SUNY New Paltz launches Career and Mentorship Network

The Office of Alumni Relations at SUNY New Paltz has launched the New Paltz Career and Mentorship Network, an online platform that helps provide advice and guidance to an established group of alumni peers and current students.

“This platform is meant to take away the barriers of geography so students can access the alumni experts in their fields around the country,” said Director of Alumni Relations Shana Circe ’02 (Art Education) ’08g (Visual Arts Education). “It is a unique way for alumni to give back and help guide the next generation of students.”

Interested alumni can create a New Paltz Career and Mentorship advisor profile on the mobile-responsive platform using either a LinkedIn account or email address. Once registered, student participants will be able to find alumni by browsing by industry, company, job type, or location in order to book an online consultation. They can then connect by phone or email for career conversations, informational interviews, mock interviews, or resume critiques.

This online network allows alumni to serve as advisors and select the type of support they would like to offer and how often they are available. They can choose from a host of conversation topics including general career discussions, resume/CV critiques, transitioning from school to work, work-life balance, the job search and more. Alumni advisors can also offer students advice on advancing their education through applying to law, business and medical school as well as Ph.D. programs.

“What we want to do is create a space where students can connect with alumni to help with their transition to whatever is next for them, whether it is more schooling or beginning their career path,” said Circe. “Sometimes just deciding what’s next is the hurdle and our alumni can provide valuable insight.”

Errol Eisner ’09 (Business), vice president of strategic partnerships at TSG Reporting in New York City, recently joined the network and is eager to begin connecting with students and other alumni.

“I will tell you…if this program was available when I was a student, I would have been the first to sign up,” said Eisner. “I got involved because I love to network and help others. There is so much truth to the saying, it’s not what you know, but who you know.”

For more information and to become an alumni advisor visit https://www.newpaltz.edu/alumni/mentor/.