What is PeopleGrove?
PeopleGrove is a digital platform that connects students, alumni, staff/faculty, and University partners by bringing them together in one place to help you get to where you want to go and thrive. Whether you need advice, knowledge about a job opportunity, or are seeking to connect with others in your field of interest, community members in PeopleGrove are there to inform, coach, and inspire. Connect through a “flash” meeting to gain access to information quickly, or establish an ongoing relationship. PeopleGrove is your resource to connections that count.
“Technology is nothing. What’s important is that you have a faith in people, that they’re basically good and smart, and if you give them tools, they’ll do wonderful things with them.”
– Steve Jobs
Students
Why Should I Join?
Creating an Account
Building a Profile
Making Connections
Sending Messages
NEW: Join a Group!
PeopleGrove is an easy-to-use platform that connects St. Kate’s students with alumni, employers, and other University partners for career conversations, networking, and job shadowing opportunities. Connect through a “flash” meeting to gain access to information quickly, or establish an ongoing relationship.
Benefits of Joining PeopleGrove
It’s Tailor-Made for You
Unlike other websites like LinkedIn, PeopleGrove is here just to help St. Kate’s students. Everyone you can connect with are there to create a supportive community invested in your career success.
Build Your Career Connections
Whether you need advice, knowledge about a job opportunity, or seek to connect with others in your field of interest, members of PeopleGrove are there to inform, coach, and inspire you.
Note: if you have an active St. Kate’s email address, select St. Kate’s SSO as your signup method.
Select the role you are joining as (Student)
Proceed through the steps to fill out your background information and preferences.
Note: After your account is created you may need to wait for an admin to approve your account. If that’s the case, you will receive an email once your account has been approved.
Building a Profile
This is a walkthrough of how to fill out every part of your profile. Don’t want to go through every section? Link your LinkedIn profile! On your profile page, scroll down until you see the section titled “Link Accounts” and click the blue bottom labeled “Connect LinkedIn.” To learn about building a LinkedIn profile, click here.
The Introduction Section
Name.Please enter the names that you feel most comfortable being addressed by. Location. Choose the metro closest to where you live. Current Position. Highlight the role that is most relevant to your field of interest, or simply fill in the title as “Student.” Current Degree Include graduation year, degree type, majors, and minors.
Topics to Help Others
The section titled “Select topics to let others know how you can help” is for you to list if you have particular topics that you may be able to share with alumni, faculty, staff, or partners. While students can get assistance on these topics, we also recognize that you as a student also have valuable life experience! Feel free to list yourself for any of these topics you’d like to assist others with.
Profile Picture
Your profile picture is your first impression, so make it a good one! Here are a few questions to ask yourself:
Does the picture look like me?
Does the image look professional?
Is there anything that could distract from the main focus of the picture? (hint: that’s you!)
Video Introductions. Video intros give you the opportunity to introduce yourself in a 60-second video. What better way to let others see the real you? If you enable Video Intros, you’ll see a video in your header section where your profile picture used to be. Note: To see example introductions, click on “Add Video Intro,” and you will have the option to “Watch Example Video Intros”
My Career Path Section
Education Background. Include graduation year, degree type, majors, and minors. Professional Experience. You are not required to list every job you’ve ever had. But, it can be helpful to provide a full overview of your experiences. Much like a resume, it’s up to your level of comfort to determine which jobs you feel comfortable highlighting. Pro-Tip: Give more information by answering the prompts given for you education and experience. It allows others to gain insight into the industry and specific experience!
“More About Me” Section
Hobbies. Use the check list to select hobbies that you feel the most passionate about. Pronouns. Choose from a selection of available pronoun options, or label as “ask person” or “choose not to disclose” if the available pronouns do not align with your identity. 1st Generation Student/Graduate. If your parents didn’t attend college, then you are probably a first-generation college student or graduate. Racial/Ethnic Identities. Choose all of the racial and/or ethnic identities you identify with. Important Note: Only answer the questions to the point that you feel comfortable disclosing. You can also choose to hide sections based on your comfort level.
