Alumni Careers Network

This is a network of Alumni (former students) of the University of Auckland who have made themselves available to provide advice to students who are exploring their career options. If you are a university graduate and would like to assist as an advisor on the Network, please contact University Careers Services on careers@auckland.ac.nz.

A student interested in finding out more about a particular occupation is referred to a network member working in that area by a Careers Consultant from University Careers Services. The student then contacts the network member and these two people organise a mutually agreeable time and place to meet.

At the meeting the student will ask a range of questions about the job, what is involved, how the network member got into it, prospects, training, and any other relevant industry or career related information. The discussion will probably take between fifteen and twenty minutes.

Students are encouraged to

• prepare questions beforehand
• dress as if going to a formal job interview
• keep to a pre-agreed time limit.

Alumni are expected to

• give frank answers to students questions
• be realistic and encouraging
• give other useful relevant contacts to student if appropriate.

The overall aim is to assist students in their career search and decision making in an effective way. It is hoped that the student will finish the informational interview knowing more about an area of work which is of interest to them and be able to progress as a result with their career plans.

Network members have stipulated whether they are available for five, ten or an open number of student contacts in one year. This will be monitored by University Careers Service staff when referring students to a network member. We hope this network will be an opportunity for both students and alumni to continue in their life long learning.

Accountancy, Audiology, Biology, Biotechnology, Business, Careers Advisory, Chemistry, Counselling, Development, Economics, Education, Employment Relations, Engineering, Epidemiology, Ethnology, Film & Broadcasting, Finance, Food Science, Health, Human Resources, Information Technology, Insurance, International Business, Language Teaching, Law, Library Management, Marketing, Mathematics, Medicine, Occupational Therapy, Operations Management, Planning, Property, Psychology, Public Relations, Recruitment, Research, Science, Social Policy, Sports, Teaching, Telecommunications, Theatre, Travel & Tourism.

You will find a full list of specific job titles in the following document:

Attend our Networking workshop to access the Network members' contact details, or contact University Careers Services:

Find Workshops

What a user of the network has said:
"From my own experience I think it’s a great resource and used it myself when in my final year. I found it really helpful and encouraging, and would encourage all students to make use of it."
Solicitor and Alumni Careers Network member