Alumni Career Services was established in 2002 as a partnership between the U of U Alumni Association and Career Services. The idea was—and is—to offer a professional career services program for college and university graduates, as well as University of Utah employees. The program provides personalized advice to individuals seeking career change due to career stagnation or loss of employment.

When asked to assess the progress the program has made in four years, the head of the program, Julie Swaner, notes:

• Since its establishment, Alumni Career Services has assisted over 450 individuals who have enrolled in the program.
  
• Approximately 60 people per year find better jobs with significant pay increases (although many discover that during the search that they actually like their current job so opt not to change).
  
• Most of the individuals who enter the program are employed but feel they are underemployed or need a career change.
  
• There is no average time that it takes someone to find a job. Some individuals can turn themselves around in six weeks, and for others, it can take over a year. The fastest turn-around time: three weeks.

Swaner stresses that “This is NOT a placement program.” Rather, she explains, “It's a program that teaches people how to job search in a more productive, efficient fashion in order to yield results faster. We help our clients improve their résumé and interview skills, and suggest networking resources. The actual finding of a job is up to the individual, but his or her chances are vastly improved by accessing the plentiful resources of Career Services.”

Need help with your job search? Contact Julie Swaner, program manager, at Alumni Career Services, (801) 585-5036.