University students hoping to get a step ahead of other job applicants might receive that extra boost thanks to the new Tiger Network program.
Tiger Network, is a program designed in joint efforts by Career Services, the Office of Computing Services and the LSU Alumni Assocation to help students gain networking skills to gain advice about possible jobs by being paired with mentors.
The database was built during the last year and a half, said Mary Feduccia, director of Career Services.
“We have 242 alumni who are already participating,” Feduccia said. “We have more expressing interest.”
Feduccia said prior to the time Tiger Network was made available Aug. 5 to students, the process was more tedious.
“This summer Computer Services made the program completely automated, because before you had to physically come in to Career Services and request alumni contact information,” she said. “Now it’s convenient and secure [since it is done through PAWS accounts].”
Since the service became available online, 360 students have visited the Tiger Network, Feduccia said.
Students may access Tiger Network by clicking on the “TigerTRAK” link under Student Services on PAWS. After signing in with TigerTRAK, click on Tiger Network on the right side of the Web site.
After filling out a personal profile, students begin a four-step networking process. Students browse through alumni information, add alumni to their selection list, submit a request for contact information and Career Services then e-mails alumni contact information to the student.
University alumnus and Tiger Network mentor Kyle Flory signed up for the Tiger Network database when he came to recruit students for his employer Ryan and Company, Inc. Ryan and Company is a state and local tax consulting group based in Dallas.
“I felt like whenever I was in school I would’ve like to have had this program to take advantage of,” Flory said. “I thought it was a good idea.”
Though the automated program is still in its early stages, some students are trying to get a head start.
John Guidry, a civil engineering junior, has high hopes for the mentors he has selected.
“It can be quite hard to make business contacts in some fields, and this program should be able to bring students closer to the professional world with advice from people who are actually there doing things that you hope to do someday,” he said. “I am looking forward to using the system more as school progresses.”
Casey Vaccaro is a general studies senior and is not sure what career he wants to pursue. He hopes Tiger Network will help him with that decision.
“I hope to just find a field that catches my interest enough that I would want to make a career out of it,” Vacarro said. “It’s good to know that there is a service that is trying to help people like me.”