With TCU’s nationally ranked academic and athletics programs and growing name recognition, a Horned Frog pedigree has become an appreciating asset. Mike Caldwell, executive director of TCU’s Center for Career & Professional Development, said alumni in a job search should leverage their TCU degrees, go for highly competitive roles and tap into the alumni support system.

How has TCU’s network expanded in recent years?

We’ve developed a much stronger brand in a lot of communities outside of Dallas-Fort Worth. Over the past five years, we’ve seen employers who are coming to recruit at TCU or posting jobs at TCU from around the country. I think the university has evolved to a point where we’re known not just here in our backyard but nationwide as well. And that brand is helped by our alumni who work and live in communities outside of Dallas-Fort Worth.

“Generally, TCU alumni are willing to help, willing to share information and willing to support in any way that they can.”
Mike Caldwell

What does the TCU name signal to potential employers?

Four out of five of our students complete an internship while they’re here at TCU. So I think it’s that perfect combination of things that employers are looking for: someone who has great academic credentials, experience outside the classroom, good soft skills — leadership, communication, teamwork — and is values-driven and goal-oriented.

How does TCU’s growth help Horned Frogs with job prospects?

Many companies have what is known as target schools. A lot of times this is with larger employers — accounting, finance, other firms that are hiring several hundred grads or interns a year. To be on the target list means that the employer has identified the college or university as a place to recruit from. I recently met with an employer in Denver, and we are one of her target schools. That gives our students access to jobs and internships that otherwise they might miss out on.

I’ve heard from employers who have referred to TCU’s values that they like — the values-centered approach, the leadership-centered approach — because they’re looking for people who can come in and make a difference. We have highly qualified and highly marketable majors: our nursing and health sciences programs, our business programs, even our fine arts programs. Those are nationally recognized, and it makes a really big difference for employers and for our students that those programs receive that recognition.

How can alumni use TCU connections on the job search?

One unique advantage of TCU is as an alum you can access Career Services for life. You can always make a Zoom appointment or contact us to get assistance with your career, no matter when you graduated.

You can also leverage the network through the alumni chapters in the various cities that we are in. If there’s not a chapter in your area, there’s probably another person who would be willing to meet up and connect. Generally, TCU alumni are willing to help, willing to share information and willing to support in any way that they can. And that really helps you leverage your degree to the fullest because it’s a lifelong process — it’s not that you’re just here four years and done.

For those really competitive roles that may seem out of reach, I always like to tell people it may not be out of reach. Look and see: Are there alumni working at that company or that organization or in that field or in that same role? There probably are TCU people, because they’re working in a lot of really fantastic places, and your connection to TCU opens a lot of those doors.

 — As told to Laura Samuel Meyn

Editor’s Note: The questions and answers have been edited for length and clarity.

Send your career questions to tcumagazine@tcu.edu. For more information about careers, visit careers.tcu.edu.