Making Connections
What are Career Connections?
Career connections are relationships with others so that you can share resources and opportunities. Career connections can be anything from sending a few messages to an alumni about their experience at a company, to a long-lasting, mutually beneficial professional relationship, or anything in between! It’s a type of network connection that is easy and accessible to everyone.
Who Can You Connect With on PeopleGrove?
Alumni: Fellow Katies can help you leverage your expertise from St. Kates, give you insight into fields of interest, and answer questions about career-related topics. Faculty: Faculty can give you insight into industries of interest. Staff: Staff members can give advice and get you connected to resources. University Partners: Employers and other professionals can give you insider information on jobs and industries
Sending Messages
On PeopleGrove, there are two different types of messaging: Messages and Chatting.
Messaging
A message is sent to a community member who is not currently online. This is a good way to reach out for an ongoing conversation, or set up a time to meet. Use a Template. PeopleGrove makes it easy and provides template messages for you to send, with topics such as Networking Advice, Career Exploration, and Choosing a Major. Just edit it to each person you message! Don’t like any of the templates? Click here to see an extensive list of templates you can use to reach out to ask the questions that are on your mind. Create Your Own Message. You can also type out your own customized message to each possible connection. Request a Meeting. If you would prefer, you can also see if you can just schedule a meeting with them. (Note: This function only works if the community member has synced their calendar to PeopleGrove.)
Chatting
Using the “chat now” features allows you to interact with a community member who is currently online. This is a good way to reach out for a quick question or spontaneous chat. The “Chat Now” button brings you directly to the inbox of your account, preloaded with the message:
“Hi (name), Do you have a minute to chat? I see you’re online right now.”
With this message, you can quickly connect with a professional, and learn more about their experiences. However, you can also type your own custom message if you have a specific topic or question in mind.
What Should I Say?
On PeopleGrove, you can reach out to any of these people with career-related questions that are on your mind, or strike up a conversation about a shared hobby or connection! If you are looking for ideas on what to say, PeopleGrove provides premade templates built in to both Messages and Chats. If you are looking for additional ideas, take a look at this excellent guide for a wide variety of topics!
NEW: Join a Group!
New to PeopleGrove is the Groups Feature, which is a place for you to connect with others in a simple, approachable way!
What groups are available?
Some groups are only available to people already enrolled in existing external groups, and there is one group that will be for everyone and anyone to join!
Career Talk
Career Talk, hosted by the Career Development Office, is an open community where you can engage with fellow Katies and grow your network! Join our group to ask career questions, check out interesting articles or videos, or to learn about tips and tricks that boost your resume.
TRIO SSS
The TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) PeopleGrove group aims to provide TRIO students with an additional source of support and a sense of community. By participating in this group, TRIO students have an opportunity to discuss classes or assignments and arrange study groups for the purpose of achieving academic success.
AMP & Community Leaders Cohort
The AMP & Community Leaders PeopleGrove group is for current AMP and Community leaders students in the spring 2023 programs. This space is for you to connect and share. Feel free to ask questions about the programs, share upcoming events and professional development opportunities, etc.
If you have questions about the AMP or Community Leaders programs, please contact: communitywork@stkate.edu.
Alumni
Why Should I Join?
Creating an Account
Building a Profile
Making Connections
NEW: Join a Group!
PeopleGrove is St. Catherine University’s online platform to create and foster meaningful connections within the Katie Community.
Benefits of Joining PeopleGrove
Connect with Students
Connecting with a St. Kate’s student is a great way to share valuable insight and support at a critical stage of career exploration and decision-making. Connections in PeopleGrove are completely driven by the parameters you set. Students are responsible for initiating all connections, and you have total control over the frequency of contact, types of inquiries, and the format of conversations. PeopleGrove’s built-in messaging and video-call capabilities allow you to share your knowledge and industry expertise based on your preferences. You can also interact with other Katies to network, or seek advice.
