate opportunities is growing within Penn and the school must begin to construct better infrastructure to fulfill that demand. But until then, the use of external networks such as Lynxsy will be essential for driving the careers and interests of students who seek that non-traditional route. By offering resources beyond our system, which currently promotes professional conformity, Lynxsy will provide students with a structured way to expand their professional horizons.
Following Lynxsy’s event on Nov. 8th, Delta Sigma Pi sponsored a focus group for the company’s founders so that they could better grasp the culture of recruiting at Wharton and Penn. The focus group members voiced sentiments of dissatisfaction with the gap between students’ growing interest in alternate career routes and existing recruiting opportunities on campus. Delta Sigma Pi alumna and Lynxsy founder, Connie Wong, said, “The focus group feedback we received greatly reinforced our mission at Lynxsy to help students find unique and meaningful work experience at startups.” Students interested in learning more about utilizing this new resource are encouraged to visit lynxsy.com.
Christina Gunzenhauser is a Wharton junior and Lennie Zhu is a Wharton senior. They can be reached at lenniez@wharton.upenn.edu.
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