Duck Career Network Alumni Career Advice and Events

Alumni Career Advice and Events

Read alumni career profiles and blogs, watch event recordings, and see what's coming up!


Career Profiles
Ducks with career and job search insight and industry experience are here for you, offering their perspectives and advice to enhance and inspire you in your career path. Through alumni career profiles and blogs, you can access alumni insiders’ perspective on jobs, organizations, and industries.
Sarah Koski

A champion of marginalized communities

April 9, 2024
Sarah Koski's career in nonprofit management and service to marginalized groups has come with many lessons learned, humbling experiences, and opportunities to grow as both a professional and a person. Megan McKinney, associate director of the Duck Career Network, sat down with Koski to learn about her path and what it’s taught her. Koski holds a BA in political science and is a proud graduate of Clark Honor's College, where women mentors and professors impacted her greatly. Recently, Koski was honored with the Emerging Leader award by the Oregon Commission for Women.
Bonnie Shelton

Charting career success: navigating diverse paths with Boise's parks and recreation maven

February 2, 2024
Bonnie Shelton graduated from the UO in 2010 with a degree in journalism & electronic media. A former news reporter, Bonnie successfully weaved her talents and aspirations to pursue an exciting career at the City of Boise Parks and Recreation department. In this wide ranging interview, Bonnie credits UO faculty mentors for guiding her path and shares how she advocates for the spotlighting of diverse perspectives in her community.
Kanealii Ngosorio

Leadership through service—A business and project management leader's tips for success after graduation

April 11, 2023

Kāneali‘i Ng-Osorio earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from the UO in 1998. He is now an enterprise business analyst for Kamehameha Schools, serves on the board of directors for the UO Alumni Association, and is the Hawaii Ducks regional UOAA chapter president. Kāne shares what motivates him to stay so involved supporting current and future Ducks, along with advice for current students and recent graduates.
 


 

Event Recordings
We don’t want our alumni to miss out on our array of webinars. There’s no substitute for meeting in person, but when that’s not possible, or you’ve missed an event, a recording is the next-best thing. Watch these at your convenience, then consider attending a future event!
OEMBA webinar

What Your CFO Wants You To Know

October 31, 2024

Join the Oregon Executive MBA alumni group for an exclusive virtual Q&A with Tyler Sloat, CFO and COO of Freshworks. With over 25 years of finance and operations experience, Tyler shares key insights into the CFO’s role as a strategic business partner. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from an industry leader!

Legacy of Leadership

A Legacy of Leadership: Reflections From an Experienced Mentor

September 13, 2024

Hear from Vincson Green, BA '83 who spent 25 years as an impactful store director for Target before retiring to focus on building a non-profit organization and serving as a board member with the Black Alumni Network. Vincson shares the key strategies he employed to lead diverse, high-performing teams, while highlighting the importance of diversity, mentorship, adaptability, and resilience in effective leadership.

Securing Tomorrow

Securing Tomorrow: Cybersecurity Trends & Career Paths

June 14, 2024

Hear from a panel of cybersecurity experts from the UO community. Learn about the UO's new cybersecurity major, outreach programs shaping the future of cybersecurity careers, and strategic partnerships that strengthen Oregon’s resilience to cyberattacks. We'll also explore the benefits and challenges of AI in digital security.

Ducks in Finance

Ducks in Finance: Navigating the Corporate Financial Landscape

April 18, 2024

This webinar provides an insightful journey into the world of corporate finance with our esteemed panel of University of Oregon alumni, each carving their paths to success. Whether you're embarking on your corporate finance journey or seeking a transition into the field, this webinar promises to be a rich source of knowledge, information, and invaluable insights.

The Business of You: Mastering the Art of Personal Branding for Professionals

The Business of You: Mastering the Art of Personal Branding for Professionals

January 29, 2024

In this informative webinar, you’ll delve into the intricate world of personal branding and learn how to elevate your career. Led by seasoned professionals from the UO community, this session offers a comprehensive guide to building and refining your personal brand. You’ll explore topics such as self-development, communication, decision-making, authenticity, articulating a personal and professional narrative, and more.