Paving the way forward for Katies by sharing your expertise. Volunteer as a career connection through informational interviews. Be a mentor. Open your professional network to support Katies in their professional career journey. Connect with other Katies in your field or who share your interests.
Connect with Faculty & Staff
Current faculty and staff at St. Catherine University are looking to help connect students with professionals from any industry. Faculty and Staff can use PeopleGrove to reach out to Alumni to request them to be guest speakers, or referrals for students when applying to jobs/internships. Build your resume (and your repertoire) while also helping students grow!
You can also reach out to Staff and Faculty with questions or requests of your own. PeopleGrove is a great way to stay in contact with your previous professors, mentors, or folks who helped you during your time at St. Kates.
Connect with University Partners
If you are currently looking for opportunities, PeopleGrove is a great way to connect with Partners who work in your industry/organization of interest.
Note: if you have an active St. Kate’s email address, select St. Kate’s SSO as your signup method.
Select the role you are joining as (Alumni)
Proceed through the steps to fill out your background information and preferences.
Note: After your account is created you may need to wait for an admin to approve your account. If that’s the case, you will receive an email once your account has been approved.
Building a Profile
This is a walkthrough of how to fill out every part of your profile. Don’t want to go through every section? Link your LinkedIn profile! On your profile page, scroll down until you see the section titled “Link Accounts” and click the blue bottom labeled “Connect LinkedIn.” To learn about building a LinkedIn profile, click here.
The Introduction Section
Name.Please enter the names that you feel most comfortable being addressed by. Location. Choose the metro closest to where you live. Current Position. Highlight the role that you are currently in. If you are unemployed, list your most recent experience. Degree. Your profile will automatically highlight your most recent education, whether you are currently enrolled or the degree is already completed.
Topics to Help Others
The section titled “Select topics to let others know how you can help” is for you to showcase the topics that you feel most comfortable discussing with students, other alumni, faculty/staff, and partners.
Profile Picture
Your profile picture is your first impression, so make it a good one! Here are a few questions to ask yourself:
Does the picture look like me?
Does the image look professional?
Is there anything that could distract from the main focus of the picture? (hint: that’s you!)
Video Introductions. Video intros give you the opportunity to introduce yourself in a 60-second video. What better way to let others see the real you? If you enable Video Intros, you’ll see a video in your header section where your profile picture used to be. Note: To see example introductions, click on “Add Video Intro,” and you will have the option to “Watch Example Video Intros”
My Career Path Section
Education Background. Include graduation year, degree type, majors, and minors. Professional Experience. You are not required to list every job you’ve ever had. But, it can be helpful to provide a full overview of your experiences. Much like a resume, it’s up to your level of comfort to determine which jobs you feel comfortable highlighting. Pro-Tip: Give more information by answering the prompts given for you education and experience. It allows others to gain insight into the industry and specific experience!
“More About Me” Section
Hobbies. Use the check list to select hobbies that you feel the most passionate about. Pronouns. Choose from a selection of available pronoun options, or label as “ask person” or “choose not to disclose” if the available pronouns do not align with your identity. Highlighting Your Profile. Under the heading, “I would prefer my profile to be highlighted to mentees who identify with any of the following groups”, you have the option to allow your profile to be shown more frequently to other users who hold the identities that you select. For example, if you click, “LGBTQ+” your profile will be shown more often to folks who self-identified as being LGBTQ+. It is recommended that you only select identities in this section with ones that you personally hold, or have particular specialization in (e.g. if you are a disability specialist, you can select ‘people with disability’). Mentorship Availability. Under the heading, “What is your long-term/ short-term availability for Mentorship?” you have the option to select when in the year you are available to be a mentor. This is an optional part of your resume, and does not lock you into a mentorship. This is just a way for students to see your general availability. 1st Generation Student/Graduate. If your parents didn’t attend college, then you are probably a first-generation college student or graduate. Racial/Ethnic Identities. Choose all of the racial and/or ethnic identities you identify with. Important Note: Only answer the questions to the point that you feel comfortable disclosing. You can also choose to hide sections based on your comfort level.
