Networking
beneficial to job finding
By Kristen Wooley
On-line Forty-Niner
Students
looking for work after graduation have a
much better chance of placement through
networking programs such as those offered
through the Student Alumni Association.
The Student Alumni Association is made up
of students who come from a variety of different
majors but that come in contact with a diverse
group of alumni.
“What you put into it is what you’re going
to get out of it,” said Jeff Klaus, coordinator
for Student Life and Development.
Klaus believes that is why someone in a
Greek organization might have an advantage
over other students because of the involved
schedules they handle.
Alumni Relations tries to hone in on people
who are involved while they are on campus
because they are more likely to be involved
as graduates. There is a correlation between
being Greek and networking but also being
on a college council, or getting involved
in student government is also beneficial,
said Maureen Field, alumni membership and
marketing assistant for Alumni Relations.
“All of these things create a stronger affinity
for the university and do feed into a greater
participation rate after graduation,” Field
said.
Kappa Sigma is a fraternity that highly
benefits from the alumni that get involved
with their chapters. Within the association
there is a Big Brother program that is creates
an informal mentorship.
Students are matched up with someone in
their field, which gives the opportunity
for “one-on-one networking so we can actually
talk about specifics,” John Pabon, president
of Kappa Sigma, said.
During a Greek organi-zation’s pledge program,
alumni give presentations on topics such
as time management, business management,
how to write a resume and other hints for
entering the job force, Pabon said.
Events such as Homecoming are also great
places for students to interact with alumni.
At last weekend’s Homecoming event, hundreds
of alumni were in attendance. They wore
ribbons that showed what groups they were
involved in on campus when they attended
the university.
It was a great time for students to interact
and ask questions of the alum’s they might
have something in common with, Field said.
Employers look for multi-task students that
handle full-time jobs, full-time school
and full-time extra-curricular activities.
Student Alumni Association has assisted
students in a number of different ways,
beginning with contributions made to the
university, in the respect that it is no
different from being a Greek.
“Being involved at the university leads
directly into your involvement after you
graduate,” Field said. “Being involved after
you graduate nourishes the students.”
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