By Steve Seepersaud
"I got my first internship through the Binghamton alumni network, and I'm grateful to have had that opportunity,” said Tahmina Igamberdiev '13.
As a member of the Alumni Association's Mentoring and Career Development Committee, Igamberdiev is working with board colleagues to create similar outcomes for Binghamton graduates. As the committee enhances and creates alumni career programs, it's emphasizing that networking should be a lifelong activity, and that Binghamton's network of more than 143,000 people is a tremendous resource.
"There is a wealth of value and opportunity in reaching out to our alumni network," said Stacy Newman Kandel '99, committee member. "We all have a common thread: Binghamton University."
Career Shift is available to all Binghamton alumni. The website aggregates job postings and staff directories from thousands of companies to provide a one-stop shop for anyone looking for job openings or contact information. Find and reach out to Binghamton alumni across a wide variety of fields and employers.
Mentor Match links alumni who want to provide career advice with students and recent grads in the same career field seeking support. Communication happens online, whenever the mentor and mentee find it convenient.
"Mentor Match has been a simple, yet effective way to remain engaged," said Andrea Cioffi '14, MBA '20, an active volunteer. "As a student, I appreciated the network of older students and alumni who were accessible for advice and mentorship so, as a graduate, I wanted to make sure I was giving back in the same way. I'm always excited to hear from students so I can share insights from my end and hear what's going on in the student community. I also appreciate the flexibility of the program — we can speak once or stay in touch longer."
"It's a way to give back," said committee member Diane Fischer Castiglione '82. "You can put yourself in the students' shoes because you were there once. I was a first-generation college student. My parents didn't have a network and didn't understand what I was trying to do professionally."
"You think it's about helping the students, but it really helps you to stay sharp," said Balakrishnan Iyer, MS '00, SD '19, committee chair. "You're relating to people in Generations Y and Z, and these are the ages of the people you're managing."
The Alumni Association has two large groups on LinkedIn, a professional network for those simply looking to expand their connections and a job forum to view and share employment postings.
While these career programs can be especially beneficial during a pandemic, alumni should be proactively using these even if they're not actively in the market.
"If you reach out to someone before you need assistance, the connection is more genuine," said Igamberdiev. "If you wait until you need a job to tap into the network, then it becomes more difficult because you're asking for someone to take a chance on you when you've only just met."
"These shouldn't be one-off activities," said Castiglione. "It's all about building relationships. You have to keep doing these things all the time, not just during a pandemic. You should never stop networking."
Learn more about the Alumni Association's career programs.