Making Connections
What are Career Connections?
Career connections are relationships with others so that you can share resources and opportunities. Career connections can be anything from sending a few messages to an alumni about their experience at a company, to a long-lasting, mutually beneficial professional relationship, or anything in between! It’s a type of network connection that is easy and accessible to everyone.
Who Can You Connect With on PeopleGrove?
Other Alumni: Fellow Katies can help you leverage your expertise from St. Kates, give you insight into fields of interest, and answer questions about career-related topics. Faculty: Faculty can give you insight into industries of interest. Staff: Staff members can give advice and get you connected to resources. University Partners: Employers and other professionals can give you insider information on jobs and industries. Students: Students can be great people to connect with. While we encourage students to reach out first, you are more than welcome to reach out to a student if there is a topic that you would like to discuss with them.
Sending Messages
On PeopleGrove, there are two different types of messaging: Messages and Chatting.
Messaging
A message is sent to a community member who is not currently online. This is a good way to reach out for an ongoing conversation, or set up a time to meet. Use a Template. PeopleGrove makes it easy and provides template messages for students, with topics such as Networking Advice, Career Exploration, and Choosing a Major. Create Your Own Message. You can also type out your own customized message to each possible connection. Request a Meeting. If you would prefer, you can also see if you can just schedule a meeting with them. (Note: This function only works if the community member has synced their calendar to PeopleGrove.)
Chatting
Using the “chat now” features allows you to interact with a community member who is currently online. This is a good way to reach out for a quick question or spontaneous chat. The “Chat Now” button brings you directly to the inbox of your account, preloaded with the message:
“Hi (name), Do you have a minute to chat? I see you’re online right now.”
With this message, you can quickly connect with a professional, and learn more about their experiences. However, you can also type your own custom message if you have a specific topic or question in mind.
What Should I Say?
On PeopleGrove, you can reach out to any of these people with career-related questions that are on your mind, or strike up a conversation about a shared hobby or connection! If you are looking for ideas on what to say, PeopleGrove provides premade templates built in to both Messages and Chats. If you are looking for additional ideas, take a look at this excellent guide for a wide variety of topics!
NEW: Join a Group!
New to PeopleGrove is the Groups Feature, which is a place for you to connect with others in a simple, approachable way!
What groups are available?
Some groups are only available to people already enrolled in existing external groups, and there is one group that will be for everyone and anyone to join!
Career Talk
Career Talk, hosted by the Career Development Office, is an open community where you can engage with fellow Katies and grow your network! Join our group to ask career questions, check out interesting articles or videos, or to learn about tips and tricks that boost your resume.
TRIO SSS
The TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) PeopleGrove group aims to provide TRIO students with an additional source of support and a sense of community. By participating in this group, TRIO students have an opportunity to discuss classes or assignments and arrange study groups for the purpose of achieving academic success.
AMP & Community Leaders Cohort
The AMP & Community Leaders PeopleGrove group is for current AMP and Community leaders students in the spring 2023 programs. This space is for you to connect and share. Feel free to ask questions about the programs, share upcoming events and professional development opportunities, etc.
If you have questions about the AMP or Community Leaders programs, please contact: communitywork@stkate.edu.
Staff & Faculty
Why Should I Join?
Creating an Account
Building a Profile
Making Connections
PeopleGrove in the Classroom
NEW: Join a Group!
Benefits of Joining PeopleGrove
PeopleGrove is St. Catherine University’s online platform to create and foster meaningful connections within the Katie Community.
