Students looking for information and advice about their majors now have the chance to participate in a new career development program.

Last Monday, the Student Alumni Association (SAA), sponsored by the Office of Alumni Relations and Career Services, launched the Billikens Encounter Alumni Mentors (BEAM), a program designed to establish a relationship between students and alumni mentors regarding career and networking possibilities.

BEAM offers students the opportunity to make professional contacts and seek advice about college life and beyond.

“For students who are undecided on their major or unsure of what to do with it after graduation, this program hopes to provide some real-life understanding of how others got to where they are now,” said Kathleen Noonan, chairperson of the SAA’s career development committee. “And even for those who think they already know where they want to go, it’s just as important for them to research their options and have someone give them advice.”

SAA advisers will partner students with mentors based on students’ interests and career goals.

Students may seek advice on career-related topics such as resumes, internships, industry trends, career-path planning and job hunting, to personal questions, such as where to live after college and how to adjust to life after graduation. Mentors can also share information about day-to-day responsibilities within his or her profession.

While it is not a job placement service, BEAM serves as an information exchange that aims to increase students’ knowledge within their professional interests.

The degree of mentoring relationships varies according to how much time a mentor can provide to the program.

Mentors may indicate how much time they can commit to the program, which can range from simple e-mail correspondence to lasting friendships. “We’re extremely excited about BEAM,” Noonan said. “We’re hoping that students can build relationships that can help them deepen their understanding about their current field or the major they are in the process of selecting.”

For more information about BEAM, call 977-3421 or e-mail [email protected]. Applications may be filed through their Web site, at www.slu.edu/alumni/beam.