USC Alumni Association Alumni Leadership Conference 2012 September 21, 2012 INCORPORATING CAREER/ PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMMING Lori Shreve Blake Director of Alumni and Student Career Services Jen OConnor Associate Director of Alumni and Student Career Services

CAREER CENTER MISSION: …provide exceptional career services to all members of the Trojan Family. All Majors All GPAs Undergraduates Graduates Alumni

Advanced Look at Alumni Career Services 24/7 WEB-BASED SERVICES: Streamlined web content Adaptable to mobile devices Exclusive career opportunities through connectSC including Trojans Hiring Trojans Career assessments Research tools Access to job postings in over 15 million companies and 20 million industries Revamped Trojan Network database

Advanced Look at Alumni Career Services IN-PERSON SERVICES: Career counseling to include: Extended availability for counseling sessions New services: LinkedIn profile critiques, professional resume writing services Increased marketing and communication regarding alumni events and services Career events including corporate sponsored regional career fairs and international webinars

Types of Alumni Career Events In-person and web-based educational programs Employer/Alumni Mixers Annual Multi-University Alumni Career Fair Industry events

Examples of Past Alumni Events First alumni career event: Fox Television Networking Night- April 23, 2003! Webinar: What is Personal Branding (And Why Does My Career Depend On It?) (sponsored by LinkedIn) Taking Charge of Your Career (annual series) The Journey of Entrepreneurship (industry event) MyWorkster Multi-University Alumni Career Fairs Local and Regional Events: New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, San Francisco, Orange County, San Diego, Los Angeles

Alumni Career Event Concept 1 The Employers Perspective on Effective Resumes and Successful Interviewing Event description: Gain an employers perspective on the latest hiring trends, the overall hiring process and what they look for when hiring new employees Target audience: All alumni Goals: Offer feedback regarding resume/interviewing skills and provide networking opportunities Provide forum to ask job search related questions in a safe environment Acquire insight into hiring procedures within various industries and organizations Gain best practice tips for alumni job search from local companies, executive search firms representatives, and/or hiring managers seeking to build a pipeline of potential employees

Alumni Career Event Concept 2 Industry Networking Night Event description: Meet alumni of diverse backgrounds and industries. Come network for prospective jobs, fields, or volunteer opportunities. Find alumni connected to employees in your desired company and start informational interviewing. Target audience: All alumni Goals: Leverage networking skills and meet fellow alumni through practical application Provide easier access for alumni to start the networking process Initiate dialogue with fellow alumni about professional background and areas of interest Expand alumni networks in chosen industries

Alumni Career Event Concept 3 Recruiting Event/Mini-Job Fair Event description: Alumni Recruiting Event is similar to a mini-job fair where local organizations may recruit Trojans and build their hiring pipeline while promoting their organizations. Alumni are encouraged to bring their resumes to share with participating employers. This event could focus on a broad diversity of employers or specific industries. Target audience: All alumni and local employers Goals: Build awareness of job openings Increase networking opportunities Promote local organizations as potential employers

Alumni Career Event Concept 4 Community Service Fair Event description: Encourage alumni to leverage current experience and learn new skills while building their resumes and networking through community service. Meet local community service organizations with volunteer opportunities for alumni to engage in. Possible tie in to USC Alumni Association Day of SCervice as a way to engage alumni while building a culture of philanthropy within the club. Target audience: All alumni and local community service organizations Goals: Connect alumni with volunteer opportunities while building work skills and networks Promote giving back to the community Develop contacts and strategic partnerships for future alumni events

Alumni Career Event Concept 5 Entrepreneur Showcase Event description: Listen to local entrepreneurs tell their stories on building a successful business. This could be an ongoing event series highlighting different businesses in the area. Target audience: All alumni and local entrepreneurs Goals: Increase awareness of local businesses Learn resources to start and run a successful business Help empower alumni to start their own businesses

Alumni Career Event Concept 6 Moving Up In Your Career Event description: Learn how alumni have successfully managed their careers Target audience: All alumni Goals: Increase awareness of how career paths might differ from person to person Provide insight useful to successful career management Help empower alumni to make informed career decisions

If you have questions regarding planning regional career programs, please contact: Lori Shreve Blake Director of Alumni and Student Career Services FIGHT ON!