Be a resource for all students & alumni
Connecting with a St. Kate’s student is a great way to share valuable insight and support at a critical stage of career exploration and decision-making. Connections in PeopleGrove are completely driven by the parameters you set. Students are responsible for initiating all connections, and you have total control over the frequency of contact, types of inquiries, and the format of conversations. PeopleGrove’s built-in messaging and video-call capabilities allow you to share your knowledge and industry expertise based on your preferences. You can also interact with other Katies to network, or seek advice.
Paving the way forward for Katies by sharing your expertise. Volunteer as a career connection through informational interviews. Be a mentor. Open your professional network to support Katies in their professional career journey. Connect with other Katies in your field or who share your interests.
Find Guest Speakers & Panelists
If you are looking to help connect students with professionals from any industry, PeopleGrove is a great place to look! You can use PeopleGrove to reach out to Alumni or Community Partners to request them to be guest speakers, panelists, or referrals for students when applying to jobs/internships.
Connect with Other Staff & Faculty
Just as it’s important for students to build their community of career connections, it’s also important for you! Reach out to fellow Staff & Faculty to learn more about the industry/office they work in, and develop interdepartmental & interdisciplinary connections that will benefit yourself and the larger Katie community!
Note: if you have an active St. Kate’s email address, select St. Kate’s SSO as your signup method.
Select the role you are joining as (Faculty & Staff)
Proceed through the steps to fill out your background information and preferences.
Note: After your account is created you may need to wait for an admin to approve your account. If that’s the case, you will receive an email once your account has been approved.
Building a Profile
This is a walkthrough of how to fill out every part of your profile. Don’t want to go through every section? Link your LinkedIn profile! On your profile page, scroll down until you see the section titled “Link Accounts” and click the blue bottom labeled “Connect LinkedIn.” To learn about building a LinkedIn profile, click here.
The Introduction Section
Name.Please enter the names that you feel most comfortable being addressed by. Location. Choose the metro closest to where you live. Current Position. Highlight the role that you are currently in. If you are unemployed, list your most recent experience. Degree. Your profile will automatically highlight your most recent education, whether you are currently enrolled or the degree is already completed.
Topics to Help Others
The section titled “Select topics to let others know how you can help” is for you to showcase the topics that you feel most comfortable discussing with students, other alumni, faculty/staff, and partners.
Profile Picture
Your profile picture is your first impression, so make it a good one! Here are a few questions to ask yourself:
Does the picture look like me?
Does the image look professional?
Is there anything that could distract from the main focus of the picture? (hint: that’s you!)
Video Introductions. Video intros give you the opportunity to introduce yourself in a 60-second video. What better way to let others see the real you? If you enable Video Intros, you’ll see a video in your header section where your profile picture used to be. Note: To see example introductions, click on “Add Video Intro,” and you will have the option to “Watch Example Video Intros”
My Career Path Section
Education Background. Include graduation year, degree type, majors, and minors. Professional Experience. You are not required to list every job you’ve ever had. But, it can be helpful to provide a full overview of your experiences. Much like a resume, it’s up to your level of comfort to determine which jobs you feel comfortable highlighting. Pro-Tip: Give more information by answering the prompts given for you education and experience. It allows others to gain insight into the industry and specific experience!
“More About Me” Section
Hobbies. Use the check list to select hobbies that you feel the most passionate about. Pronouns. Choose from a selection of available pronoun options, or label as “ask person” or “choose not to disclose” if the available pronouns do not align with your identity. Highlighting Your Profile. Under the heading, “I would prefer my profile to be highlighted to mentees who identify with any of the following groups”, you have the option to allow your profile to be shown more frequently to other users who hold the identities that you select. For example, if you click, “LGBTQ+” your profile will be shown more often to folks who self-identified as being LGBTQ+. It is recommended that you only select identities in this section with ones that you personally hold, or have particular specialization in (e.g. if you are a disability specialist, you can select ‘people with disability’). Mentorship Availability. Under the heading, “What is your long-term/ short-term availability for Mentorship?” you have the option to select when in the year you are available to be a mentor. This is an optional part of your resume, and does not lock you into a mentorship. This is just a way for students to see your general availability. 1st Generation Student/Graduate. If your parents didn’t attend college, then you are probably a first-generation college student or graduate. Racial/Ethnic Identities. Choose all of the racial and/or ethnic identities you identify with. Important Note: Only answer the questions to the point that you feel comfortable disclosing. You can also choose to hide sections based on your comfort level.
