Alumni Career Program Matches Job Seekers With Alumni Mentors

UW alumni and students seeking job advice have a new place to turn--Alumni Career Connections.

This new program, which began in January, is not a job placement service, but a way for alumni in professional fields to mentor alumni association members and students seeking a career change or their first job.

You must be a UW Alumni Association member or a current UW student to take advantage of this service. Alumni and students can access career services information through the UW Alumni Home Page, or they can fax a request to (206) 685-0611. Job hunters can also come into the Alumni House, 1415 N.E. 45th St., Seattle, during business hours.

While there is a group of alumni mentors ready to help, the program can always use more. Mentors answer questions about career preparation, job search techniques, and the strengths and weaknesses of careers in his or her field. A meeting with a job seeker could be as short as a phone call or as extensive as "a day on the job."

"With individuals changing careers several times during their working years, this is a great way to help students and alumni make valuable connections," says Jennifer Wathen, who coordinates the program.

There is an ongoing need for alumni in all fields to serve as volunteers. "It is a wonderful opportunity for alumni to get involved and share their experiences with other alumni and students," says Kathy Hitchcock, the alumni association's associate director. "It is a chance to give something back."

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer in Alumni Career Connections, please call Jennifer Wathen at (206) 685-9275, outside Seattle at 1-800-AUW-ALUM, or send e-mail to Wathen at jgwathen@u.washington.edu.

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