University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Career Development Center

PANTHERNET PROGRAM

If you have already reviewed the information below on how to use and access PantherNet,
you may enter PantherNet through this direct link.

WHAT IS PANTHERNET?

The PantherNet Program provides UWM students and alumni with the invaluable opportunity to speak with volunteering professionals to:
  • Investigate career fields and industries
  • Gain first hand career information and advice
  • Identify highly sought after career related skills and how to obtain those skills
  • Investigate graduate/professional school options
  • Identify strategies for locating internships and full-time employment
PantherNet is not a job placement service and volunteers are not expected to offer employment opportunities.

HOW DOES PANTHERNET WORK?

UWM students/alumni may search the online PantherNet database to identify professionals based on their college major(s), occupation, geographic location and colleges they attended.

It is the responsibility of the student/alumni to make the initial contact. Note the manner in which the volunteer wishes to be contacted (phone vs email) and be respectful of their request. Give the volunteer 2-4 days to respond. Depending on their availability, contact can range from a series of emails, a brief telephone conversation or an in-person meeting at the volunteer's place of employment.

Volunteers should never be solicited directly for employment. However, in additional to informational interviews, a volunteer may offer job shadowing opportunities, job search strategies, resume critiques, and invitations to professional organization meetings.

After speaking with a volunteer, it is highly recommended that you follow up with a thank you letter through email or regular mail. A thank you shows your appreciation for their time and is important if you would like to try to develop a networking relationship with them or if you have additional questions for them in the future. For an example thank you letter, see http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/CDC/infointerview_thankyou.html.

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Before contacting a volunteer, it is strongly recommended that you first research the career field or industry you will be speaking with them about. This research will help you to appear informed and help you develop effective questions. For more ideas of questions to ask, see http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/CDC/infointerview_questions.html


HOW TO ACCESS THE PANTHERNET DATABASE

Only enrolled UWM students and alumni can access the PantherNet database. The database of professionals is housed on the PantherJobs website. For specific information on PantherJobs and how it can help with your job search (campus, part-time, internship, and full-time) view the PantherJobs website.

To access PantherNet:

  • If you are a student or new graduate (within 12 months of graduation):
    • Input your UWM ePantherID as your username. Your UWM ePantherID is the letters in your UWM email address before @uwm.edu plus underscore uwm (e.g. If your UWM email address is jsmith@uwm.edu then your username would be jsmith_uwm). Note: Your username is not case sensitive.
    • Input your birth date as your password (yyyy-mm-dd). (e.g. Password: 1987-07-22).
  • If you are an alumnus/a (12 months after graduation):
    • Contact Cindy Petrites, Alumni Career Counselor, at petrites@uwm.edu to obtain a username and password. Be prepared to provide your middle name (if applicable), degree, major/discipline, and date of graduation. In order to provide a password, your current phone number or birthdate is also required.

  • Once you are in the system, use your mouse and roll over "Mentors" in the top navigation bar. Then click on "mentors home" in the drop down box.

  • Before searching for volunteers be sure to read the information to the left of the search box on Working With Your Mentor and Mentor Tokens.

  • When you search for volunteers use as few criteria as possible to obtain the best results.



1 Match Careers to Self
2 Research Careers
3 Confirm Decisions
4 Ongoing Planning

For additional job search assistance, make an appointment with a CDC Career Counselor. (Available to UWM students and alumni only)

© Career Development Center, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Questions or Comments?  Email: cdc@uwm.edu
Last Updated: April 30, 2008