Lynn Rooney
There’s an often-overlooked perk of a Daniels College of Business degree: the right to use the school’s career services resources for the entirety of an alum’s working life.
From reworking a resume to developing a networking strategy and crafting a mock interview, Daniels grads from near and far have sought advice from the mighty team of career coaches at Daniels Career Services. Their doors are always open to students seeking their first summer internship, but also to alumni for up to three years after graduation. Alumni never lose access to job boards, career fairs, employer events, networking tools and more.
“I have been so impressed with our alumni. They have so much value to add to any organization,” said Lynn Rooney, an associate director of undergraduate career services at Daniels. “What I’m doing is helping them articulate the value they bring and create that story to take to the next employer.”
Daniels grads boast some of the highest post-graduate employment rates at the University of Denver, with more than 91% of undergraduates and 94% of master’s and PhD alumni employed within six months of graduation.
But a layoff, bad work situation or mid-career blues can hit even the best employees. Rooney’s approach starts with helping a candidate develop their personal strategy for their job search. Perhaps a candidate has applied to dozens of jobs, but hasn’t heard back—a resume review might be in order. Perhaps a candidate is a veteran or government contractor hit by budget cuts. How might they transition their experience to a role in the private sector?
“We end up talking about the things you’re doing, what’s working, what’s not working,” Rooney said. “I’m not telling them to do something, I’m trying to draw out what their passions are. What were the parts they liked and disliked about their past role? What are the things they’re curious about?”
How can Daniels Career Services help you?
Mentoring and Networking
Learn to optimize LinkedIn and other tools and gain access to DU’s Crimson Connect
Personalized coaching
Explore your strengths, interests and the skills you can apply to a new job or industry
Resume, Cover Letter, Interview Prep
Career coaches know what to look for in resumes and cover letters and are well-versed in interview procedures
The next step is networking, through Daniels’ extensive alumni network and online platforms. Career coaches can help initiate a warm handoff to an alum who might be hiring, or working in the sector and eager to help. But they can also help a job seeker navigate the awkwardness of reaching out to a stranger.
“Sometimes it’s just, ‘How do I follow up? If this person says they can help, how do I keep that going forward?’” Rooney said. “It’s always about building a relationship, learning from people, and from that, the opportunity grows.”
Once an application catches an employer’s eye, the Daniels Career Services coaches are pros at helping alumni prepare for a job interview. Their deep industry experience allows them to take this further than most: by setting up practice cases and interviews for candidates based on the specific role they’re applying for.
More than 91% of Daniels undergraduates and 94% of master’s and PhD alumni employed within six months of graduation.
“We’ll talk through the types of interview questions, whether it’s round one, two or three,” Rooney said. “And, if it’s a case interview (which are typically done at consulting firms), we can give guidance on the case.”
Others, like Daniels alumna Grace Brockwell, have reached out to Career Services for help negotiating the terms and salary of a new role. Brockwell, who, in 2018, graduated with a double major in marketing and business information and analytics , was employed but seeking new opportunities, hoping to transition to a more technical role. After turning down two offers over the course of a year, she signed on to work for the WKS Restaurant Group, a company supporting more than 400 restaurant franchises including Denny’s, Wendy’s and Krispy Kreme.
“I found that it was really helpful to have a third party, someone who didn’t know me in my day-to-day life, who could give me an outsiders’ perspective on a job offer I had in front of me,” Brockwell said.
[Daniels career coaches are] extremely helpful. They were here for us as undergrads, and they’re here for us now.
— Grace Brockwell
While surrounded by supportive family, friends and mentors, Brockwell said asking for advice on certain topics, like salary standards within her industry and negotiation, were better suited for conversations with an objective third party.
“It’s really nice to separate the tactical part of changing jobs with the more separated, mentor-type role,” Brockwell said. “I was able to make sure I wasn’t leaving anything on the table.”
What’s more, Brockwell was able to find a role that spoke to her passions: helping the franchises she’ll work with build out new tools and solutions with artificial intelligence. She credits Daniels Career Services with supporting her every step of the way.
“I’m sure I’m only scratching the surface of what I’m capable of using Career Services for,” Brockwell said. “They’re extremely helpful. They were here for us as undergrads, and they’re here for us now.”