When was the last time that you had a professional review of your resume – if ever?
The UNC Alumni Association and Center for Career Readiness plan to fill your professional development needs by launching Bear Network Live, a series of online office hour events provided through technology partner Brazen Connect.
Bear Network Live events provide UNC alumni and students free monthly access to a professional career counselor, alumni association representative and Bear to Bear connections. Delivered through the Brazen Connect platform, students and alumni can chat with a live counselor from a computer, tablet or other mobile device.
“We’re looking to mimic the traditional idea of ‘office hours’ recognized by students and recent graduates through an online, chat site,” shares Assistant Director of Alumni Relations Chris Garcia.
“We know that alumni continue have career development questions after they graduate but returning to campus to meet a counselor isn’t convenient, so we’re making the counselor and our team accessible online for ‘office hours’ each month.”
Beginning as a pilot program this semester, Garcia and UNC career counselor Elizabeth Mahoney, identified monthly topics relevant to recent graduate career development. Topics will be the focus for each month’s office hours, along with conversation opportunities among alumni.
“Of course we know that alumni may have a range of career questions,” says Mahoney. “But we sought to anticipate common needs that will encourage alumni to ask the questions that our team has answers for – or more specifically address questions that can guide alumni career conversations.”
Supporting alumni and student career development is a priority for the alumni association. Bear Network Live: Online Office Hours follows current alumni association programs Success Looks Like ME and UNC Connect with an emphasis on career building connections.
“It was important for us to emphasis the Bear Network in launching this new service because a strong and active alumni network is an incredible value add to earning a UNC education,” notes Garcia.
“UNC alumni have developed exceptional careers in all industries and we use university programs like this to facilitate connections among alumni and students to ensure the pattern of career readiness continues.”
The first office hour will be hosted Wednesday, April 12 from 12:30 to 1:30 MST and address resume reviews and volunteering with UNC. Complete details, including a tutorial video on chat are available through the alumni association career site.
