Career Services

• A consultation is a brief meeting with someone working in your field of interest. It is not appropriate to ask for a job. Your goal should be to gather information about a particular position or industry, network, get advice on conducting a job search, get feedback on your resume or perform a mock interview. Consultations should last 15-30 minutes.
• You won't get a second chance to make a first impression. Remember, your initial message should be professional. Customize the templates in the platform to suit your needs, and proof it to ensure there aren't any errors. Use proper capitalization and punctuation.
• Add your phone number to your profile in “My Preferences” to opt in for text message reminders. It's a good way to stay on top of scheduling, and the system will only contact you if you have a pending request or an upcoming consultation.
• Come to the “interview” prepared with a list of questions. Do some research about the alum’s job and company before the consultation. Don’t waste time asking questions that you can find out on the company’s website. 
• Ask if it would be okay to contact the alum again if you have further questions.
• If you choose to connect using video, make sure you are neatly dressed and select a quiet location with an appropriate background.

Visit the UCAN Homepage to get started.

Connect with alumni volunteer advisors on UCAN for a career conversation. Talk directly to UAlbany alumni about their experience in your career fields of interest. We recommend requesting a 15-to 30-minute conversation.
 

Scheduling the Career Conversation

To schedule, click the “Message” button within an advisor’s profile, then go to “Schedule a Meeting” at the bottom of the page. Propose a meeting date and time. 

• It’s good professional courtesy to give the advisor at least a week or more between your invitation and when you’d like to meet. If the advisor is available during that time, the advisor will accept and your consultation will be scheduled. If the advisor is not available, the advisor may choose to propose an additional time or could also decline the invitation. 
• You must write an introductory message to include with your invitation. You can write your own or select and customize one of the messages available on the platform. You have the option of uploading a résumé or another form of documentation that highlights your professional and academic background.
• You will be notified as soon as the advisor accepts or declines.

Preparing for the Career Conversation

• Think about your purpose for talking with a particular advisor. What would you like to learn?
• Prepare specific, productive questions that can guide your discussion. Review these sample questions to get you started.
• Prepare a brief introduction about yourself and be ready to talk about yourself. You may attach your résumé prior to the consultation so the advisor will know something about you in advance.
   

Connecting to Your Career Conversation

• Once a consultation is scheduled, both parties will receive confirmation emails that include either a dial-in number and code, or options for connecting with audio or video using a desktop or mobile device. The codes will be live 10 minutes before the conference call is scheduled.
• Once both parties click on their preferred link for joining and follow the instructions provided, they will be connected and the consultation will begin.
   

During the Career Conversation

• Briefly introduce yourself and your goals for this conversation.
• Remember to keep the conversation professional. Don't ask personal questions, or ask an advisor directly for job placement or internship assistance.
• Be a receptive and active listener.

After the Career Conversation

A little "thank you" goes a long way! Show appreciation for the advisor’s time and assistance by sending a follow up thank you message within 24 hours. 

Use the message templates in UCAN, or craft your own unique messages using the samples below for guidance:

Career Conversation

Subject: UAlbany Junior Seeking Advice on International Law Careers

Dear Mr. Jones:

My name is David Jenkins, and I am a junior majoring in history at UAlbany. I am extremely interested in the field of international law and would really appreciate the opportunity to talk with you about your experiences in this field. I wanted to thank you for signing up as an advisor on UCAN and hope we can find a time within the next few weeks for a 30-minute career conversation. My résumé is attached so that you can learn more about my background. Thank you in advance for your time and have a wonderful day.

Sincerely,

David Jenkins

Thank you Message

Subject: Thank you for your guidance

Dear Jane:

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me about career paths in publishing. I learned a great deal about Simon and Schuster and our conversation has increased my interest in pursuing a career in publishing. I plan to take your advice and follow up with additional alumni for more information about the publishing industry. Again, thank you for being part of UCAN. I truly appreciate the assistance you have been able to provide.

Sincerely,

David Jenkins