tommie network
NETWORK I NG
The punchline? They’re the same person. In the past, if the person walked onto campus, they’d log many steps visiting three different offices. No more. A ST. THOMAS ALUMNA, A HIRINGMANAGER AND AN INDUSTRY THOUGHT LEADER WALK ONTO CAMPUS … WORKING. TOGETHER. HAVE YOU HEARD THIS ONE?
The result: Even in a pandemic, 2020 graduates reported career success at a level on par with pre- pandemic rates. Their success was supported by the strength of the Tommie Network. ALUMNI ARE OUR CAREER KEYMASTERS Personal and professional schedules are full – even during a pandemic – and alumni want to spend their time and energy on pursuits that have impact. The No. 1 type of engagement experience that alumni seek involves career and classroom interaction with students. Many share feedback that working with students is a highlight of their volunteerism at St. Thomas. That enthusiasm is building: In a recent survey, St. Thomas alumni were asked “How interested are you in getting engaged with St. Thomas’ journey to make progress on each of the following items?” An astounding 60% of our alumni raised their hand for “[Help] students gain real-world knowledge through practical experiences.” The second on the list? Help St. Thomas graduate students who employers want to hire. Helping current students enter the workforce can be as simple as talking about positive St. Thomas experiences in the workplace or acting in ways that demonstrate the morally responsible workplace leadership. Over time, employers and colleagues will take notice. ORGANIZATIONS: CRITICAL PARTNERS FOR EMPLOYMENT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT For many years, universities and employers have used online tools to connect and facilitate the hiring process. Most recently, St. Thomas converted to Handshake, an industry-leading platform that makes it easy for employers to engage with the university by posting jobs, attending job fairs, scheduling on- campus interviews, etc. Employers who want to hire St. Thomas students can rely on the Career Development team to support their needs, now in partnership with our Corporate Partnerships staff. What begins as a great hiring experience with St. Thomas and outstanding student
Recently, the university combined the Alumni Engagement, Career Development and Corporate Partnerships teams into a single team (ACC), under the leadership of new Associate Vice President Karyn McCoy . Supported by a new space for
engaging students, alumni, employers, corporations, and other members of the Tommie Network, the ACC creates synergies that will result in stronger partnerships and increased opportunities for all involved: students, alumni and corporate partners. STUDENT CAREER SUCCESS ELEVATED BY THE TOMMIE NETWORK Student career readiness, supported by internships, an intentional career plan and interactions with employers, is more important than ever. The challenging job market prompted students to lean into mentoring and networking with alumni to increase their career readiness, make connections and launch their careers. The Tommie Network rose to the occasion. A recent survey of alumni shows that St. Thomas students are more likely (as compared to peer institutions and the national average) to receive helpful career direction while they are students, and the institution is more likely to help students network with alumni. This contributes to St. Thomas graduates being more likely to say they were prepared to begin their career when they graduated and are satisfied with their current career.
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