Making Connections
What are Career Connections?
Career connections are relationships with others so that you can share resources and opportunities. Career connections can be anything from sending a few messages to an alumni about their experience at a company, to a long-lasting, mutually beneficial professional relationship, or anything in between! It’s a type of network connection that is easy and accessible to everyone.
Who Can You Connect With on PeopleGrove?
Alumni: You can use PeopleGrove to reach out to Alumni to request them to be guest speakers, panelists, or referrals for students when applying to jobs/internships. You can also catch up with former students you’ve helped or taught. Fellow Faculty & Staff: Just as it’s important for students to build their community of career connections, it’s also important for you! Reach out to Staff & Faculty to learn more about the industry/office they work in, and develop interdepartmental & interdisciplinary connections that will benefit yourself and the larger Katie community! University Partners: Employers and other professionals can give you insider information on jobs and industries, and can be guest speakers, panelists, or other connections to help support students. Students: Students can be great people to connect with. While we encourage students to reach out first, you are more than welcome to reach out to a student if there is a topic that you would like to discuss with them.
Sending Messages
On PeopleGrove, there are two different types of messaging: Messages and Chatting.
Messaging
A message is sent to a community member who is not currently online. This is a good way to reach out for an ongoing conversation, or set up a time to meet. Use a Template. PeopleGrove makes it easy and provides template messages for students, with topics such as Networking Advice, Career Exploration, and Choosing a Major. Create Your Own Message. You can also type out your own customized message to each possible connection. Request a Meeting. If you would prefer, you can also see if you can just schedule a meeting with them. (Note: This function only works if the community member has synced their calendar to PeopleGrove.)
Chatting
Using the “chat now” features allows you to interact with a community member who is currently online. This is a good way to reach out for a quick question or spontaneous chat. The “Chat Now” button brings you directly to the inbox of your account, preloaded with the message:
“Hi (name), Do you have a minute to chat? I see you’re online right now.”
With this message, you can quickly connect with a professional, and learn more about their experiences. However, you can also type your own custom message if you have a specific topic or question in mind.
What Should I Say?
On PeopleGrove, you can reach out to any of these people with career-related questions that are on your mind, or strike up a conversation about a shared hobby or connection! If you are looking for ideas on what to say, PeopleGrove provides premade templates built in to both Messages and Chats. If you are looking for additional ideas, take a look at this excellent guide for a wide variety of topics!
Using PeopleGrove in the Classroom
PeopleGrove is designed to help our entire community close the gap between college and career, and promote equitable student access to career connections.
Career Development Office has created a new resource for Faculty to easily integrate into their classroom and curriculum. The Career Connections Assignment asks students to conduct two informational interviews, and write a two-to-three page paper on their experience. Check out the Career Connections Assignments!
NEW: Join a Group!
New to PeopleGrove is the Groups Feature, which is a place for you to connect with others in a simple, approachable way! What groups are available? Some groups are only available to people already enrolled in existing external groups (TRIO program, and Community Work & Learning). There is one group that will be for everyone and anyone to join!
Career Talk
Career Talk, hosted by the Career Development Office, is is a community where you can engage with fellow Katies and grow your network! Join our group to ask career questions, check out interesting articles or videos, or to learn about tips and tricks that boost your resume.
Partners
Why Should I Join?
Creating an Account
Building a Profile
Making Connections
NEW: Join a Group!
