While grades, references, a well-written resume and internships are certainly key, perhaps nothing is more helpful in finding a job after college as networking.
Female students at the U. of Nebraska-Lincoln looking for opportunities to network with successful alumnae need look no further than Cather Circle.
“Cather Circle is a mentoring and networking program for women,” said Shelley Zaborowski, associate executive director of the program. “It brings together outstanding alumnae with current students.”
Cather Circle was started in 1999 by the Nebraska Alumni Association.
There are two official meetings per year, which are more like conferences with discussion groups, speakers, tours and mentoring activities. The meetings are meant to be opportunities for personal and professional development and for members to spend time with one another. Alumnae are asked to attend at least one of these two meetings per year. Students are encouraged to participate as actively as possible.
Becky Gailey, a junior news-editorial and international studies major, said the meetings are extremely useful.
“You pick up a piece of information here, a piece of information there,” Gailey said. “It’s all really helpful.”
Student members are also paired with a professional mentor through the program, who they are expected to meet with if possible to learn from and keep in contact with throughout the year. Zaborowski said it is mainly up to the participants as to how the mentoring relationships go.
“It’s a great way to meet female alumnae of the college out in the working world who are successful and have great experience,” Gailey said.
She also said networking with such women inspires her to achieve her own goals.
“They’ve gone to the same school I have, graduated from the same place, and had success,” Gailey said. “It makes me think maybe I can do it too.”
From the alumnae standpoint, Zaborowski said, it is a service the alumnae can do for their alma mater.
“Many people think the Alumni Association is just asking for money all the time, but that is a myth as far as Cather Circle goes,” Zaborowski said, who is also an ancillary with the Nebraska Alumni Association. “We see this as an opportunity for them to give back to the university through their time and talents.”
Students interested in applying to be in Cather Circle simply must do so before May 1 each year in order to get admittance for the following fall. Applications can be found online at cathercircle.com.
Zaborowski said Cather Circle looks for women who exhibit leadership potential and who have the desire to participate actively in their community. As long as members meet the participation requirements, they do not have to reapply for any subsequent years of involvement.
Gailey said it is a program where each individual essentially decides what she may get out of it. Members can either be merely a participant, someone who attends the mandatory meetings and occasionally contacts her mentor, or they can choose to be really involved to get more out of the experience.
“It’s really what you make of it,” she said.
Gailey herself is involved in one of Cather Circle’s various committees, as a part of the marketing team.
“Cather Circle is about being an active member of your community,” Gailey said. “And it means doing the best for yourself and for those around you.”