Placement Service for Alumni

Vocational Guidance Available for Alumni, Seniors, And Underclassmen Through Alumni-College Plan

[ln an article in a recent issue Louis E.Leverone 'O4, member of the AlumniCouncil from Chicago, described theCouncil's new plan of Vocational Guidance for Dartmouth men, and listed themembership of nation-wide committees toassist in the project. Mr. Neef outlinesthis month his conception of the plan anddescribes methods of correlating his personnel work for the College (with seniorsand underclassmen) with the alumnimovement.—ED.]

THE COMMENTS THAT have come to the College since the February issue of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE in which Louis Leverone '04 launched the Alumni Vocational Guidance Committees in the various areas covered by Dartmouth men testify to the cordial approval and support of the program. It is evident that in a relatively short time organization will be perfected so that this activity will be a valuable service to Dartmouth graduates.

The task before the Alumni Placement Committees is two-fold: they are required to investigate the qualifications of applicants for employment and to have available many and varied employment opportunities. It is assumed that a graduate who wishes to take advantage of this opportunity for placement will get in touch with the committee in his area, supplying them with a detailed life-history and also with a statement covering the type of employment for which he wishes to be considered. It is likewise assumed that the alumni of the College will be aware of the existence of these committees either through the ALUMNI MAGAZINE or through the Dartmouth Clubs of which they are members. The list of applicants will, therefore, grow without further initiative on the part of the Committees.

The compilation of a list of companies in the various areas who may have likely openings from time to time, or the gathering of occasional opportunities, is a job that cannot be done by the committee members alone but requires the constant and alert co-operation of every alumnus of the College. Therefore, we anticipate that the alumni will develop the habit of informing the local committees promptly not only of definite openings that may come to their knowledge, but also suggest companies they consider worthwhile exploring. It is, of course, an axiom that Dartmouth employers will first turn to the Committees, if a vacancy occurs in their organization. If at any time there is uncertainty of the address of a Committee, or if opportunities might interest men from various localities, it will save time and confusion if the information is sent directly to the Personnel Bureau in Hanover and that office will relay the specifications to the proper committees.

The Alumni Placement Committees will concern themselves primarily with the replacement of men who have been out of college for some time and who have lost their jobs or who wish to shift to a more congenial occupation. They are willing also to assist a senior in making business contacts in his own area, if he has been unable to find a suitable opening through the Personnel Bureau at the College. The Committees will assume that such a senior has discussed employment with the Director of Personnel at Dartmouth, has familiar- ized himself with the scope of various oc- cupations, and has given serious thought to the field of business he wishes to enter. The Committees cannot be expected to give their time to the indifferent senior who suffers under the delusion that the home-folks owe him a job.

A great many of our undergraduates are dependent upon summer employment to supplement the financial aid which the College may extend to them for the next academic year. It has always been exceedingly difficult, in fact impossible, for the Personnel Bureau to ferret out adequate summer opportunities and we hope that the Committees with the assistance of local alumni will be able to unearth hidden possibilities. We already have a long list of applicants from freshmen to seniors on file at the Personnel Bureau; if opportunities are sent in to us, we shall do our best to recommend suitable, reliable, and deserving candidates from the areas in which the jobs are located.

Inquiries concerning the Alumni Committees, suggestions for perfecting the organization, requests for qualification records of applicants, job opportunities, in fact any correspondence either definitely or remotely related to the work that the Committees or the Personnel Bureau are attempting to carry on, will be appreciated. In the past, alumni comments have always been extremely helpful in revising our procedure to meet changing conditions and we hope, therefore, that we may be deluged with constructive suggestions.

DIRECTOR OF PERSONNEL BUREAU