Centrepiece Online | Summer 2010

The GOLD Rush: Speed Networking Comes to Centre

Recognizing the struggling economy students will enter upon graduating, the alumni and career services offices decided a joint networking event could help. The idea soon morphed from a simple reception into an exciting “race against the clock” experience.

One April evening, GOLD alumni (Graduates Of the Last Decade) from the Central Kentucky area gathered to share insights on the job market, advice on breaking into particular career fields, tips for applying to graduate school, and guidance on how to prepare for life after Centre. A variety of occupations and professional schools were represented, including banking, medicine, law, economic development, and public relations/marketing. Inhabiting the inside of the U-shaped table, alumni spoke to each student or group of students on the outside of the table for two minutes. At the sound of the bell, the students moved one space to the left and the stopwatch was reset. Acknowledging that two minutes would often lead to more questions from the students, a reception followed for additional questions, answers, and sharing of contact information.

“The idea is that the students converse with people in the alumni community who they wouldn’t otherwise think to talk to,” says James Barnard, the assistant director of annual giving who came up with the GOLD Rush idea. “It promotes the idea of ‘working a room’ and networking as an important tool in early career success. Maybe some job offers will be made as a result, maybe longer term relationships will be founded, but they are not really the point. The point is starting conversations between these two groups, and, most of all, having fun at the same time.”

Seniors facing one of the country’s bleakest job markets in history appreciated the chance to make connections.

Molly Jernigan ’10, a biology major from Clinton, Tenn., decided to attend the event at the last minute on a whim but left with renewed excitement about what her future might hold.

“It was good to have the chance to talk to Centre alumni who have stood where I currently stand nearing graduation,” she says. “Even though most of the alumni were in career fields that didn’t match my interests, it was a great networking experience. I think I acquired some useful advice on graduating, leaving the Centre bubble, and becoming a member of the real world.”

Helping alumni and students make connections with one another is a top priority of Centre’s new GOLD program.

“The GOLD Rush was an extremely beneficial program for our students as it was a great way for them to connect with recent Centre grads,” says Joy Anderson Asher ’96, associate director of Career Services. “Networking has always been the single most effective way to land a job or internship. Through this event, our students had a chance to network with alumni from a variety of career fields, and several have since told me that some of the alumni they met are helping them with their job or internship search. It also gave students a chance to find out more about careers they’re interested in and to get advice about life after Centre.”

The GOLD Rush was the inaugural event of the new GOLD program, designed to explore meaningful ways to engage Centre’s young alumni, and, at the same time, to develop programs to benefit the entire campus community.

Increasing numbers in each first-year class mean the numbers of young alumni have been growing exponentially with each passing commencement. The relationships students form with each other, as well as with faculty and staff, during their four years on campus continue to be one of Centre’s greatest strengths. It is the College’s hope that the GOLD program will help our most recent alumni maintain and enhance those relationships long after graduation.

Special events for the GOLD program will continue across the country throughout the year. Stay tuned for more information on how you can get involved.