By Daryl C. Hannah - Aug 17, 2009
Also read: DiversityInc.com Career Center, Bennett College for Women, career advice, networking, mentoring, finding a job, social networking
When @Morehouse1867 appeared on my Twitter thread, I was convinced my alma mater had invaded my account only to berate me for my lackluster financial contributions. So imagine my surprise when, instead of reading tweets about needing money, I began receiving alumni-exclusive job alerts. And although I'm not in the job market, anyone who is not thinking about their next career move is well behind the curve--especially in this economy.
Today, career centers across the country are leveraging social-networking sites to reel in stray alums and to keep them in the know about job openings. With the unemployment rate well above 9 percent, alumni are sure to be grateful.
"A number of alumni are 'remembering' their alma mater's career center," says Dr. Jennifer Jones, director of academic career planning and placement at New Jersey City University (NJCU). While NJCU's career center is not yet on Twitter or Facebook, Jones says offering online services has significantly helped alumni get information.
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Expanding beyond résumé critiquing and hosting career fairs to building a presence on social-networking sites just makes sense. According to Hitswise, an Internet traffic tracker, traffic for Facebook and MySpace went up 38 percent and 24 percent, respectively.
"We still are in the business of providing career assessment and career fairs, but we are looking for different ways to leverage social networking to better serve our alumni," says Jones, who says she has witnessed a significant uptick in NJCU alums coming back for career advice.
So what are some things you should do before tapping your career center for help? Here are a few suggestions:
1. Research Yourself
"Whenever you are moving from one place to another in your career, the model is the same: You have to do research," says Jones. "Look at your strengths and weaknesses to see if you need additional training to get the job you want." She also advises people who either were unhappy with the last career or are merely looking for a change to take personality tests such as the Myers-Briggs test.
2. Don't Let Salary Scare You Away
Yolanda Johnson, director of the office of career services at Bennett College for Women, agrees and also advises you to not be hung up on salary.
Johnson says, "When we go into a job search, often the first thing we look at is a salary. You have to make sure the job identifies with your career goals and has a commitment to diversity."
3. Join Professional Organizations
Your career center is not only a good resource to find jobs; it can also help with networking with other alums and professional organizations.
"When you are trying to develop yourself professionally and when you are looking for career opportunities, it's important to network and join professional organizations," says Jones, who points alums to national organizations such as the National Black MBA Association. "It's important to get your face in front of people."
A strong alumni association is also a major benefit. "Alumni associations are a viable resource," says Johnson. "Alumni can serve as mentors, provide internships and help with job placement. They can be recruiters for their companies and agencies."
4. Use Different Job-Hunting Methods
Social-networking sites have become the go-to for job seekers, but cold-tweeting prospective employers is not enough, advises Jones. She suggests diversifying your job-hunting methods. "There's no denying that [the technique of] finding a job using social-networking sites is growing," says Jones. "But you can't do just one thing."
Johnson agrees but suggests you take it one step further. "Recruiters are e-mailed all day, every day, so it doesn't hurt to follow up with a phone call," says Johnson. "This lets them know that you are really serious. It is also important to send a follow-up thank-you e-mail."
5. Don't Expect a Job Overnight
While the urgency to find a job is understandable, it's important to remember that career centers do not create jobs. "Sometimes people come in the door expecting a list of 100 jobs," says Jones. "You have to realize that sometimes in a tight market, it's going to take you longer to find what you want."
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