Help/Guidelines






HELP/GUIDELINES Search Criteria Search Tips Guidelines for contacting alumni advisors SEARCH CRITERIA Professional Information Represents information about the advisor’s current job. Check the “Include past career info in search” checkbox to include past job history in the search. Industry Category Represents the industry (i.e. Education, Government, Banking, Insurance, etc.) that best describes the advisor’s current field of work. Employer Type Represents the broad economic category within which the employer falls (For-Profit, Non-Profit, Government, etc.) Job Function Represents the occupational category (i.e. Accountant, Attorney, Diplomat, Researcher, etc.) that best describes the advisor’s current position. City / State / Country Represents the advisor’s current work location. Metro Area Represents the metropolitan area in which the advisor’s company is located. Please note: Metro area generally includes the suburbs that lay outside the city boundaries. For example, if you select the Washington, D.C. Metro area your search will return not only advisors who work in Washington but also advisors who work in suburban Maryland and suburban Virginia. Employer Name Represents the name of the company for which the advisor currently works. Job Title Represents advisor’s current job title or position. Stage in Career Represents the advisor’s career stage (i.e. Entry Level, Mid-Career, etc.) Discussion Topics Indicates the career-related topic/s that the advisor has a particular interest in discussing. Academic Information Represents the advisor’s academic information as well as any applicable Law, Medical, or Public Health specialty area. Degree Type Indicates the general type (or level) of degree earned (i.e. Bachelor, Masters, Doctoral, Medicine, Law, etc.) Degree Description Indicates the specific degree earned (full name or acronym) (i.e. Bachelor of Arts or BA, Master of Science or MS, etc.) Field of Study Indicates the major or concentration (i.e. Business Administration, Law, Accounting, Political Science, Chemistry, etc.) SEARCH TIPS To make your search more specific, select more search fields. Using multiple search fields allows you to narrow the search criteria. For example, if you select Washington as the City and Accountant as the Job Function, your search will return all advisors who live in Washington AND work as accountants. Search using Metro area (rather than city and state) to find advisors who work in the same metropolitan area but not necessarily within the same jurisdiction boundaries. For example, if you select the Washington, D.C. Metro area your search will return not only advisors who work in Washington but also advisors who work in suburban Maryland and suburban Virginia. GUIDELINES FOR CONTACTING ALUMNI ADVISORS Always contact alumni advisors using the preferred means of contact noted on the advisor profile. The Alumni Career Advisor Network is not a job search resource. Please do not use the network to ask for a job or internship. Rather, utilize the network to obtain general insight into a career, industry, or career related interest. For assistance in searching for job and internship listings, please consult the career center that serves you. It is appropriate to ask advisors for networking advice, job/internship search strategies, or even an informational interview, particularly within the advisor’s own industry category or job function. During your initial contact, there is no need to attach a resume. Introduce yourself, express your reasons for contacting the advisor, and describe what you are seeking to accomplish/learn through the interaction. Choose advisors and make contact with a specific purpose in mind. Plan your questions ahead of your initial contact. Be able to articulate clearly what you are looking for and how the advisor may be able to help you. Research the advisor’s company or organization. Be able to demonstrate knowledge about their employer when you make your initial contact. Guidance for approaching the initial contact: • State how you received the advisor’s name • Indicate why you are making the contact • Make a specific request (i.e. guidance, advice, information, etc.) • Indicate your next step (i.e. arrange a meeting, next communication, etc.) Questions to ask about a career field: • What types of positions are available in the field? • What general skills are most important for success in this field? • What kind of training, education, or background do you recommend? • What are some alternative methods of entry into the field? • What characterizes a typical entry-level position in the field? • What is the outlook for the future of the field in terms of new and expanding employment opportunities? Questions to ask about the advisor’s organization/employer? • What are some of the strategic goals of the organization (i.e. business expansion, new products or services, facility development) • What is the philosophy of the organization? • What types of employment training programs are available? • Can you describe an entry-level and a mid-level position? • Can you describe your job? • What is a typical career path from entry-level to top management? Always thank the advisor for their time and assistance.