Career Planning seeks alumni support
Daniel J. Williams
Issue date: 9/13/07 Section: News
Contacting Hillsdale College alumni will soon be easier for current students, thanks to a new database being developed jointly by the Career Planning Office and the alumni relations department.
The Hillsdale College Career Connections Program, initiated in July, will match interested students with alumni and parents in specific career fields.
"We will mainly use it as we meet with students and counsel them," said Vicki Arno, assistant to the director of career planning.
In the past, students seeking alumni had to rely on the limited availability of loosely organized contacts. The career planning office would perform manual searches for available alumni, and the results may or may not have matched what the student was seeking.
In July, the career planning office mailed out approximately 5000 letters to college alumni and parents with response cards asking them to specify how they would like to assist students. The options include providing interviews, job shadowing, referrals, relocation assistance and professional advice. Joanna Wiseley, director of career planning, said over 250 response cards were received in return.
When Brendan Ringlever '92 received the information about the new program, he immediately responded.
"I filled out the card and sent it back," Ringlever said. "I think it's a great program, one that both students and alumni should really take seriously."
Wiseley said the expanding database, categorized by industry, is available but currently limited. While it now features only alumni, it will be expanded to include parents when the program reaches full strength next semester.
Wiseley said the new database has already been successfully used.
Junior R.J. Layher recently approached career planning for assistance.
"I was looking for an internship anywhere, whether it be in Lansing, or Washington or wherever," Layher said.
Wiseley said she then consulted the new database and contacted Ringlever, who is the vice president of the Hillsdale College alumni board and a partner with Michigan Legislative Consultants, a lobbying and political consulting firm headquartered in Lansing.
The Hillsdale College Career Connections Program, initiated in July, will match interested students with alumni and parents in specific career fields.
"We will mainly use it as we meet with students and counsel them," said Vicki Arno, assistant to the director of career planning.
In the past, students seeking alumni had to rely on the limited availability of loosely organized contacts. The career planning office would perform manual searches for available alumni, and the results may or may not have matched what the student was seeking.
In July, the career planning office mailed out approximately 5000 letters to college alumni and parents with response cards asking them to specify how they would like to assist students. The options include providing interviews, job shadowing, referrals, relocation assistance and professional advice. Joanna Wiseley, director of career planning, said over 250 response cards were received in return.
When Brendan Ringlever '92 received the information about the new program, he immediately responded.
"I filled out the card and sent it back," Ringlever said. "I think it's a great program, one that both students and alumni should really take seriously."
Wiseley said the expanding database, categorized by industry, is available but currently limited. While it now features only alumni, it will be expanded to include parents when the program reaches full strength next semester.
Wiseley said the new database has already been successfully used.
Junior R.J. Layher recently approached career planning for assistance.
"I was looking for an internship anywhere, whether it be in Lansing, or Washington or wherever," Layher said.
Wiseley said she then consulted the new database and contacted Ringlever, who is the vice president of the Hillsdale College alumni board and a partner with Michigan Legislative Consultants, a lobbying and political consulting firm headquartered in Lansing.
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