Career Center offers alumni free career coaching to help during pandemic
The Career Center at the University of Maine is offering alumni, including those who lost their jobs as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, free career coaching to help them secure employment amid turbulent times.
Alumni can schedule a phone or Zoom appointment with the Career Center for a job search strategy session, resume, CV, cover letter review, interview coaching and mock interviews. The center offers two free 30-minute appointments to each alumnus, which can be scheduled between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday by emailing umainecareercenter@maine.edu. Additional times may be available depending on requests.
Crisanne Blackie, center director, said unlike career counseling, career coaching provides short-term guidance for immediate actions employment seekers can take to help secure a job as soon as possible. The coaches, which include Blackie and career counselor BJ Roach, will help participants identify occupational opportunities based on their skills and develop a plan that identifies ways to seize on one of those prospects.
“It’s a great process for helping people move forward quickly,” Blackie said. “We’re not expecting alumni to work with us for very long, and helping them navigate their options will be important.”
Alumni are encouraged to submit any pertinent materials, such as resumes, ahead of time.
The Career Center will also grant participants access to CareerLink, an online tool that provides a job search database, employer information and other related tools.
Despite the outbreak of COVID-19, the center continues to offer its usual services. Additional information on how to access them can be found on the center website.