How to Network Using Alumni Groups

Alumni groups are powerful and effective networks to utilize when you need to make connections in your job search. Most people have strong loyalties associated with their former schools and will actively try to help others who graduated from those schools when they are asked. This article will discuss several different ways to tap into these very important networks to help you get your foot in the door and land a new job.

Alumni Groups to Target in Your Networking Efforts

1. Undergraduate College Alumni – The first category we all think of when hearing the word “alumni” includes the people who went to the same college for their undergraduate degree. This is a wonderful group to target because they are automatically programmed to think of you as “one of us.” You cheer for the same team, root for the same mascot and bleed the colors of the alma mater. There is a connection to this person and the chances of getting them to agree to talk to you are much higher than a random person. Just mentioning the shared connection to the college will get them to stop and pay attention to your message far more often. Even if you are separated by many years and attended the university at a much different time, there is nonetheless, still a strong bond. Most universities now have online programs, so the pool of potential alums is even bigger.
2. Graduate School Alumni – If you also went to another school for a graduate degree, or two, you can similarly tap into those universities’ alumni bases. The effect is much the same, even if you were not part of the traditional campus scene like one who attended as an undergraduate.
3. High School/Prep School – Whether you attended a big school or a small one there are undoubtedly others who would be more attuned to helping you if you reach out. It’s the power of a shared connection.
4. Borrowed Connections – If one of your family members attended a particular school it’s very possible to borrow some of the effects of alumni networking. If your daughter attended USC and you know the campus well from your many visits, other Trojan alums might say, “Fight On” when you reach out. If your father graduated from Alabama and he would take you to football games on Saturdays, then you know the power of sharing “Roll Tide!” Warming up your cold call with these borrowed connections can be an effective tactic for networking.
5. Corporate Alumni – One area that is often neglected is the alumni network of people who formerly worked for the same corporation. It’s a shared experience and something to connect over. Even if the other person’s experience wasn’t 100% positive with the former corporation, you can still share a connecting point which might be all it takes to get your foot in the door. “I see you previously worked for IBM. I was at Big Blue for a little over 3 years.” A simple statement like this can pave the way for more conversation.
6. Fraternity/Sorority/Student Organizations – If you were a member of an organization, club or team during your college years there’s a strong chance there is now an alumni group you can join focused on that former club. Join the group, get connected and learn of opportunities you might otherwise never see.

How to Find and Reach Out to Alumni When Networking

1. Search via LinkedIn – LinkedIn is a fantastic tool to use when searching for people who went to the same school you attended, especially college. LinkedIn provides search filters that allow you to search using the information people share about their educational background. The same is true for corporate alumni. You can search LinkedIn using a Previous Employer search field. Then, you can invite the people you find to connect. Once connected, you can either message them via LinkedIn or via email by looking up their email address under “contact info.”
2. Alumni Directories – Most alumni organizations will provide an alumni directory of other alumni members when you join. Many of these have social media pages that you can utilize as well.
3. Alumni Events – Universities frequently host alumni events to encourage their loyal graduates to stay connected to the school and support their mission. The events might be big events, such as Homecoming, or smaller events targeting a specific school or college within the university. These can be great opportunities to meet people with a shared interest who might be able to open doors for you that you haven’t considered yet.
4. Join Local / Regional Groups – Larger universities often have alumni groups in just about every major US city. Even if you don’t live close to where you went to school, you can usually find a group of people in your area who also graduated from that school. Even smaller schools might have a good handful of people in your area who might like to meet for coffee, lunch or a cocktail after work.

Alumni groups can be a powerful source for career networking. The loyalties associated with these organizations help warm up a cold outreach and increase the chances of getting your foot in the door. Don’t forget to incorporate these tactics into your overall networking plan to take advantage of these connection opportunities.