Alumni Skill-Share
Both hard and soft skills play equal roles in employment, career success and work-life balance. When seeking the ideal job candidate, employers must consider a diverse set of skills that demonstrate achievements. Whether it's people-oriented skills or analytical data-centered skills, our Duck alumni community is made up professionals eager to share their expertise!
The Duck Career Network is happy partner with volunteers to bring you an ever-growing skill-sharing series, covering a wide range of career topics. Check back often see what's new!
The Creator Economy

The Creator Economy: From TikTok Stars to Business Leaders

October 14, 2022

Have you ever wondered what it takes to make it big in content creation and social media entrepreneurship? Join us for this skill-sharing workshop where we’ll learn from two recent grads turned TikTok entrepreneurs. Adam Faris, BA ’20 and Connor Bussey, BS ’19 will discuss their early beginnings in startups and the path they have taken to scale a social media side hustle into a successful business, now partnering with brands like Sports Illustrated, Road & Track, and the Seattle Seahawks.

Grow With Google

Grow With Google: Use YouTube to Grow Your Business

October 7, 2022

YouTube isn't just a place to watch cat videos - it's also the second largest search engine in the world! Join Bryan Caplan, BA ’07, your Dedicated Trainer for Grow with Google, as he shares ways you can tap into the power of YouTube to grow your business.

Embracing a growth mindset

Embracing a Growth Mindset

October 1, 2022

Together, we will learn how the phrase 'not yet' can change your mindset. In a flourishing culture that embraces a growth mindset, the word 'no' is replaced with 'not yet.' Just because you or your team have not yet accomplished something, that doesn't mean it's impossible! When we embrace this shift in mentality, we are more willing to explore new possibilities and outcomes, and create an environment where everyone is supported in gaining new skills, insights, and perspectives.

UO Alumni Association

Up Your LinkedIn Game

May 2, 2022

LinkedIn is a powerful tool that can help you build your professional network, learn what you need for career advancement, and even find new opportunities in your next job search. You know that, but so does everyone else. James Chang, Director of the Duck Career Network, teaches you how to maximize your LinkedIn profile, connect with fellow UO alumni using powerful search tools, and navigate the world of online networking.

Grow With Google

Grow With Google: Power Your Job Search With Google Tools

May 2, 2022

Ducks fly higher in the job search with the help of Google tools! Join UO Bryan Caplan, BA ’07, your Dedicated Trainer for Grow with Google, as he walks you through discovering new job opportunities and how to organize and enhance your job search experience using tools including Google Docs and Google Sheets, as well as Google's Job Search feature.

Upcoming Events
Life Beyond UO
We want to ensure our graduating Ducks are prepared for life after the UO, and our alumni volunteers are here to help. We leverage our alumni as advice givers and storytellers to the benefit of soon-to-be grads. This blog series, completely written by alumni contributors, features a variety of helpful content for students and new graduates. Topics range from setting down roots in a new city to establishing oneself as a professional, from interview and job search tips to the benefits of networking and chapter involvement.
Two women talking at table

Negotiation and Knowing Your Worth

July 30, 2019
You’ve made it through the application process, survived your interviews, connected your potential new manager with your references, and at the end of this gauntlet they like you, they really like you! The race is not over when you receive an offer, though, as now you’re entering the negotiation process.
Hands cutting photos to make a collage

Working Outside of Your Major

July 25, 2019
A career path rarely follows a straight line – a successful career path follows your passions through unpredictable twists and turns. Read on to learn how the interests, passions, and personalities of these alumni guided them to careers they now love, and gain advice to help you move closer to your ideal career path.
Three Young Woman at Work

Your First 30 Days on the Job

July 2, 2019

One of the first things to think about in this process is that it’s still kind of an interview. You’ve landed the job and gotten through the hard part, but these first 30 days are all about making that first impression.

Interview Prep

Interview Prep

June 18, 2019

Preparing for a job interview can seem scary and intimidating, but we'll help you nail your first impression with potential employers, and tackle those tricky interview questions like a pro.