They may have graduated more than 30 years ago, but droves of job seekers now are turning to their college career offices for help. But are schools ready for them? 

Colleges from coast to coast are being deluged by alums in need of career coaching. Here are some stats from various career centers based on this past academic year, according to Forbes.com:

• Brandeis University has seen a 30% jump in requests for help from alums older than 35
• Appointments at the University of California have increased 33%
• University of Illinois has received 50% more phone calls
• It hasn’t been uncommon for there to be 40 people still sitting in the waiting room at New York University at closing time.

The large numbers aren’t easy for schools to accommodate – and what are they getting in return?

Most are banking on these alums “giving back,” in every sense of the word, once they land jobs.

To that end, here’s what some colleges are doing to handle the increased numbers:

• An HR professional works with alums at no cost twice a week at Fordham University and holds monthly workshops on using technology to search for jobs.
• At NYU, students have been trained as volunteer career counselors. The school also brings in HR pros – from companies that typically recruit there – to talk to alums.

Is your school seeing more alums coming to your campus for career advice? Let us know in the comments section below.

Tags: Brandeis University, career center, Fordham University, New York University, University of California