Just Graduated? Using Alumni Connections to Jumpstart Your Career

If you’ve just graduated from college, congratulations! You’ve accomplished something to be proud of. Hopefully, your collegiate experience has been such that you’re excited to stay engaged with your alma mater.

However, if you’ve been thinking you’re done with school once you receive your diploma, it’s time to reconsider. As you start and develop your career, networking with alumni is a powerful resource you should take advantage of.

Did you know that 85% of jobs are filled through networking? Or that 70% of jobs are never published publicly? Formal alumni networks and personal alumni connections are two key ways to build a successful career.

Susan Proctor is the Director of Alumni Relations at Grand Valley State University. With almost two decades of experience working in Alumni Relations Departments and Career Centers, Proctor is highly knowledgeable about the career growth that can come from alumni networking.

When asked to share some of the benefits that come from joining an alumni network, Proctor said:

“The benefits of joining an alumni network are as numerous and varied as alumni networks themselves. Meeting or reaching out to someone within a network can open a door with a particular employer or industry. This is especially helpful if you don’t know where to start or haven’t been able to get traction.

“I understand that it can feel daunting to put oneself out there, but remember that facilitated networks are made up of people who have “opted in” to being contacted. The individual will likely be happy to share their experiences regarding their employer’s culture and the skills they needed to get hired.

“Additionally, many companies have employee referral programs, so current employees could get a bonus for referring someone who eventually gets hired. That’s a win-win!”

Since you have at least the shared connection of your alma mater, reaching out to fellow alumni is more of a “warm contact” in Proctor’s opinion. She advises using professional networking tools such as LinkedIn or your school’s internal directory. This way, you know the individual has chosen to have their contact information available.

Most people feel flattered when sought out for advice. Instances where they won’t be flattered? If you reach out to sell something or with vague details about what you’re hoping to get from the connection.

“It’s rare when someone doesn’t respond positively to outreach,” said Proctor, “as long as the person reaching out is honest about their intentions. Don’t try to push or sell something.”

Here are two sample scripts for contacting alumni for an informational interview.

This could be through a LinkedIn message or an email. As discussed in the above section, fellow alumni will likely be happy you reached out. This is true if you don’t try and sell them something or make them work to figure out why you’ve messaged.

Some alumni associations award membership to anyone who graduates from their school. Other alumni associations require an application and even a membership fee. Either way, you want to be involved with the group. You’re sure to connect with like-minded alumni pursuing professional relationships and career success.

Alumni relations teams regularly provide professional development opportunities for their alumni. This can happen through their own programming or a partnership with the school’s career center. Examples of professional development events include resume reviews, career fairs, industry panels, mentorship meetings, and interview prep sessions.

Attending social events hosted for alumni is good for your career and also fun. It allows you to connect with alumni in a relaxed setting. Plus, social events allow you to discover shared interests besides your alma mater or career. Examples of social events include a football game, happy hour, book club meeting, painting class, or community service.

When networking, be aware of your setting and let that guide your conversations.

Attending an industry-focused round table or mixer? Setting up a video interview to learn more about a specific industry or company? Professional questions make sense. Those attending or agreeing to meet with you have professional development in mind.

Attending a happy hour or football game? Social questions are more appropriate. Those attending may have professional development in mind, but your connection may just want to have a good time. The relationships formed at social events can still end up helping your career later.

Here are some sample questions for both types of events.

Lastly, while you want to jumpstart your career, don’t forget to simply enjoy getting to know others. Proctor advises there’s something more important than the questions you ask. She recommends coming to an event with a “mindset of openness and curiosity … [because] when you show genuine interest in learning about others, that allows for a more natural and meaningful connection.”

Stay in touch with alumni by connecting with them on LinkedIn, contacting them through your school’s internal directory, and attending events. Attending events is more accessible now than ever with the rise of virtual events. Even if you’ve moved away from where you attended school, there is likely a virtual way for you to connect.

Connecting with alumni is important because they are a lifelong career resource to you — and you to them. As you jumpstart your career, it may feel like you are taking but never giving. Don’t forget that! Then down the road, intentionally be a resource to younger alumni who need help just like you did.

First, you need to visit your university’s LinkedIn page. You can do so by searching their name on LinkedIn or clicking on their school logo on your profile page (assuming you have it listed as you should!).

Once you have your university’s LinkedIn page open, there is an “Alumni” tab you can click. From there, you can scroll through the alumni list. You can also search within that list by title, keyword, company, start year, and end year.