Alumni are fabulous networking resources. They have been where you are and have the experience and drive to help you.
Where do you meet alumni?
Contact career services at your college or alma mater. They often organize events each semester to bring alumni back to campus. Often, the career services director reaches out to a wide pool of alumni and extends an invitation. Alumni from a variety of academic backgrounds will attend. It is a great opportunity that you should take full advantage of when available.
Would you like to take your networking up a notch?
Organize a student-alumni get together for alumni of your department, organization or team. Utilize your organization’s contacts as well as the college’s alumni development office. Arrange for food and drinks, because everyone is more social when they are well-fed. Be prepared to talk about the accomplishments that have occurred in your time with the group. Did your team qualify for a tournament? Did your department present at a national conference? Don’t forget to bring a sign-up sheet so alumni can be placed on your mailing list for future events.
You now have successfully organized an event where students can network with alumni with whom they have strong ties.
Encourage this student-alumni relationship by hosting a yearly event to bring alumni back to campus. Create a newsletter detailing events and accomplishments and email it to the alumni on your mailing list.
The more alumni know about your organization, the more they will be willing and able to help.
