According to a Sept. 15 New York Times article, there is a noticeable trend over the past decade in which college degree holders make up a growing share of the long-term unemployed. Amid such uncertainty, post-graduation plans have become one of the most pertinent topics for students. While the official Kenyon website states that the College currently boasts a 93% successful outcome rate for the Class of 2024, it is undeniable that looming anxieties over a waning job market have cast doubts upon the stability of numerous career paths, leaving students to question the relevance of their coursework in the workforce as well as to consider alternative professional trajectories.
If any of this sounds familiar, don’t fret! The Career Development Office (CDO) recently introduced a new initiative titled “Just Ask” to ameliorate your worries. Just Ask is an online platform that acts as a bridge between current Kenyon students and alumni. Students can ask questions or seek advice on just about anything from graduate school applications to long-term career prospects, while alumni are invited to respond by sharing their experiences, offering guidance and, in some cases, helping students attain specific milestones. To participate, all students have to do is fill out a simple form on the Just Ask website consisting of basic background information queries as well as their specific questions. And within as little time as just a couple of days, they can expect a response from alumni with relevant experience.
In an email to the Collegian, Dean for Career Development Lee Schott expressed enthusiasm for the launch of the program, emphasizing that Just Ask is “immediately accessible to all students and other alumni without [needing] to log in.” According to Schott, The Kenyon Network, the most direct predecessor to Just Ask which was also implemented by the CDO, had required students and alumni to log in to access its features. The office discontinued it in 2021 due to low engagement and a lack of profile updates.
The idea behind Just Ask was initially conceived in the summer of 2024 by a strategic working group, whose initiatives included implementing recommendations for the College’s 2021 strategic plan. While the CDO does not currently have future plans in place for expanding the program, it is happy with the engagement rate of Just Ask, Schott said, adding: “93% of inquiries have had at least one response.”
Several students shared his optimism. In a message to the Collegian, Yemaya Gaspard ’28 wrote, “Using Just Ask was very simple. … I thought [it] was very helpful for connecting with alumni who have been in my position previously. I was able to keep in contact with them, not only for my initial question but for follow-ups as well.” Others echoed similar sentiments, noting that many alumni had been eager to answer their inquiries while also acknowledging certain difficulties with pursuing further communication and asking follow-up questions. Amya Green ’26 suggested that a future update could include a more streamlined way to “keep track of the communication thread” to ensure that students can easily respond to all messages received. Rosa Kwon ’26 had a similar idea: “It would be great if the site was in Google form format, where we could exchange our LinkedIns and emails because I had to message my email to alumni through Just Ask just so [that] we could transition over to email.”
When asked about the method by which alumni are selected to respond to each question, Schott said, “Just Ask uses an algorithm to identify the best alumni to answer inquiries.” Many agreed that the responses they had received were tailored to the specific needs and interests of each student as indicated on their respective Just Ask form submissions. Gaspard said that all of the responses to her question had led to “great follow-up conversations” and that they had “encouraged” her to remain in touch by asking more questions via email or setting up phone calls. Similarly, Kwon stated that the alumni had been “enthusiastic to offer mentorship and advice.”
Schott said he hopes that Just Ask will be a “positive addition” to the Kenyon community, stressing the importance of networking: “Connections are an incredibly important and valuable part of life.” He also mentioned that the active LinkedIn group “The Kenyon Network” is a great additional resource for all.
Just Ask is available 24/7 for students and alumni to access via JustAsk.kenyon.edu, and all you have to do is type in a question.