Alumni > Phone/In-person Appointments

Phone/In-person Appointments

When is an appointment advisable or required?

When an alumnus/na's concern will require 30 or 60 minutes to clarify, discuss and either resolve or chart a course of additional activities and interactions. In-person simulated interviews also require an hour. Examples are:

Planning an overall job or internship search strategy
Discussing a career change
Exploring the benefits and methods of self assessment, including assessment testing
Coaching on interviewing and/or negotiating
Discussions of the advisability and process involved with further education

A conversation with our receptionist can generally determine whether an appointment is warranted, or, if the alumnus/na is near enough to Syracuse, whether a need can be met in a quicker, drop-in interaction.

When, and how quickly can appointments occur?

Career advisors set aside times for appointments during both morning and afternoon hours Monday through Friday, and can occasionally provide other times for working alumni or others who might need late afternoon or early evening meetings or phone conversations.

Appointment demand is usually heavy, so a wait of a week is not unusual. Longer waits surface during peak activity times, notably September and October in the Fall and January and February in the Spring. Alumni should definitely try not to wait until a deadline is near or a real interview is days away before seeking assistance.

The Center is open year-round and can field alumni concerns even if main campus students may be away from the campus on breaks.

How can alumni make appointments?

First appointments may be made by visiting the center or calling 443-3616 and speaking with our receptionist.

Email requests for appointments are difficult to accommodate because slots fill quickly and may well disappear during the time needed for an exchange of emails.

Advisors may set follow-up appointments themselves or direct alumni to the receptionist for scheduling additional meetings. Return appointments with new focuses can be arranged through the receptionist.

With whom will students meet?

Students will meet with career advisors who have specific training, education and experience that has prepared them for alumni with career-related concerns and needs.

What can usually be covered more effectively in a drop-in interaction?

If an alumnus/na is near enough to Syracuse and can visit during our weekly drop-in hours, then the following needs may be met more efficiently in a drop-in:

Resume and cover letter critiques
Introductions to the services of the center
Quick questions about career or employer research

Questions about specific services and the timing of interactions with staff advisors can be answered if alumni will email Pam Latham, our Client Services Manager.