Alumni Connect Portal

Alumni Connect Portal

Dr. D. Maya AP/CSE Kangeyam Institute of Technology1, R. Suwetha(BE-CSE Kangeyam Institute of Technology)2, E.Sonika(BE-CSE Kangeyam Institute of Technology)3, S . Subhashini(BE-CSE Kangeyam Institute of Technology)4, S . Deepak Kumar (BE- CSE Kangeyam Institute of Technology)5

Abstract – The age of electronic communication makes the use of alumni networks increasingly critical for college students seeking career counsel, mentorship, and professional employment opportunities. This paper proposes the design and implementation of an "Alumni- Student Connect Portal", a web-based system that bridges the gap between alumni and current students of a college. The portal supports knowledge transfer, career assistance, and networking through features such as resume checkups, career advertisements, one-on-one messaging, and domain-specific alumni lookup. This platform aims to foster collaborative growth and professional development by enabling effective alumni student interaction.

1. Introduction Overview

   The Alumni Connect Portal is a web-based platform designed to strengthen the connection between students and alumni of an institution. It allows students to:

   Seek mentorship and career guidance

   Find and apply for job/internship opportunities directly posted by alumni Receive feedback on resumes and interview preparation

   Alumni, in turn, can:

   Post job openings and tech-related resources

   Review student resumes and provide advice

   Mentor students via one-on-one messaging

   Key Features Include:

   Secure registration and login for students and alumni

   Job/internship postings by alumni

   Resume upload and feedback functionality Private messaging system for individual level communication

   Search and filter alumni by domain, experience, or company

   Tech interview resources contributed by alumni

   This system facilitates professional

   networking, enhances student readiness for placements, and fosters alumni participation bridging the gap between academia and industry.

2. Objective

   The primary goals of this project are: To create a secure and interactive web portal

   To facilitate mentorship and career guidance

   To enable job/internship postings by alumni

   To allow resume feedback and improvements

   To provide domain-specific alumni search and communication tools

3. Existing System

   Currently, job platforms like LinkedIn, Indeed, and Monster offer employment listings and connections, but none focus on alumni-student interaction within a specific institution. The limitations of existing systems include:

   Offering generalized job listings across various industries

   Lacking dedicated filters or support for alumni-student connection

   Not enabling alumni to post jobs specifically for students from their alma mater

4. Proposed System

   The proposed Alumni Connect Portal addresses these gaps by focusing on institutional alumni-student collaboration.

   Key Enhancements:

   Alumni-Student Connection: Allows alumni to post job openings visible only to students from their own institution. Job Search and Application:Students can search, filter, and apply for jobs using a streamlined interface.

   User Authentication: Secure login for both alumni and students, with role-based access.

   Dashboards:

   Alumni Dashboard: Add/edit job postings and provide feedback.

   Student Dashboard: View and apply to job listings, receive feedback, and message alumni. Real-Time Updates: Using MongoDB and backend logic for dynamic job and message updates.

   Responsive Design: Built using React for mobile and desktop compatibility.

5. Logic

   The portal supports two types of users: Students and Alumni, each with role-specific permissions.

   Students:

   Upload resumes

   Search for alumni based on domain or experience

   Apply for job/internship opportunities Initiate one-on-one messages for mentorship Alumni:

   Post jobs or internships

   View student resumes and offer suggestions

   Respond to mentorship or resume feedback requests

   All interactions (messages, resumes, job applications) are stored in a database and displayed contextually based on the users role. The platform thus serves as a centralized and efficient career support tool directly tied to the students institution.

6. System Architecture

   The system follows a Three-Tier Architecture, comprising:

   Presentation Layer (Frontend) Technologies: HTML, CSS, JavaScript Purpose: Interface for students and alumni

   Features: Login/Registration forms Dashboards for job postings, messaging, and resumes

   Search and filter tools

   1. Application Layer (Backend)

      • Technology: Flask (Python)

      • Purpose: Controls business logic and data processing

      • Responsibilities:

