They're all around you. They know where you've been. And if you want, they can help you. Are they Good Samaritan stalkers? Nope. If you've gone to high school or college, they're your fellow alumni, a ready-made networking resource.
In fact, career networking is a top priority for school alumni offices. After reviewing national survey results, Lehigh University conducted its own survey. Chris Marshall, executive director of the Lehigh University Alumni Association, explains: "We asked the question, 'What do you want from your alma mater?' Three of the top four (answers) were career-related. Number one was networking opportunities."
Online Networking
Like many schools, Lehigh emphasizes career-development efforts for current students. In response to alumni requests, Lehigh's alumni association launched Alumni Career Solutions, a Web site to help graduates establish career connections with other alumni.
"Our career-networking piece will allow someone to find a fellow graduate by name, industry and location," says Marshall. Lehigh has had career networking in the past, but the online offering is new. The traditional procedure required calling the alumni office, paying a fee, telling a staff person the kind of contact desired and then waiting for results in the mail.
"The online version will involve, for no fee and at any time of the day, access to a dynamic database of contacts instantly," Marshall explains. "If your first attempt at a list isn't well-organized, you can adjust your search parameters. For example, you can search for lawyers in California, decide that query isn't specific enough, and then hone in on lawyers in a specific region of California or a range of years of graduation."
Lehigh has about 20,000 contacts in its online career-networking list. Marshall expects the new networking system will significantly increase the number of times the alumni database is accessed. Enhancements will be based on tracking and feedback data built into the new system.
Alumni-to-Alumni Mentoring
A total of 735 Lehigh grads have volunteered to be mentors to the Lehigh community. Typically, this is a relationship between a student and alumnus, but it can also include recent grads and older alumni. The mentoring relationship involves contact over a period of time during which an experienced professional imparts advice and guidance to a novice.
So How Do You Network?
First, find out if your school offers some kind of career networking for alumni either online or in a more traditional way. Either way, you still have to make the calls or send emails to the contacts. Here are some tips:
- Contact people on your list in the manner they are presented to you. If they list a phone number, use that method. If you only get an email address, use that. Respect the privacy of your contacts by addressing them through the information supplied by the alumni office.
- Make the meeting convenient. These people are helping you, so let them dictate when and where a meeting will occur.
- Ask for a half hour. Plan your questions so you only need half an hour. Make sure you don't run overtime unless invited to stay.
- Prepare questions. You are trying to learn from their experience. Don't expect them to have a lecture prepared.
- Have realistic expectations. You are learning about a career interest and making a contact; you aren't asking for a job. You can and should ask questions about your contact's company and if your contact knows any firms that are hiring. You should also express interest in hearing about any future openings. Don't forget to leave a resume.
- Send a thank-you note the next day. Impress your contact with your gratitude and courteousness.
- And don't forget to return the favor. Someday an alumnus will be calling you for help and advice -- lend a helping hand.
Many schools offer tips on career networking. Lehigh and Notre Dame are two of the most helpful.
Join the Club
The school you attended is more than a place where you partied and studied for a few years. It's a club, and you're a lifetime member. Take advantage of your membership by tapping into the knowledge base of fellow alumni. There could be thousands of people able to help you.
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