If you’re hunting for a career change or aggressively searching for a new job, sites like Monster, Career Builder and Craigslist have their limits, and you can only pester company Facebook pages or tweak your LinkedIn profile so many times before you sprain your wrist in frustration. The Buffalo News’ Job Finder is a useful tool, but sometimes there’s the need for more than a website in snagging your dream job.

There’s no substitute for networking in person, especially when you’re doing so under the guidance of your alma mater. At 6 p.m. Thursday at the Hyatt Regency, Two Fountain Plaza, Buffalo, the Offices of Alumni Relations from the University at Buffalo, Buffalo State, the College at Brockport, Daemen College, Hilbert College, Medaille College and Niagara University have invited professional alumni to lend advice and discuss job opportunities with recent college graduates.

The price of the event varies by institution, so contact your respective Office of Alumni Relations:

**UB: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)—$20 for any grad, $15 for Alumni Association members
**Buffalo State: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)—$20 for any grad, and here’s a useful link for organizations representing Buffalo State.
**Brockport: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)—$20 for any graduate.
**Daemen: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)—no price information on site.
**Hilbert: Contact page for Hilbert by individual employee.
**Medaille: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)—here’s a thorough list of former Medaille grads who will be in attendance to represent professional organizations. $20.
**Niagara: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)—$20.

Because the job market, especially in certain fields (say teaching, design, philosophy and politics, for example), is tight—and every connection can prove valuable—here’s an opportunity to meet folks who already have their feet in the door. Plus, there will be complimentary appetizers, dessert, water and soft drinks, as well as two drink tickets for beer or wine. No one said you couldn’t have a good time when laying the foundation for a career change or new job.