Jasper Career Network allows mentors and mentees to connect.
MANHATTAN.EDU / COURTESY
By Leyla Mercado, Asst. News Editor
Manhattan University has made it a mission to make sure students get the most out of networking and career opportunities during their time at MU through the addition of the virtual Jasper Career Network.
The Center for Career Development (CCD) launched the Jasper Career Network as a more convenient and accessible way for students to go on job searches, explore internship opportunities and further the search into their future career paths.
Students who utilize the network are able to gain career guidance from specialists in various fields as part of this platform. It’s designed to connect students with mentors, enhancing their networking abilities. Students are able to look into opportunities posted through the Jasper Career Network, which are sourced from Handshake, another online platform for students to find resources relating to jobs sourced from a wide spectrum of certified employer recruitment partners.
Leony Anne McKeown, associate director of employer relations at the CCD, touched on what ignited the creation of this new virtual feature that is meant to support the student body.
“[It’s] the desire and goal to grow the Manhattan Mentor Program and increase Mentor Program visibility on campus,” McKeown said. “This vibrant program is made possible by Manhattan’s loyal network of alumni professionals/mentor volunteers. Alumni are reconnecting with familiar faces and meeting Jaspers they have not met before, including Jasper colleagues who work at the same company as them … All community members on this platform share the desire to connect and help each other. Many alumni mentors on the Jasper Career Network were once student mentees.”
McKeown went on to further discuss the intent behind the new network.
“The Jasper Career Network allows students and alumni in the Mentor Program to engage with fellow mentors and mentees more easily between in-person program events,” McKeown said. “The purpose of the Jasper Career Network is to increase awareness of mentoring opportunities on campus, expand the long-running Manhattan [University] Mentor Program, and improve the student mentee and alumni mentor experience.”
A sense of community is embedded within the program, as it involves Jasper students and alumni alike.
According to an article on manhattan.edu, president Milo Riverso, Ph.D., is also one of the founders of the Jasper Career Network.
Riverso, an MU alum, spoke on the benefits provided by the program for future generations of Manhattan University students.
“By providing a supportive online environment and valuable resources, we want to empower our students and alumni to increase their connections and contribute to our institution’s goal of helping to launch and grow the careers of all Manhattan College graduates,” Riverso said in the article.
Lois Boateng, a sophomore political science major, further elaborated on what the new program means to her and how it can help to jumpstart her future.
“What excites me about the Jasper Career Network program is being able to connect with Jasper alumni who are currently working in the career field that I plan on working in,” Boateng said. “It provides opportunities for internships, jobs, and mentorship, making it easier to succeed after graduation. For future generations, it creates a lasting support system, where each new group of students can benefit from the connections and advice of those who came before them. This cycle of support helps everyone grow and succeed.”
The Jasper Career Network virtual feature is now live and available for all students to make an account and begin connecting with alumni from their respective industries.