Benefits of Joining PeopleGrove
Support Current St. Kates Students
PeopleGrove is St. Catherine University’s online platform to create and foster meaningful connections within the Katie Community. Connecting with a St. Kate’s student is a great way to share valuable insight and support at a critical stage of career exploration and decision-making. Connections in PeopleGrove are completely driven by the parameters you set. Students are responsible for initiating all connections, and you have total control over the frequency of contact, types of inquiries, and the format of conversations. PeopleGrove’s built-in messaging and video-call capabilities allow you to share your knowledge and industry expertise based on your preferences. You can also interact with other Katies to network, or seek advice.
Paving the way forward for Katies by sharing your expertise. Volunteer as a career connection through informational interviews. Be a mentor. Open your professional network to support Katies in their professional career journey. Connect with other Katies in your field or who share your interests.
Meet Potential Candidates
If you are a recruiter and are looking to connect with talented students and alumni, PeopleGrove can be a great way to connect & learn more about the folks who may be a good fit for any open positions.
Connect with Staff & Faculty
Current faculty and staff at St. Catherine University are looking to help connect students with professionals from any industry. Faculty and Staff can use PeopleGrove to reach out to Alumni to request them to be guest speakers, or referrals for students when applying to jobs/internships. Build your resume (and your repertoire) while also helping students grow!
You can also reach out to Staff and Faculty with questions or requests of your own. PeopleGrove is a great way to stay in contact with your previous professors, mentors, or folks who helped you during your time at St. Kates.
Proceed through the steps to fill out your background information and preferences.
Note: After your account is created you will need to wait for an admin to approve your account. If that’s the case, you will receive an email once your account has been approved.
Building a Profile
This is a walkthrough of how to fill out every part of your profile. Don’t want to go through every section? Link your LinkedIn profile! On your profile page, scroll down until you see the section titled “Link Accounts” and click the blue bottom labeled “Connect LinkedIn.” To learn about building a LinkedIn profile, click here.
The Introduction Section
Name.Please enter the names that you feel most comfortable being addressed by. Location. Choose the metro closest to where you live. Current Position. Highlight the role that you are currently in. If you are unemployed, list your most recent experience. Degree. Your profile will automatically highlight your most recent education, whether you are currently enrolled or the degree is already completed.
Topics to Help Others
The section titled “Select topics to let others know how you can help” is for you to showcase the topics that you feel most comfortable discussing with students, other alumni, faculty/staff, and partners.
Profile Picture
Your profile picture is your first impression, so make it a good one! Here are a few questions to ask yourself:
Does the picture look like me?
Does the image look professional?
Is there anything that could distract from the main focus of the picture? (hint: that’s you!)
Video Introductions. Video intros give you the opportunity to introduce yourself in a 60-second video. What better way to let others see the real you? If you enable Video Intros, you’ll see a video in your header section where your profile picture used to be. Note: To see example introductions, click on “Add Video Intro,” and you will have the option to “Watch Example Video Intros”
My Career Path Section
Education Background. Include graduation year, degree type, majors, and minors. Professional Experience. You are not required to list every job you’ve ever had. But, it can be helpful to provide a full overview of your experiences. Much like a resume, it’s up to your level of comfort to determine which jobs you feel comfortable highlighting. Pro-Tip: Give more information by answering the prompts given for you education and experience. It allows others to gain insight into the industry and specific experience!
“More About Me” Section
Hobbies. Use the check list to select hobbies that you feel the most passionate about. Pronouns. Choose from a selection of available pronoun options, or label as “ask person” or “choose not to disclose” if the available pronouns do not align with your identity. Highlighting Your Profile. Under the heading, “I would prefer my profile to be highlighted to mentees who identify with any of the following groups”, you have the option to allow your profile to be shown more frequently to other users who hold the identities that you select. For example, if you click, “LGBTQ+” your profile will be shown more often to folks who self-identified as being LGBTQ+. It is recommended that you only select identities in this section with ones that you personally hold, or have particular specialization in (e.g. if you are a disability specialist, you can select ‘people with disability’). Mentorship Availability. Under the heading, “What is your long-term/ short-term availability for Mentorship?” you have the option to select when in the year you are available to be a mentor. This is an optional part of your resume, and does not lock you into a mentorship. This is just a way for students to see your general availability. 1st Generation Student/Graduate. If your parents didn’t attend college, then you are probably a first-generation college student or graduate. Racial/Ethnic Identities. Choose all of the racial and/or ethnic identities you identify with. Important Note: Only answer the questions to the point that you feel comfortable disclosing. You can also choose to hide sections based on your comfort level.
