Is this a mentorship program?
No. Huskies@Work is a job shadowing program that connects alumni & students for an opportunity for students to get a glimpse of what a particular career looks like. While some participants do stay in touch with one another, there are no requirements for a matched alumni-student pair to continue their relationship after their initial meeting/phone call.
As a student, what should I expect? And what will be expected of me?
Huskies@Work will offer you a unique, real-world window into your future job, thanks to generous alumni who are volunteering their time to help you.
You will be expected to be professional in your communication with your alumni volunteer and their employer, to follow through on your commitments and to represent the UW to the best of your ability. It is important to note that this program is not about you being recruited for an internship or position; rather, it’s about you experiencing a career that interests you and building your connections in that industry.
How does matching work?
Alumni will be asked in the application to describe their job, company characteristics and more. Students will be asked to indicate their area of study and career interests. We will use these details to build strong matches among applicants with similar preferences.
While we try our best to match everyone on their top priority career interests, due to availability of alumni in certain industries, it’s not always possible to have a perfect match. That said, there is a lot that students can gain from any UW alum. Look for what else you may have in common other than career — major, campus, affiliations, etc. UW alumni can offer a lot of valuable advice on navigating UW, job searching, interviewing and much more.
Am I guaranteed a match if I apply?
While we hope to match all applicants, there are many variables involved, particularly the areas of interest among students and alumni who participate. We will do our best to make as many matches as possible. If for some reason we aren’t able to offer you a match, you will have earlier access to future engagement programming.
When will I hear back about my match?
You will receive an e-mail with match information in late April for spring sessions and late October for fall sessions. Once you receive these details, you can correspond with your student(s) about determining a good date during May or November.
Is meeting in May or November required?
While we prefer that you connect virtually in May or November, we also understand that some exceptions might make sense due to your unique schedule. If you are able to meet later in the previous month or early the next month, we support that flexibility.
How much time should I plan for a meetup?
This can vary broadly depending on industry, job type, location and scheduling. As your Huskies@Work session is taking place over the phone or videoconference, we recommend you schedule at least an hour.
What about transportation?
When you are matched, you will work with your alum to determine the best way to connect. If you choose to meet in person, you will be responsible for arranging transportation.
I can’t participate this time, when is the next opportunity?
Huskies@Work currently operates twice a year, once in the fall and again in the spring. Applications open in September and March.
What else should I know?
Once you are matched, you will receive details about how to prepare for your time together with your alum, tips for choosing a good day, suggested questions to ask, what to wear and more.
Am I allowed to participate in Huskies@Work more than once?
Yes! We encourage students to participate in as many sessions as they’d like while at UW. Use this as an opportunity to test out different careers and meet more alumni.
How can I learn more?
Get in touch with the Alumni and Student Engagement team at asengage@uw.edu.
