Career Services’ Mentor Database Rapidly Growing

December 04, 2009

As more and more students recognize the importance of networking, Stonehill's Office of Career Services has seen not only a record number of students using its Mentor Database program, but also a large number of alumni joining the program as well. The database allows all members of the Stonehill community to contact alumni for resume critiquing, job shadowing, informational interviews as well as email networking.

The Mentor Database program replaced the old Alumni Career Network in 2006 and Career Services worked with Alumni Affairs to connect with alumni who were part of the old network as they built the new database.

"Students are recognizing the importance of networking, not only to get jobs, but to collect information from people who know the ins and outs of a particular field. While students are rightfully concerned about post-graduate employment, they are also becoming more introspective and strategic about what career they choose to pursue," says Career Counselor Darcy Lynch, who manages and oversees the database.

"The benefit of the database is that it allows students to gain first-hand knowledge from someone in the field, and our office is very grateful to mentors for the extensive knowledge they are able to supply," says Lynch.

Spanning 54 different industries from accounting and advertising to venture capital and veterinary medicine, the Mentor Database now has 880 alumni contacts from 28 states and ten countries.

"The Mentor Database has certainly helped me get in contact with professional Stonehill alumni who work in the field I'm currently looking into, specifically project management consulting," says finance major Jamal Noshahi '10.

"They all have been able to help answer my questions about best practices, favorable qualifications and direct my focus in career goals. It turns into a learning process on how to best communicate with the professional you aspire to become some day," adds Noshahi.

Given the economic climate, many students are seeking out help well in advance says Lynch. "We have had 73 different students contact over 100 alums for various forms of career guidance already this year."

The database has also proven to be a helpful tool for students seeking internship opportunities. For Christina Stewart '10, a marketing and communication major, the database put her in touch with alumna Grace (DaSilva) Linhard '93 when she was looking for a summer internship.

"Grace works at Danbury Hospital, which is right next to my hometown. She posted an internship position with the Development Fund at the hospital. I interviewed with her over the phone, got the internship, and started working in May 2008," says Stewart. "It was a great experience working in the non-profit sector and I can't say enough good things about Grace herself."

Alumni who have graduated as recently as last year have already joined the database and are eager to help current students who, like them, will also face a difficult job market upon graduation.

Case in point, Stewart turned to the Mentor Database a second time when she was seeking information from a more recent graduate who works in the brand management industry.

"I found Rebecca Adams '05 in the database and emailed her explaining I was a marketing major interested in the field and would like to know more," explains Stewart.

Adams works for Beanstalk Group in New York City, a brand licensing agency and consultancy which has worked with the likes of Ford Motor Company, Harley-Davidson, AT&T, Universal Studios and more.

"Rebecca gave me valuable tips about networking, an inside look to what her day is like, her major responsibilities, and what characteristics are necessary for the job," recalls Stewart.

At the other end of the spectrum, alumni from as far back as the Class of 1960 give students guidance as they near the end of their professional careers.

Lynch notes that many of the alumni contacts have pursued their education beyond Stonehill with many having earned master's degrees, law degrees, medical degrees, and PhD's.

"I think the success of the database can be attributed to the strength of alumni mentors who have joined," notes Lynch. "Students continue to be impressed when they are able to connect with someone who works at their ideal company, or who is enrolled in their target graduate school."

Since becoming the Mentor Database in 2006, the program has grown in usage from just 25 students contacting mentors in 2006 to 116 different students contacting mentors during the 2008-09 academic year. With nearly 75 students already taking advantage of this valuable opportunity, the 2009-10 academic year is sure to be the program's most successful year yet.

For more information on the Mentor Database, including information on how alumni can join, visit here.

Contact

For more information, contact Communications and Media Relations at 508-565-1321.