Career Center seeks alumni help

Phil Gardner ’69, a nationally known collegiate researcher, talks to seniors about making the transition from college to career.

Web extra: To list a job or internship, alumni may send a job description to postjobs@whitman.edu or go to the Whitman College Career Center Web site, www.whitman.edu/career_center and click on Alumni.

The class of 2009 faces “the most difficult job market in 30 years,” said Susan Buchanan, director of the college’s Career Center. While the center added programs to help prepare seniors, the most effective way to find jobs and internships continues to be through alumni networking and referrals, she said.

“By being our ‘eyes and ears,’ you can help the members of the class of 2009 by listing jobs and internships you are aware of with the Career Center so that we can forward them to our recent graduates.”

This academic year, the Career Center hosted three networking receptions on campus to advise, allow practice of valuable networking skills and facilitate contacts for students. One was held during fall semester and two were held spring semester in collaboration with Alumni Relations — one with its alumni board and one during Spring Reunion Weekend.

The Career Center also initiated a new job search club, the Networking and Career Search. The center staff created and presented new workshops, “Job Seeking in a Tough Economy,” a tax workshop and two financial workshops.

In February 2009, the Sava and Danica Andjelkovic Endowed Lecture (created by Vojislav Andjelkovic ’94) brought nationally known collegiate employment researcher Phil Gardner ’69 to campus to speak to student job seekers about “Making a Successful Transition.”