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May 12, 2009, 03:55 PM ET
Carleton College Promotes Job-Seeking Seniors on Listserv
Times are tough for graduating seniors, and Carleton College is deploying a listserv to help them find jobs.
“Our seniors are graduating into the worst economy in decades,” the college’s career center says on its Web site. “Let’s show them the power of Carleton connections.”
That power, for now at least, is coursing through good old-fashioned e-mail circuits. Once a week the career center sends five graduating seniors’ self-promotional “ads” to alumni, parents, and friends of the college who have signed up for the program, “Engagement Wanted.” Recipients are encouraged to offer anything they can: advice, leads, internships, etc.
The seniors’ interests vary. “Economics major seeking full-time employment opportunity in the financial services industry,” says one profile. “Enthusiastic newcomer to the publishing industry looking for jobs or internships,” says another. “Do you have any ideas for me?”
About 230 seniors — almost half the class — and 1,200 alumni and parents are taking part in the program, which one participant called an effective institutional-advancement strategy, too. “Reading the postings helps to remind me about how great Carleton is!” the user wrote in a comment posted online.
Other commenters have suggested that the college let alumni search all students’ profiles, or vice versa. One alum had a particular reason for that: “I graduated 10 years ago, but I’m unemployed and looking for a job too.”
How are other colleges using technology to create professional networks for students and alumni? —Sara Lipka
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