Career Development Center

Networking

Choosing Occidental for your undergraduate experience gives you access to a rich and diverse on- and off-campus community. 

Faculty

The CDC advises you to start early connecting with your faculty. Avail of office hours, explore undergraduate research opportunities, consider independent study projects. With over 50% of the Occidental population pursuing an advanced degree, and a large percentage of seniors pursuing fellowships and national awards, you need to create strong relationships with faculty who can attest to your expertise and intellect. Furthermore, you should discuss your career interests with faculty and your advisor. Faculty are well connected with alumni in their major and may be able to point you to internship and employment opportunities.

Alumni

Alumni Network

There are over 30,000 Occidental College alumni around the world, and with technology provided by the Office of Alumni Relations, you can reach out to them anytime during and after your undergraduate career. To access the online alumni directory, you will go through a one-time authentication process. Students are expected to connect with alumni for mentoring and information gathering purposes. Remember when you connect with alumni you are representing your institution and should always demonstrate outstanding professional etiquette.

OxyGOLD

We make it easy for you: The Office of Alumni Relations partners with the CDC to bring OxyGOLD (Graduates Of the Last Decade) alumni to campus for the purpose of career enhancement. Check out the CDC calendar to learn of such great programs as Tigers in the Wild, Speed Networking, and other alumni panels and mixers.

Alumni Groups

Moving to Chicago? Interested in finding out what local African American alumni are doing? Another way to network with Occidental alumni is to join and become active members of alumni regional and affinity groups. These groups provide social and professional networking opportunities around the U.S.

Networking Online

With the advent of advanced technologies, students have access to professional networking sites, affinity groups, alumni, special interest forums, and employment posted in real time. With over 6,000 registered Oxy alumni, LinkedIn is becoming a standard resource for effective career search.

Other Networking Resources

Your internship supervisors, professionals you meet through job shadowing, Oxy alumni parents, community leaders, your church community, former teachers, and family friends are all invaluable potential resources for helping you clarify your career goals and introducing you to opportunities.

The CDC can help you learn how to create a successful network. Please make an appointment and plan on attending the numerous panels and mixers provided to you.