        • Role-based user authentication

        • Job posting and search operations

          o Resume upload/download handling

        • Messaging and feedback logic

        • API communication with the

        frontend

   2. Database Layer

      • Technology: MySQL / SQLite

      • Purpose: Persistent storage for all user and system data

      • Key Tables:

   o Users Stores student and alumni data

   • Jobs Contains job listings by

     alumni

   • Resumes Stores uploaded resumes by students

   • Messages Saves private

     conversations

   • Feedback Contains alumni suggestions on resumes

7. LITERATURE SURVEY

   1. Introduction

      Alumni associations are important bridges of academic campuses, providing student mentorship, professional experience, and career advice to student participants. Despite these advantages, lack of an efficient, interactive mechanism has hampered the optimum extent of such organizations. With the advent of web- technology-based mediums and interactive facilities, an initiative can now exist to establish connection bridges between education and professional organizations in the form of formalized Alumni-Student Connect Portals. This literature review investigates the available systems, empowering technologies, application cases, and limitations involved in designing and executing such platforms.

   2. Recent Alumni Networking Systems

      Though many systems have surfaced worldwide to interlink professionals and academic communities, most are unable to achieve institutional personalization as well as immediate interaction.

      • LinkedIn: The largest used professional network platform with alumni search and open job postings. Yet it has no institution-oriented filtering as well as mentorship facilities.

      • AlmaConnect: Designed specifically for alumni outreach, it provides users with the ability to join institution-based groups and post content. However, it does not provide resumereview, one-on-one mentoring, or student-tailored job

        suggestions.

      • Handshake: Mainly utilized in the United States for student employment placements. It does not fully integrate employer-student interaction but has minimal integration of alumni.

      • ClassReach and Graduway: Institutions

        use these to create private alumni portals. But most of them demand paid licenses, and features for real- time chat or job feedback are minimal.

        Most of them operate as static databases or job boards, and hardly any enable domain-based

        alumni search, personalized feedback, or two way communication.

   3. Core Technologies in Alumni Portals

      Creating a solid Alumni-Student Portal requires combining several web development and database technologies:

      • Frontend: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and libraries like React.js or Vue.js provide a rich user experience with responsive, mobile-optimized interfaces.

      • Backend: Frameworks like Flask (Python) or Node.js handle business logic, role-based access, messaging, job handling, and feedback routing.

      • Database Systems: Relational databases like MySQL or SQLite store user profiles, messages, job postings, and uploaded resumes.

      • Authentication: Password hashing and secure login use libraries like bcrypt. Authentication based on sessions or JWTs is used for managing user sessions

        securely.

      • Features in Real Time: Technologies such as AJAX or WebSockets are used to facilitate live notification, resume

        feedback, and messaging.

   4. Uses in Schools and Colleges

      Alumni portals have numerous uses on college campuses:

      • Mentorship Programs: Alumni may sign up to be mentors, and students can search profiles by domain (e.g., AI, Web Dev) and request mentorship.

      • Career Support: Alumni can create job postings or internship postings from their companies, enabling direct placement of students.

      • Resume Review System: Students may upload resumes and get specific feedback, assisting them in improving their chances during interviews.

      • Private Messaging: One-on-one secure conversations enable students to ask detailed questions without depending on public forums.

      • Search & Filtering Tools: Students can search alumni by company, job title, location, or tech space for specific advice.

   5. Alumni Portal Advantages

      Having an interactive alumni portal has many benefits:

      • Higher Placement Rates: Through the utilization of alumni networks,

        institutions can facilitate students to locate job/internship opportunities more effectively.

      • Peer Learning: Students can learn from alumni who have previously gone through placements and higher studies.

      • Community Involvement: Maintains alumni emotionally affiliated with their alma mater.

      • Ease of Use: Online forums enable students from far-off places to interact with professionals worldwide.

      • Instant Interaction: Live chat and

        instant feedback hasten the communication process.

   6. Challenges and Limitations

      In spite of the benefits, there are various challenges:

      • Verification of Alumni: Confirmation that only genuine alumni partake on the platform is challenging without

        institutional support.

      • User Engagement: Alumni can get inactive unless actively reminded through events, emails, or incentives.

      • Security & Privacy: Securely storing resumes and personal information calls for strong encryption and data protection.

      • Feature Creep: Implementing too many features without usability testing can be overwhelming and diminish adoption.

