College of the Holy Cross | Holy Cross Magazine

Networking has become the survivor’s mantra in these days of drastic downsizing, massive layoffs and corporate bankruptcies. At Holy Cross, this means of exploring career paths and landing jobs has always been a key component of the educational premise. Three years into the 21st century, the College is offering a high-tech resource to help students and young alumni in their career search. Gone are the days of the notebook database; enter the electronic age of the online networking community.

Although telephone and face-to-face meetings cannot be replaced, technology is making the way individuals initially connect as quick and easy as a computer keystroke.

Twenty-five years ago, the process was a bit more involved. According to John Winters, director of the career planning center, students in the ’80s had access to a notebook that contained data on alumni in various fields.

“Students or alumni would have to come into the office and flip pages to get a little bit of information about an alum,” he says. Separated into specific industries, these notebooks contained only a code number, which meant referencing yet another notebook with additional details. “It was pretty cumbersome,” Winters adds.

By the mid-90s, the College moved the information into an Access program that proved to be more effective—but still tied the users to the campus, since the database was available only on computers located in the Career Planning Center.

The College now offers two electronic options to those seeking career direction: an extensive alumni database—close to 30,000 alumni are listed—and an 8,000-name career advisor directory. Winters sees several advantages to having alumni information online. “The online access allows alumni to update information,” he says. “And it is really in keeping with current technology. To have that information in a notebook is obsolete at this point.”

Virtual accessibility is another attractive feature of the online directory. “Alums are scattered all over the globe. Unless you’re in the Boston area, it doesn’t make sense to have to come back to campus for this type of information,” says Winters. New graduates gain access to this online alumni community a few months after graduation.

The career advisor database, accessible in the Career Planning Center, allows students to identify career advisors by major, field of employment and geographic area. The database presents an ideal resource for students to gain firsthand information about potential careers. By doing a bit of research on an industry, the student can ask appropriate questions of an individual actually working in that profession. The next step is to find out what prospects exist. “Since many opportunities are unlisted, a student would use networking to speak with alumni to learn about positions in their organization, as well as to get suggestions from alumni regarding the job search,” says Winters.

These resources are not limited to fourth-year students or new graduates. Winters notes that any alum might become a casualty of the economy or may be ready for a career change after several years in the same profession. “That person is starting from scratch, so they have to go out and research other fields,” Winters says. The alumni and career advisor databases offer these individuals valuable insight into other career paths and may lead to employment.

As fast and easy as access to the online alumni community is, it has not eliminated the practice of on-campus and in-person networking. The Career Planning Center continues to sponsor workshops on resume writing, interview preparation and job searching for students in which the importance of networking is emphasized. Additionally, special career nights held throughout the academic year highlight specific professions. These targeted panel discussions give graduates a chance to relate their personal experiences and explain how and why they have chosen the jobs they now hold. Such panel presentations allow students to see the assorted paths their educations might follow.

Career planning works closely with alumni relations in guiding students and alums with career choices. When Kristyn M. Dyer ’94, associate director of alumni relations, receives a request for career assistance, she automatically turns to technology. “The alumni directory online has significantly changed what we do. Alums call, and we point them to the directory. They can search right away for specific locations and industries,” she says.

This year, these two offices have joined forces with the General Alumni Association (GAA) to sponsor a senior reception, which, in the past, involved casual schmoozing in a laid-back social atmosphere. According to Dave Doern ’62, GAA president and coordinator of the evening, the 2003 senior reception was different. “We turned it into a career networking reception. We invited 40 or 45 alumni in different careers—banking, teaching, medical, research, real estate and law.” After the alumni were introduced to the students in attendance, the real networking began. For an hour and a half, students had the opportunity to speak with these graduates to get detailed answers to their questions regarding the job search.

“With the job market the way it was, we thought this would be a great help with a lot of take-home value for the students,” says Doern.

A prime example of successful online and direct networking, Sean Murphy ’94, New England regional manager for the AT&T Alliance Channel, took full advantage of Holy Cross’ strong career support system when plans for a job after graduation fell through. After studying the online directory, he identified a list of alumni and contacted them for informational interviews. With the help of these contacts, Murphy landed a position with AT&T and has risen in the ranks ever since.

A grateful Murphy assists other alums in their job search when the occasion arises, returning to the College to participate in a career night informational program. He feels that the mix of the two networking tools—in person and online—is a perfect combination.

“To put a face in front of you is very effective,” Murphy says, “but then to go back and use the online tool is definitely a necessary follow-up.”