With over 900 million users, LinkedIn has become the go-to platform for professional networking and career development. As a recent graduate or current student, you may be wondering if it’s worthwhile to connect with alumni from your school on LinkedIn.
The Potential Benefits
Connecting with alumni on LinkedIn can provide several advantages:
Gain Career Advice and Mentorship
Alumni who graduated a few years ago can provide insight into the industry you want to enter. They can give advice on skills to develop, companies to target, and strategies for standing out in the job search process. More experienced alumni can serve as mentors who guide you through major career decisions and transitions.
Learn About Job and Internship Openings
Alumni often hear about opportunities at their companies that are not formally advertised. By connecting on LinkedIn, you can gain exposure to “hidden” jobs and internships in your desired field. Alumni are also more likely to refer students from their alma mater for open positions at their organizations.
Expand Your Professional Network
Connecting with alumni grows your network beyond classmates and university contacts. A wider range of connections improves your visibility and provides access to people that can help you advance your career. It also boosts the strength of your LinkedIn profile for things like search rankings.
Get Recommendations and Endorsements
Alumni who you developed relationships with during school can write you LinkedIn recommendations that highlight your skills, achievements, and work ethic. They can also endorse you for key skills, which act as credibility indicators on your profile.
Increase Your Knowledge
By viewing alumni profiles, you can learn about various career trajectories and companies within your industry of interest. Seeing the paths others have taken helps broaden your thinking about possible roles you could pursue. You can also follow alumni company pages to stay up-to-date on key initiatives and news.
Factors to Consider
However, connecting with all alumni indiscriminately is not necessarily the best approach. Here are some factors to consider:
Your Career Goals and Interests
Target alumni who work in your desired industry or function to ensure relevancy. Mass connecting to those in completely unrelated fields likely provides little direct value. Prioritize alumni at companies you want to work for or doing jobs you aspire to.
Alumni Background and Experience
Focus on alumni who likely have the context to provide meaningful assistance or advice based on where they are at in their career. For instance, recent graduates may relate best to students, while executives can offer high-level mentoring.
Nature of Your Relationship
Connect with alumni you had direct interactions with through classes, clubs, sports teams, research projects, and other activities. Alumni who know you well are more inclined to help. Avoid spamming those you have no prior relationship with.
Alumni Availability and Responsiveness
Temper expectations around very senior alumni or those with demanding roles. While they can provide great advice, they likely have limited time and availability. Prioritize alumni who actively engage with students and volunteer as mentors.
Your Networking Etiquette
Only connect if you plan on professional follow-up communication and relationship-building. Random connection requests often get ignored. Demonstrate interest in their career experiences and company to develop fruitful interactions.
Alumni Privacy Preferences
Respect alumni who indicate they only accept connection requests from people they know. Cold outreach to them via LinkedIn goes against their stated preferences. Only connect if you have a direct relationship or introduction.
Best Practices for Outreach
If you decide to reach out to an alum on LinkedIn, here are some tips:
Personalize the Connection Request
Mention how you know the alum, like that you were in the same major or student club. Reference any specific interactions you had with them on campus. This helps jog their memory and makes acceptance of your request more likely.
Send a Friendly Follow-Up Message
After connecting, start the relationship off on a warm note. Thank them for accepting and reference shared experiences. Ask how their career has progressed since graduating. Inquire about their current role and company.
Ask for Limited, Specific Advice
Rather than generally asking an alum “to be your mentor”, have a focused ask around a particular career dilemma, skill you wish to develop, or upcoming interview. This makes the commitment less daunting and showcases your respect for their time.
Suggest Low-Commitment Initial Interactions
To minimize demands on busy alumni, propose quick informational interviews over coffee or short phone calls to start. Offer to connect them with current students at their company for campus recruiting.
Share Meaningful Updates and Content
Keep alumni loosely in the loop on major academic, professional, and co-curricular milestones. Forward articles or social media posts you genuinely think would interest them based on their role and interests.
Express Gratitude
Always thank alumni for any support, advice, or introductions they provide. Let them know how they have helped in your career development. People enjoy feeling their time was impactful.
LinkedIn Etiquette Summary
Here are some overarching etiquette tips when connecting with alumni on LinkedIn:
– Research alumni backgrounds before sending requests
– Personalize connection invite messages
– Follow up with friendly conversational messages
– Make limited, specific asks of their time
– Suggest casual initial interactions
– Share meaningful updates but don’t over message
– Express thanks and show how they helped you
Conclusion
Connecting with school alumni on LinkedIn has many potential benefits, but requires care and sincerity. By targeting relevant alumni, approaching respectfully, and engaging professionally, you can form meaningful relationships that propel your career forward. Treat it as an opportunity to expand your community, not just acquire contacts. With a thoughtful strategy, connecting with fellow graduates can yield long-term dividends.