Career Directory

With more than 20,000 alumnae willing to provide guidance, the Career Directory allows alumnae and students to find one another and stay connected—through all transitions of life.

Offering Career Guidance

You offer much-needed perspective, guidance, and support to others in the Mount Holyoke community.

• We know you are busy. Both adviser and advisee should respect one another’s time. If you receive an email from a student that you cannot respond to in a timely manner, please acknowledge it quickly and let her know when you will be available to respond.
• Students may feel uncomfortable at first. Don’t hesitate to ask your advisee for information about her background, career goals, and expectations to break the ice.
• Let the Association know. The Alumnae Association is here to foster relationships among Mount Holyoke women. Contact us to tell us how it is going.

Contacting an Alumna for Career Guidance

• Be specific. Choose advisers and make contact with a specific purpose in mind. See sample list of questions below.
• Do your research. Research the adviser’s background, her organization, and industry. Ask questions that you could not answer from a website or other non-personal source.
• Quality over quantity. Never send generic emails to lists of alumnae. Instead, make a few high-quality contacts. We recommend contacting no more than five alumnae to start.
• Be professional. Never ask for a job, internship, funding, or housing and never send a resume unless requested.
• Be proactive. Suggest a next step (phone call, email, etc.) and always thank the adviser for her time and assistance.

Note: You may lose your Career Directory privileges if you fail to follow these guidelines.

More Tips

• Networking and Informational Interviewing
• Turning Relationships into Opportunity
• Building a Professional Network 

Sample Email

Dear Ms. Lyon,

Hello! My name is Torrey Kendall and I recently discovered your profile in the Mount Holyoke alumnae directory and found your career information intriguing. I am considering pursuing a career in Arts Administration and would love to speak with you about your career path and ask for advice on how to navigate the field. Please let me know if you would be willing to speak with me. I am available to chat with you over the phone, in person, or via email—whichever works best for you. Thank you for taking the time to consider my request. I look forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely,
Torrey Kendall ’15

Sample Questions

• Will you describe what you do on a daily basis?
• What types of positions are available in your field?
• What general skills are most important to succeed in your field?
• What kind of training, education, or background do you recommend?
• What are some alternative methods of entry into your field?
• What characterizes a typical entry-level position in your field?
• What is the outlook for the future of your field in terms of new and expanding employment opportunities?
• What are some of your organization’s strategic goals?
• What is the philosophy of your organization?
• What types of employment-training programs are available?
• What is a typical career path from entry-level to top management?