      • Scalability: Without cloud architecture, the site can become sluggish with increasing numbers of users.

   7. Research Gaps and Future Directions

      While different platforms provide bits and pieces of functionality, institution- specific, fully integrated alumni-student portals are not common. Gaps and areas for future

      development are:

      • AI-Based Resume Scoring: Incorporating machine learning to auto propose enhancements to student

        resumes.

      • Domain-Specific Mentor Matching: Intelligent matching systems on the basis of student interests and alumni

        expertise.

      • Gamified Engagement: Points or badges for alumni engagement to promote sustained participation.

      • Video Mentorship Tools: Incorporating features for live mentorship sessions through video conferencing.

        Mobile Apps: Developing native Android/iOS apps to enhance accessibility and convenience

   8. Conclusion

      The development of an Alumni-Student Connect Portal has the potential to have a profound impact on the access to

      mentorship, employment seeking, and professional growth for students. Though current systems have primiti ve networking features, these lack both the depth and personalization required by strong institutional relationships. With the integration of secure, interactive, and role-based features, next generation alumni portals have the capability to transform the way students engage with career development in their learning environment.

8. Module Description User Authentication

   Description: Provide a secure signup and login mechanism for alumni and students, protecting data using password hashing and encryption mechanisms.

   Algorithm/Techniques:

   Utilize bcrypt or Argon2 for password hashing. Apply JWT (JSON Web Tokens) for session handling and user authentication.

   Job Management

   Description: Permit alumni to publish job opportunities while allowing students to search and apply for jobs. The module will have several filters including job type, location, and industry. Algorithm/Techniques: Use a relational database to hold job postings and applications from users.

   Use search algorithms (e.g., Elasticsearch) for searching and filtering jobs efficiently.

   Mentorship

   Description: Create a space where alumni can define their mentorship availability and students can ask for advice. This functionality promotes networking and professional growth.

   Algorithm/Techniques:

   Utilize a calendar API (e.g., Google Calendar) to handle availability.

   Apply a matching algorithm to pair students with appropriate mentors according to interests and specialization. Notifications

   Description: Send real-time

   notifications for new job openings and communication between alumni and students. This functionality increases interaction and facilitates timely communication.

   Algorithm/Techniques:

   Employ WebSockets to provide real-time notifications.

   Falling back with polling for unsupported browsers.

   Resume Upload

   Description: Allow uploading of students' resumes in PDF format, from which alumni can download and refer them to opportunities for jobs or mentorship.

   Algorithm/Techniques:

   Store resumes securely by using file storage services (AWS S3 as an example).

   Apply file checks and size to validate adherence to upload requirements.

   Admin Dashboard

   Description: Offeran administrative interface for user management, job postings, and feedback. This module provides monitoring and maintenance of the portal's integrity and functionality.

   Algorithm/Techniques:

   Employ role-based access control (RBAC) to limit admin functionalities. Apply CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations for user management and job posts, using RESTful APIs for backend communication

9. CONCLUSION

   This architectural framework effectively facilitates the interaction between students and alumni, promoting networking and support.

   The Presentation Layer utilizes HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, ensuring a user friendly interface and accessibility for both students and alumni.

   The Application Layer developed in Flask handles core functionalities such as login, registration, resume uploads, and job postings, providing a seamless experience. The Database Layer is built on MySQL/SQLite, allowing robust data management and storage, crucial for maintaining user information and job listings. Overall, this system serves as an essential tool for students to connect with alumni, enhancing their career prospects opportunities within educational

   networks.

   FUTURE SCOPE

   • Future enhancements may include integrating advanced analytics to personalize recommendations for students based on their interests and profiles.

   • Implementing real-time job market analytics could further improve the efficacy of job postings and resume matching, benefiting both students and employers.

   Exploring mobile app development for broader accessibility and immediate notifications about job postings and alumni events.

   REFERENCES :

   1. L. Gupta (2022), Mentorship Platforms for Graduates, ResearchGate.

   2. A. Patel (2021), University Career Services and Job Portals, Springer.

   3. Dr. R. Kumar (2020), Online Alumni Portal for Career Development, IJCA.

   4. S. Sharma (2019), Alumni Tracking System Using Web Technologies, IEEE.