Making Connections
What are Career Connections?
Career connections are relationships with others so that you can share resources and opportunities. Career connections can be anything from sending a few messages to an alumni about their experience at a company, to a long-lasting, mutually beneficial professional relationship, or anything in between! It’s a type of network connection that is easy and accessible to everyone.
Who Can You Connect With on PeopleGrove?
Alumni & Students: If you are a recruiter and are looking to connect with talented students and alumni, PeopleGrove can be a great way to connect & learn more about the folks who may be a good fit for any open positions. Faculty & Staff: Current faculty and staff at St. Catherine University are looking to help connect students with professionals from any industry. Faculty and Staff can use PeopleGrove to reach out to Alumni to request them to be guest speakers, or referrals for students when applying to jobs/internships. Build your resume (and your repertoire) while also helping students grow! Other University Partners: You can always connect with other professionals can give you insider information on jobs and industries.
Sending Messages
On PeopleGrove, there are two different types of messaging: Messages and Chatting.
Messaging
A message is sent to a community member who is not currently online. This is a good way to reach out for an ongoing conversation, or set up a time to meet. Use a Template. PeopleGrove makes it easy and provides template messages for students, with topics such as Networking Advice, Career Exploration, and Choosing a Major. Create Your Own Message. You can also type out your own customized message to each possible connection. Request a Meeting. If you would prefer, you can also see if you can just schedule a meeting with them. (Note: This function only works if the community member has synced their calendar to PeopleGrove.)
Chatting
Using the “chat now” features allows you to interact with a community member who is currently online. This is a good way to reach out for a quick question or spontaneous chat. The “Chat Now” button brings you directly to the inbox of your account, preloaded with the message:
“Hi (name), Do you have a minute to chat? I see you’re online right now.”
With this message, you can quickly connect with a professional, and learn more about their experiences. However, you can also type your own custom message if you have a specific topic or question in mind.
What Should I Say?
On PeopleGrove, you can reach out to any of these people with career-related questions that are on your mind, or strike up a conversation about a shared hobby or connection! If you are looking for ideas on what to say, PeopleGrove provides premade templates built in to both Messages and Chats. If you are looking for additional ideas, take a look at this excellent guide for a wide variety of topics!
NEW: Join a Group!
New to PeopleGrove is the Groups Feature, which is a place for you to connect with others in a simple, approachable way!
What groups are available?
Some groups are only available to people already enrolled in existing external groups, and there is one group that will be for everyone and anyone to join!
Career Talk
Career Talk, hosted by the Career Development Office, is an open community where you can engage with fellow Katies and grow your network! Join our group to ask career questions, check out interesting articles or videos, or to learn about tips and tricks that boost your resume.
AMP & Community Leaders Cohort
The AMP & Community Leaders PeopleGrove group is for current AMP and Community leaders students in the spring 2023 programs. This space is for you to connect and share. Feel free to ask questions about the programs, share upcoming events and professional development opportunities, etc.
If you have questions about the AMP or Community Leaders programs, please contact: communitywork@stkate.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
No. This is private and only accessible to our community — focused on helping you get to your next step in life. We have carefully weeded out all the noise and junk for you.
Connect with those who share your background, interests, or other affiliations. Access exclusive job referrals. Pay it forward and mentor those who are navigating their next step in life.
Yes! Every person who has elected to create a PeopleGrove account has created it exclusively to build a community of support.
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