Community has always been a core value of a Kenyon education. Our alumni help extend the Kenyon experience beyond campus. Sharing time and expertise as mentors, connectors, and even employers, alumni are an invaluable resource to students, and an essential element to what makes life on the Hill and off, so rewarding. Below are ways you may wish to get involved with supporting students’ exploration of professional possibilities.
The Kenyon Career Network relaunched in the fall of 2018 on a new platform that enables richer connections between students and alumni. Join the KCN now by visiting kenyon.wisr.io. Here are just a few of the ways you can help students and alumni on the KCN:
• Provide information about your career and industry
• Review résumés and cover letters
• Conduct mock interviews
• Share advice about graduate school
• Host a student for a job shadow or an overnight stay (see below for more information on the Job Shadow and Bed & Breakfast programs)
By joining the KCN you can:
• Search for members by industry, location, job title, major, or ways they are willing to help
• Email members or schedule a networking call while keeping contact info private
• Explore a wide range of industries
• Join group discussion in affinity-based communities organized by industry, location and common interests
List summer internships and/or post-graduate jobs to Kenyon students and young alumni. Or help establish a recruiting relationship between Kenyon and your organization. Connect with Kenyon College on Handshake to post positions, be sure to include a message detailing your alumni affiliation in your connection request!
Provide opportunities for students to explore careers of interest by allowing them to observe your workplace for 1-3 days. Students learn about the responsibilities of the job as well as the skills and qualifications necessary to succeed. Most job shadow opportunities take place over winter and spring breaks. To sign up to sponsor a job shadow, join the Kenyon Career Network by visiting kenyon.wisr.io and indicate that you are willing to help find a job shadow/externship opportunity when you fill out your profile.
Professional Extension Projects (PEP) are real-world, project-based learning opportunities that allow students to develop key skills and receive feedback from professionals in their field. Each PEP is a discrete educational project requiring 10 – 30 hours of work that students can complete remotely with commonly available software and equipment.
The Bed & Breakfast Program connects students and recent grads with Kenyon community members willing to provide temporary overnight accommodation in order to allow students and young alumni to participate in career development programs, such as interviews, job shadows, and grad school visits. Most homestays are one to five nights. You can also sign up to be a longer-term host and help out a student interning away from home for the summer. When contacted for a particular housing request, you can check your availability and inform the student or alum if you are able to host at that time. To sign up, join the Kenyon Career Network by visiting kenyon.wisr.io and indicate that you are willing to help provide housing when you fill out your profile.
Kenyon Nation has a virtual neighborhood called Switchboard. This online communication platform allows students to ask alumni for advice, job leads, and connections; and it permits alumni to offer jobs and internships as well as advertise alumni-hosted events. Alumni, faculty, parents, staff and students are urged to participate in the digital community crossroads that turns on an axis of “asks” and “offers.” Find out more and sign up.
By creating a LinkedIn account and adding Kenyon to your education section, students and alumni can search for you online using LinkedIn’s alumni tool.