Students Network Their Way To Jobs

College graduates struggling to find a job in a poor economy may need to take a lesson in networking from the students and staff of Washington State University.

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, employers will hire seven percent fewer graduates from the class of 2010 than from the class of 2009. Students about to graduate from the Pullman campus have many resources to help them prepare for the tough job market they will soon face.

Among those resources, is the Center for Advising and Career Development, where students learn to market themselves to future employers.

“After a student has solidified a career goal, we help him or her learn how to meet others who can help along the way,” said Stefany L. Unda, Career Counselor of the CACD. “There are great opportunities available on campus for students to build their professional network by developing relationships with professors, advisors and staff in their departments and university wide. This is such an excellent time to do so because so many faculty, advisors, counselors and staff really care about our students and want to be available as a resource related to students’ academic and career success.”

Unda said the Career Expo on Wednesday, October 7 is an opportunity for students to meet professionals in many different fields. Students can meet professionals in their area of study by attending events held by specific colleges she added.

In the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, staff, students and alumni come together annually for the Edward R. Murrow Symposium. Many notable alumni attend the event and encourage student involvement.

The alumni group within the Murrow College has even earned a nickname, the “Cougar Mafia”. This title refers to the strong networking that takes place within the college and throughout the Pacific Northwest.

“I had a past graduate tell me that he has hired Ducks and he has hired Dogs and to send him a Coug,” said Bruce E. Pinkleton, Coordinator of Public Relations Internships.

Pinkleton said that the interest from alumni to support graduates stems from the belief that the quality of work Murrow students produce is some of the best in the Northwest. The confident student who shows interest in their education will be able to get an interview through connections with the “Mafia.”

Alumni of the college take pride in their loyalty to WSU, which aids students who get involved while still in school. The students who actively participate can get their name out to prospective employers and other alumni. Student groups are a much-utilized resource for experience and contacts.

Carly M. Raska, 2009 graduate of the College of Communication, attributes her success in receiving a job at Seattle marketing firm, 206, Inc., to her connections made while attending WSU. Raska was the 2008-2009 President of the Public Relations Student Society of America Jay Rockey chapter at WSU and was extremely active during her college career.

“I would not have been able to use my degree without the help of the Cougar Mafia,” Raska said. “Networking is a very powerful tool.”