Lifelong Network: UTAA Career Services

By Chandra Harris-McCray

UTAA Career Services offers job search help

Dexter Anoka tapped into the power of his University of Tennessee degree, and four days later he was hired as an executive recruiter.

He’s been to his share of job fairs, but none opened doors quite like the multi-school, alumni-only career fair hosted in Atlanta by the University of Tennessee Alumni Association in partnership with the campus career centers and a handful of other universities.

“Recruiters were looking to hire, not just promote their companies,” says Anoka, who graduated from UT Martin in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in business management. “By the time I was walking out the door, I had five companies that were strongly interested in my skill set. Within days I had three phone interviews. By the end of the week, I had accepted an offer with Randstad Finance & Accounting.”

“Employers were excited about Tennessee,” says Aaron Sellars (Knoxville ’11), who exchanged his restaurant-serving days for a position with an international logistics company. “I left the career fair with one interview, but it was all I needed.”

UT Alumni Career Services is at the forefront of a powerful trend in which schools are leaving behind the one-size-fits-all job fairs and offering alumni exclusive regional career fairs and networking workshops. Accessible to any UT graduate, online offerings include a slew of resources, including a job search engine, professional development webinars, one-on-one counseling services in conjunction with campus career centers, long-distance educational opportunities and a soon-to-be career mentoring network to connect established alumni with those who are on the hunt for a job.

“Our commitment to your success doesn’t end at graduation,” says Mike McCay, senior director of marketing and career services for the UT Alumni Association. “We’re your network for life.”

Upcoming Career Fairs

Washington, D.C.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
George Washington University
Charles E. Smith Center

New York
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Baruch College

Chicago
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
University of Illinois at Chicago
UIC Forum

For more information, visit www.utaaconnect.com/career.

Join “UT Alumni” on LinkedIn

Find out about upcoming career fairs, expand your network, collaborate with other professionals and engage in discussion with the UT Alumni community: LinkedIn.