I receive a dozen or so calls per week from University of Utah graduates who need career help and advice. Callers range from those who have never attempted to find a professional position, preferring to float with the job that got them through school, to those who have been laid off due to corporate downsizing resulting in cuts in the labor force. Many are stymied as to how to advance their careers and are in need of help, which I am delighted to provide—for a modest fee (“modest” being the key word here).

But here’s the rub: Most alumni callers seem astonished that we charge for such services. After all, they paid tuition and purchased books and parking stickers, in addition to forgoing some income during the years it took to attain their degree. Of course I am sympathetic, yet, given the University’s constant struggle to get funding for essential programs, I find it fascinating that the expectation for free services is so widespread.

Dreaming On

If Alumni Career Services were funded to provide ongoing career development for U of U graduates, without charge, it would be a dream. However, neither the University of Utah nor the Utah State Legislature provides funding, which means that the bulk of our operating funds comes from individuals who utilize our services—that is, alumni. In short, we must be self-supporting, as there are no legislative bailouts here. We aren’t professional soccer, after all.

Five years ago, Career Services and the Alumni Association decided to provide a much-needed career service program for our graduates. We envisioned creating a high-quality, high-end program using Web-based tools and including a delivery system that was convenient and accessible for graduates wherever their location— be it in Salt Lake City or Sioux City. Because of that joint commitment, Alumni Career Services was born. However…

It Costs A Lot To Run A Program

A sampling of some of the program’s expenses would include CareerBeam, a high-quality tool that costs $5,000 a year, which I wrote about in the January issue of U-News & Views. CareerSearch, at $10,000, is another high-priced tool; and InterviewMastery, considered the best Web-based interviewing tool, costs about $20 each time it’s used.

In addition, my professional development (certification in Personal Directions, Meyers-Briggs, Strong Interest Inventory, and other assessment tests) has been fairly extensive (and expensive). But who wants an amateur advisor?

In the end, it ain’t cheap to develop a program such as ours. Keep in mind that life and career coaches in Utah tend to charge about $100 per hour, usually including a hefty monthly commitment. Many of them are excellent, but none offers the tools, the assessments, or the job leads that we package as part of our program. Oh, and did I mention all of our connections with thousands of employers, too?

For more information about the Alumni Career Services program, contact Julie Swaner by e-mail or at 585-5036, or go to www.alumni.utah.edu/career.