Next Steps

We all can remember a time in our lives when we were unsure of our next step. Maybe you were in your early 20’s, looking for your first job, or relocating to a new city. Here are a couple of ways that you can help your student – and other Pilots – as they navigate their path forward.

Switchboard

This semester, the Office of Alumni & Parents has made a coordinated effort to help our UP seniors prepare for life beyond The Bluff. One of our goals was to help seniors utilize our online platform, Switchboard. With a membership of over 2200, this platform allows Pilots to ask for what they need and offer what they have within the UP community.

Since the campaign launched in January, over 160 new members have joined, which included over 100 current students. Students posted “asks” on housing, moving to various cities, graduate programs, internships, and career fields such as psychology, counseling, dentistry, nursing, communications, and more. We also saw increased membership and participation among alumni, parents, and staff who stepped in to respond to the questions. In the past 2 months alone, 48% of users (1080) engaged with the online Pilot community.

Here are two student “asks” that received great responses:

You can help our Pilot community too! You may not realize it, but students are looking for the connections and advice that you already have. Do you love your city or have experience moving to a new place? Do you have a job that you enjoy? Offer to answer questions or sit down with a student for an informational interview. You can also fill out a Switchboard profile with your interests and expertise, or sign up for email alerts specific to you.

Visit Switchboard now to see how you can help. Signing up is quick and easy!

Post Your Company Job

Do you work for a company that is looking to hire summer interns, seasonal positions, or full-time positions? Hire a Pilot! For more information on how you can partner with us in sharing your opportunities with the University of Portland community, please contact Julia Mayfield, the Career Center’s Employer Relations & Alumni Outreach Manager.