Reaching out and connecting with your alumni network can provide many benefits for both you and your alma mater. As a graduate, staying engaged with your university not only allows you to give back but also opens doors to mentoring opportunities, job prospects, and more. However, it can be challenging to figure out the best ways to reach out and stay involved. This article will provide tips and strategies to help you effectively connect with your alumni community.
Why Should I Reach Out to Alumni?
Here are some of the key reasons you should make an effort to engage with alumni from your university or college:
- Networking opportunities – One of the biggest advantages of connecting with alumni is gaining access to an instant network. Fellow graduates can provide industry contacts, career advice, job openings, and more. Expanding your professional network is crucial.
- Mentorship – Alumni who have more experience in your field can become mentors. They can coach you on career development, navigating your industry, work-life balance, and more. Mentorships provide guidance and support.
- Give back – As a graduate, you may want to give back to your alma mater in some way. Helping current students through mentoring, guest lecturing, fundraising, and volunteering are great ways alumni can contribute.
- Keep updated – Engaging with your university and alumni association allows you to stay on top of campus news, events, research breakthroughs, and more. You can take pride in your alma mater’s continued success.
- Nostalgia – Connecting with those who shared your college experience can be nostalgic and heartwarming. You can reminisce about memories from your time on campus.
- Resources – Alumni groups often provide many useful resources like libraries, career centers, alumni magazines, discounts, and other member benefits.
These are just a few of the main reasons to devote time to building relationships with your fellow alumni. Doing so can enrich your life both personally and professionally long after graduation.
How Can I Get in Touch with Fellow Alumni?
If you want to expand your alumni network, here are some proactive steps to take:
Utilize Alumni Directories
Most colleges and universities have alumni directories or search tools on their websites. Alumni associations also create member directories. You can use these resources to look up alumni in your region, field, graduation year, and more. Getting contact info is the first step to reaching out.
Attend Alumni Events
Check your alma mater’s event calendar or alumni association’s website for upcoming events. Attend in-person and virtual gatherings for graduates in your area or affinity groups related to shared interests or demographics. These events provide networking opportunities to meet fellow alumni.
Join Online Alumni Communities
Many schools have official alumni pages on LinkedIn, Facebook, and other social media platforms. Join these groups to connect with alumni online. You may also find informal alumni groups started on social media by graduates.
Volunteer for Alumni Initiatives
Volunteering for your alumni association, university campaigns, or student mentorship programs enables you to work alongside other alumni while making a difference. This demonstrates your commitment and gets your foot in the door.
Leverage Campus Resources
Your school’s career center, alumni association office, and academic departments can share info on upcoming alumni events and provide networking contacts. Don’t be afraid to utilize campus resources designed with alumni in mind.
Reach Out Individually
If you already know of specific alumni you want to contact, the easiest route is to reach out to them directly via email or LinkedIn. Share your alumni status and the reason for your interest in connecting. Making the first move to contact them directly takes initiative.
Taking a multi-pronged approach across both in-person and digital channels will help you cast a wide net to engage and interact with alumni successfully.
What Are Some Good Ways to Initiate Contact?
When reaching out to fellow alumni, you want to come across warmly while also being professional. Here are some tips for making strong initial contact:
- Personalize your message – Mention shared experiences, mutual connections, or details that show you did your research on the alum.
- State your purpose – Be clear from the start about why you want to connect with this person.
- Ask open-ended questions – Give them an opportunity to share advice or insights that are not just yes/no responses.
- Suggest meeting – If local, propose getting coffee or coming to their office to learn more about their career path.
- Highlight common ground – Note your shared university affiliation and experiences to remind them of their school pride.
- Use proper etiquette – Address them appropriately, use a warm greeting, express appreciation, and mind your grammar.
The goal is to make a genuine connection based on your shared alumni status. With the right balance of professionalism and personal touch, you can pique their interest in networking further.
What Are Some Good Topics to Discuss to Bond with Fellow Alumni?
When meeting and conversing with fellow graduates of your university or college, having the right topics to break the ice and bond with them can help. Here are some suggestions of meaningful subjects to discuss and connect over:
Memories of Your School Days
Reminiscing over favorite classes, professors, campus traditions, student activities, and other memories from your college days establishes common experience. Share some nostalgia.
Experience at Your Shared Alma Mater
Compare notes about how student life may be different now versus your era. Talk about your respective majors, dorms, school pride and other facets of the student experience.
The Alumni Network
Discuss ways to get involved with the alumni community, give back to the next generation, and elevate your alma mater’s reputation.
Your Career Paths
Outline your individual career journeys, challenges faced, and lessons learned. Find parallels and differences since college.
Giving Back to Your School
Brainstorm ideas for volunteering, mentoring students, fundraising, sponsoring scholarships, guest lecturing, and making other contributions.
Personal Milestones
Share notable moments like weddings, births, anniversaries, awards, civic participation, and other major life events and milestones.
