By Courtney Bousquet, Guest Contributor
Networking, online or in person is extremely important to your job search. A question which has been coming up a lot recently, however, is when in person events are not occurring or available, how does one network with Alumni online, specifically through LinkedIn? Who you know can be as important as what you know, so how can you create meaningful connections with those who share your alma mater? Next Generation Career Expert and Global Spokesperson for LinkedIn, Lindsey Pollack, shares her ideas for three easy ways to successfully connect with your fellow alumni.
- “Join your alumni community.” Many universities have active alumni groups on LinkedIn that allow you to connect and converse with your peers. It is a great way to stay in touch, learn about job leads and upcoming events. There are a few approaches you might take to introducing yourself to the group. Share your year of graduation and what you have been up to since then; your career goals; offer help; or simply just say, “Hi,” and a give some information about yourself. Doing this will ensure you become active in the group in a positive, contributing manner, as it will make connecting with others easier if they remember something you have said.
- “Tap the LinkedIn Alumni tool.” This new tool allows you to see what your fellow alumni are doing, where they are working, and where they are living. Since your education section should be accurate and up-to-date, it pre-fills information related to the last school you attended the years you attended and then allows you to pick out certain classifications of interest to narrow down the results. If you have attended more than one school it allows you to select a different school as well. If you are seeking alumni that graduated before you or current students, you can simply change the dates at the top of the page. The other neat aspect of this program is that it allows you to search by industry and location. If you are considering a career change or relocation, you can reach out to alumni that may have the same experience.
- “Reach Out (the Right Way).” When connecting with alumni, it is important to reach out to them, but in an appropriate manner. Identify a few alums to reach out to, but beware: they may not respond, however, since you share something in common there is a higher probability that they will respond to you than a stranger. Now it is time to create your message. It is important to start with more than your usual boilerplate message. This means stating that you noticed their profile in the Alumni LinkedIn group or in your search for alumni in the search feature. This will show them that yours is not just a generic blast message. In the second or third sentence introduce yourself, state when you graduated and provide some information about yourself that relates to your desire to connect. Make sure you explain what type of assistance you are seeking, but never directly ask for a job. Be polite and considerate.
Alumni are a great resource and can be a wealth of information. You never know what or whom you will come across, so be open minded and always be professional and courteous!
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