Looking for advice on how to break into a new field? Wondering what career options you might have with a particular degree?
Just Ask!
That’s the name of a new online platform that connects students — or any other member of the Kenyon community — with members of the College’s extensive alumni network. And it’s pretty much the full instruction manual on how to use it, too.
Users with inquiries about career options, an interest in being mentored and much more simply need to type in a question at , and the query is automatically routed to a select number of alumni who are deemed the most relevant based on the area of interest. Responses are delivered by email within days.
It’s an elegant solution to an age-old challenge as students and recent alums, in particular, consider their professional pathways, according to Lee Schott, dean for career development.
“Students have career interests. We have alumni in those careers. Our goal is to connect them,” he said. “Just Ask is that connector.”
In the process, it creates a nearly barrier-free way for about 25,000 students, alumni, faculty and staff to network.
“You don’t need to go into a database. You don’t need to create a profile. You don’t need to find individuals based on what you perceive to be your interest. You just ask questions to the platform and it finds people to connect you to,” Schott said. “So it takes a lot of that legwork out of a traditional digital networking tool and makes it one step instead of a dozen steps.”
Just Ask went live a few months ago, and since then more than 100 generous alumni have responded to dozens of questions. They have shared advice, news about job openings, even email addresses and phone numbers to help continue the conversation.
President Julie Kornfeld said the offering not only strengthens bonds between past and present students but fortifies ongoing strategic initiatives focused on career development and experiential learning.
“Just Ask represents the latest evolution of the Kenyon community, making it easier than ever for our students and alumni to connect and help each other on their professional journeys,” she said. “Who better to help current and recent students as they seek career advice and mentorship than those who have walked the same steps in Gambier?”
While some users seek specific advice related to a particular degree or graduate school, others have broad questions related to career exploration. Faculty can use the tool to find alumni with expertise that might make them a perfect fit for a panel discussion or guest speaker in class, as well.
In each case, Just Ask aims to connect them with the alumni who are best suited to offer advice and eager to start a conversation.
“It’s not just information you would get from an internet search. It is a connection. It’s a relationship. And that’s what we want,” Schott said. “We want this to be step one into building a relationship with somebody on the ground »Æ¹Ï¾«Æ·field you want to go into.”