Capitalizing on the built-in connection of a shared school background makes conversation flow more easily. Focusing on common experiences, passions and pursuits establishes rapport.
How Can I Maintain Meaningful Connections With Alumni?
Making an initial outreach to alumni is just the first step. Developing lasting, fruitful relationships requires ongoing engagement over time. Here are some ways to maintain strong ties:
- Attend alumni events together and introduce them to others in your network.
- Connect on social media platforms like LinkedIn to stay updated on their career and life milestones.
- Send new articles or resources related to their field or interests.
- Congratulate them on major accomplishments like job promotions or awards.
- Meet up when visiting each other’s cities for coffee, lunch, or informal chats to catch up.
- Collaborate on alumni volunteer initiatives, working together on campaigns or projects.
- Share career opportunities, job openings, and applicant referrals to help advancement.
- Check in every so often just to say hello and reiterate shared connections.
- Send greeting cards on birthdays, holidays, or other occasions to show you care.
Small gestures to show alumni you value their continued friendship and participation in the university community will strengthen bonds over time. Consistency and sincerity are key.
What Are Some Good Ways for Recent Grads to Connect with Alumni?
For those who have recently graduated, networking with alumni early in your career can be particularly impactful. Here are some top tips for recent grads:
Join New Graduate Groups
Alumni associations will often have special groups or events just for recent graduates to acclimate to the working world. These provide built-in connections with those who were in your shoes not long ago.
Attend Industry Networking Events
Participate in alumni mixers, panels, conferences, and other gatherings focused on your specific field of interest to connect with experienced professionals.
Seek Out Mentors
Find alumni working in your desired career path who can provide one-on-one guidance on starting your career, growing your skills, and advancing long-term.
Shadow Alumni
If possible, ask to shadow alumni at their jobs for a day to gain exposure to different work environments and see their roles in action.
Request Informational Interviews
Have introductory phone or coffee chats to hear career journeys of alumni who inspire you and solicit their advice.
Use Alumni Databases Strategically
Look for grads with your major/degree, in your industry of interest, who reside in your target city, and other relevant filters to pinpoint networking targets.
Taking full advantage of alumni community resources as a recent graduate will jumpstart your career on a fast track with experienced support behind you.
What Should I Avoid When Contacting Alumni?
While connecting with alumni has many benefits, there are a few pitfalls to avoid so your outreach is well received:
- Asking for too much too soon – Take time building the relationship before making big requests.
- Messaging multiple times without a response – Don’t overpursue if they are unresponsive.
- Making it all about you – Focus conversations on their experiences and advice, not just your needs.
- Using overly formal or informal language – Find the right professional yet friendly tone.
- Gushing about how much you loved your school – Some alumni have mixed feelings, so be sensitive.
- Negatively comparing eras – Avoid implying their time at school wasn’t as good.
- Forgetting personal details they shared – Note important things about family, interests, etc.
- Mentioning sensitive subjects like school rivalries – Steer clear of polarizing topics.
- Taking up too much of their time – Be respectful of their availability constraints.
Adjust your approach based on reading cues from each alum. With care and consideration, you can avoid common missteps.
Do’s and Don’ts
Here is a quick recap of key do’s and don’ts for effectively reaching out to your alumni network:
Do:
- Personalize outreach with details showing you did your research on them
- Articulate a specific purpose for connecting
- Suggest meeting in person when possible
- Highlight common experiences from your alma mater
- Use proper etiquette and professional communication
Don’t:
- Make it all about your needs or ask for too much too quickly
- Use overly formal/informal language or make outdated references
- Compare school eras in a diminishing way
- Bring up controversial subjects like rivalries
- Take up too much of an alum’s time
Keeping these guidelines in mind will help your outreach be better received!
Key Takeaways
Connecting with fellow alumni provides valuable networking opportunities, mentorship, and a chance to give back. Strategically leveraging school resources, attending alumni events, joining online groups, volunteering, and individual outreach can help you expand your network. When making contact, personalize your approach, state your purpose clearly, ask open-ended questions, highlight common experiences, and suggest meeting in person when possible. Maintain relationships through ongoing social media contact, career support, congratulations on major milestones, and other gestures to show alumni they matter to you. Avoiding common missteps like asking for too much too quickly or making outdated references ensures your outreach makes a positive impression. Investing in alumni relationships yields professional and personal fulfillment.
Conclusion
Tapping into the powerful asset of your university’s alumni network is a key contributor to ongoing career success and fulfillment. While it requires proactive relationship building, doing so provides access to incredible resources, support, and opportunities. Alumni are inherently invested in seeing their fellow graduates achieve great things. By utilizing the strategies outlined here for effective outreach, connection, and engagement with alumni, you can form fruitful bonds that will enrich your experience as both an alum and a professional. Your shared alumni status lays the foundation. How you nurture that common thread determines the strength and longevity of these relationships. Approach fellow graduates with genuine interest, professionalism, and the desire to make meaningful connections that will last well beyond your school days. The time and effort invested now will pay dividends for years to come.