Career Center Provides
Alumni Support
It’s no secret that the recession has made it more
difficult to find jobs. But it’s not an impossible job
market, says Tom Munnerlyn, director of the Career
Center. He shares how the Career Center can be a
resource for alumni as they look for a job, consider
a career change or seek networking opportunities.
How does the Career Center help alumni in
their job searches?
We offer a wide range of services for alumni. The
most popular is BroncoConnection, which has
hundreds of job listings. Many of these postings
are not advertised to the general public because
some employers specifically recruit our students.
We also offer drop-in advising, career counseling,
and workshops on topics such as resume writing
and interviewing techniques.
Does the Career Center help alumni network?
Our career day events can be used as networking
opportunities. A lot of the recruiters are Cal Poly
Pomona alumni, and they’re great for networking
and getting career information. We also host
panel discussions, where we invite employers
to talk about different topics, such as relocating
and interviewing. It’s important to note that even
if you have a job, you should be networking now.
It’s as easy as keeping in touch with a professor
or attending an event. If you do get laid off, you’ll
have a built-in support network to help.
How can the center help alumni who are
considering career changes?
We’ve seen a lot of alumni who have been caught
in this economic downturn. Many people realize
they need to assess their careers, and some have
changed their career interests. We encourage
alumni to work with our career counselors. For
alumni who are considering graduate school or
improving their professional skills, we can help
them find a program, apply for funding or counsel
them on whether it’s a good career decision.
Are employers hiring?
Yes! Companies are hiring, but you need to be
on your game. You need to be market ready and
be able to describe your skills and career goals.
Recently, we’ve seen a little uptick in the number
of employers coming to our events, so that’s
encouraging. Also, the federal government is
the No. 1 employer, and federal agencies offer a
variety of jobs. Many of their starting positions
will help recent graduates build their skills and
experiences. These positions have opportunities
to later move up within an agency, move to a
different agency or even relocate.
Alumni can use the services of the Career Center free
of charge one full year after graduation. After that,
alumni can continue to access the center’s services
for a nominal fee. Contact the Career Center at
(909) 869-2342 or http://dsa.csupomona.edu/career
for more information.