Even 4,400 miles from home, University students are able to find a job in Minneapolis.

Economics and global studies senior Jennifer McAlpine spent last spring semester studying in Helsinki, Finland. A year from graduation, McAlpine was unsure how she would get her resume back to the western hemisphere; or more importantly, how she would get her resume to future employers.

Luckily for McAlpine, the College of Liberal Arts was a step ahead of her.

A few mouse clicks later, and the University senior soon had potential employers contacting her with openings. McAlpine was hired by Cell Technology, where she has been operations associate since July.

She said she’s thankful CLA Link opened the door to a possible future career.

“I’m really glad because I wouldn’t have found this job,” she said. “I didn’t know much about (CLA Link), but it’s a really efficient way of getting a hold of people.”

Now more than 3,000 College of Liberal Arts students have found CLA Link, an Internet-based program designed to assist students in posting their resumes online.

In its third year of operation through CLA’s Career and Community Learning Center, CLA LINK is powered by Monstertrak.com.

“It’s been popular since the beginning,” said Angie Wefel CCLC Technology and Communications coordinator. “It was pretty natural for students to use Web pages for job searches and volunteer positions.”

Students can search for employment, volunteer and internship opportunities on the site.

The variety of listings on CLA LINK has made the Web site not only attractive to juniors and seniors on their route to the “real world,” but to freshman and sophomores as well.

Typically, over 500 regional job positions are listed on the site. Because a search can be extended nationwide, even more options are available if a student isn’t looking for a position in the Midwest.

CLA Link allows registered students to research companies to help decide where resumes and cover letters can be sent.

Monstertrak.com, an extended version of the Web site monster.com, has powered CLA Link since April. It’s designated for college and university students.

Interested students can access the Web site at www.cclc.umn.edu, or contact the CLA Career and Community Learning Center at (612) 627-7577 for more information.