FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Table of Contents What is the Pitt Career Network? Is the directory secure? Who has access? Who can use the Pitt Career Network? Is the Pitt Career Network an Employment Service? How does it work? How much does it cost? Where can I find user help? What if I don't find anyone I want to contact? What if my industry or job function is not listed? Where can I find tips and advice on informational interviewing? What is a Pitt Career Network contact? How frequently will I be contacted? What if I no longer want to be a contact? What if I don't want my information listed? What are the Alumni Online Services? How is the Pitt Career Network different from the other online services? Do I need to register separately? What if I can't remember my online login and password? I am searching for a new job, should I register as a contact? I got a new job. How do I update my career information? This is a terrific service! How else can I support it? What other career services does the University of Pittsburgh offer for alumni? Who can I speak with about other questions or comments? What is the Pitt Career Network? The Pitt Career Network is an online directory of Pitt alumni volunteers and details about their careers and professional experiences. This is a resource for alumni and students seeking career-related information, insight and advice. The Pitt Career Network is a partnership between Career Services and the Pitt Alumni Association. BACK TO THE TOP Is the directory secure? There are multiple technological as well as human processes in place to ensure the privacy of alumni data. All alumni data are physically secured at a vendor-managed facility with high-level security allowing only authorized staff access. There are also protocols in place to prevent the database from being "mined" for lists of consumer data. Network security is achieved with firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and distinct layers built into the database software. This includes "circuit-breaker" software that provides notification of or prohibits suspicious behavior. Outside security consultants are employed to conduct periodic "attacks" on the network to test the system against the latest security threats. BACK TO THE TOP Who has access? Who can use the Pitt Career Network? Only registered Pitt students and Pitt graduates who have registered for the free Alumni Online Services have access to this site. BACK TO THE TOP Is the Pitt Career Network an Employment Service? No. The Pitt Career Network is not an employment service or a job board, but it is a great way to learn about careers and to make potentially valuable connections with Pitt alumni. PantherTRACS is a job board for students and alumni provided by Career Services. BACK TO THE TOP How does it work? Easy. Alumni volunteer to become contacts. They enter professional information online. Students and alumni can then customize searches of the profiles based on school, employer type, employer name, industry, job function, career stage, job title, city, state, country or any combinations of those criteria. A creative search can bring you to truly unique and valuable information. BACK TO THE TOP How much does it cost? Nothing. The Pitt Career Network is a free service for registered Pitt students from every campus and graduate school, in addition to alumni who are registered for the free Alumni Online Services offered by the Pitt Alumni Association. BACK TO THE TOP Where can I find user help? Login. A welcome page will direct you to user help and guidelines. If you can not find an answer there or in the FAQ section, please send an e-mail containing your specific questions to networking@alumni.pitt.edu. BACK TO THE TOP What if I don't find anyone I want to contact? Don't get discouraged! First, try expanding your search by selecting fewer search criteria. Also, be creative in defining your search. Contacts in your targeted career field may be listed in more than one category. Finally, new Pitt Career Network contacts are volunteering daily, so be sure to check back frequently. BACK TO THE TOP What if my industry or job function is not listed? First, look through the industry options for a more broad description of your industry, i.e. if you are a Physician's Assistant, select "Health Care, Other" for industry and "Health Care" for your primary job function. You can more fully describe your position, duties and responsibilities in the "Job Description" Section. Please note that "Job Title" is a required field and you can search the job title field. BACK TO THE TOP Where can I find tips and advice on informational interviewing? Cy, The Cyber Counselor, offers helpful tips for all types of interviews. Find Cy at (www.careers.pitt.edu/cybercounselor/cybercounselor.html). BACK TO THE TOP What is a Pitt Career Network contact? A Pitt Career Network contact is a Pitt alumnus volunteering to help you. Contacts indicate their availability for informational interviews, job shadowing and internships. BACK TO THE TOP How frequently will I be contacted? That is up to you. Once you complete a profile, your status is active. You may adjust your status by updating your profile. Profile status can be active, inactive until a specified date or inactive. Inactive profiles are not available to contact seekers. BACK TO THE TOP What if I no longer want to be a contact? What if I don't want my information listed? If networking has helped you in your career at any point, we hope you will consider keeping your file posted. To change the status of your profile click on "Update Information" and change to "Inactive until further notice." BACK TO THE TOP What is the Online Directory? How is the Pitt Career Network different from the Online Directory? Do I need to register separately? The Online Directory is a directory of all Pitt alumni. The Pitt Career Network is a directory of alumni who have specifically volunteered to share professional experience and other career information with interested Pitt students and alumni. Only degreed Pitt alumni can access the Online Directory. Alumni must register for the free Alumni Online Services to gain access to both the Pitt Career Network and the Online Directory. This registration validates alumni status so the Alumni Online Services remain secure and exclusive. BACK TO THE TOP What if I can't remember my Online Services login and password? At the login screen, click "Retrieve It" and your password can be e-mailed to you. (If the system cannot find your e-mail address, you might want to try your alumni forwarding address username@alumni.pitt.edu.) Then remember to keep it in a safe place. BACK TO THE TOP I am searching for a new job, should I register as a contact? Yes! Past professional experience will be just as helpful to contact seekers as current experience. A person looking to enter that field may gain valuable insight by learning why you left. BACK TO THE TOP I got a new job. How do I update my career information? Congratulations on your new job! If you are already registered as a Career Networker, then click here for instructions on updating your information.. If you are not yet registered as a Career Networker, then click here for instructions on how to register.. BACK TO THE TOP This is a terrific service! How else can I support it? Students - spread the word to your roommates, classmates and friends. Tell them how easy and helpful the Pitt Career Network has been for you. Remember to become a contact after graduation. Alumni - Ask your friends to become contacts and join the Pitt Alumni Association, for even more access to helpful services and ways to make connections. BACK TO THE TOP What other career services does the University of Pittsburgh offer for Alumni? Career Services offers multiple services including counseling, job fairs, networking events, access to the PantherTRACS job search engine designed exclusively for Pitt students and alumni and many other resources. (www.careers.pitt.edu) BACK TO THE TOP Who can I speak with about other questions or comments? Click "Contact Us" at the top of this page or call 412-648-7130 to speak with the Networking Coordinator. BACK TO THE TOP

	Note: Our privacy policy prohibits using contact records for commercial, political, or solicitation purposes. Violating this policy will result in forfeiting future access to the network.		© 1995-2004 University of Pittsburgh Revised 07/08/04 Webmaster