Connecting with alumni on LinkedIn can be a great way to expand your professional network, gain career advice, and learn about job opportunities. However, messaging alumni you don’t know well requires some tact and consideration. In this article, we’ll explore the pros and cons of reaching out to alumni on LinkedIn and provide tips for making thoughtful connections that will be welcomed by the recipients.
Pros of Messaging Alumni on LinkedIn
Here are some potential benefits of thoughtfully messaging alumni on LinkedIn:
Gain Insights on Their Company or Industry
One of the best uses of LinkedIn is gathering inside perspectives on companies and industries that interest you. Alumni who work at organizations you’d like to learn more about can provide valuable insights. They can give you an honest look at the workplace culture, training programs, advancement opportunities, and day-to-day responsibilities. This type of insider knowledge can help you determine if a company or field is a good fit.
Learn More About Possible Career Paths
In addition to gaining industry knowledge, alumni can discuss their own career journeys. Understanding how they built their skills, chose jobs, and advanced in their field can help guide your decisions. You may discover new roles or skillsets you weren’t previously aware of. And you’ll get a better sense of possible career trajectories in your desired field.
Receive Advice on Your Resume, Skills, or Job Search
Alumni who have hired and managed professionals in your field can provide helpful feedback on your resume, skills, and overall job search approach. Since they likely evaluated many candidates earlier in their careers, they can identify what stands out and offer suggestions. This type of candid feedback can help you improve your resume, focus your skills development, and increase your chances of landing interviews.
Gain References or Recommendations
References and recommendations from alumni at reputable companies can greatly improve your chances of landing a job. After building rapport and learning more about your background, alumni may be willing to serve as references or write recommendations on LinkedIn. Their positive endorsement serves as a credibility boost for recruiters and hiring managers.
Uncover Hidden Job Opportunities
Finally, messaging alumni opens the door for learning about unposted jobs and upcoming openings at their organizations. In some cases, they may directly share current opportunities that could be a great fit based on your conversation. Even if they don’t have immediate openings, they may introduce you to colleagues who are hiring.
Cons of Messaging Alumni on LinkedIn
While there are many potential upsides, it’s also important to consider some potential drawbacks:
It May Come Across as Self-Serving
Unfortunately, many alumni are overwhelmed with LinkedIn messages asking for favors, jobs, or informational interviews. They may automatically assume you simply want something from them and dismiss the message. To avoid this, your outreach needs to start with a personalized, thoughtful introduction without any direct asks.
You May Not Get a Response
Do not be surprised or offended if you do not receive a reply. Alumni you haven’t spoken to since graduation are under no obligation to respond. They may be too busy, uneasy connecting with someone unfamiliar, or inundated with too many messages. If appropriate, try sending one thoughtful follow-up message, but do not badger them if they remain unresponsive.
Conversations May Not Progress Beyond the Initial Exchange
Even alumni who reply may not be interested or available for an ongoing dialogue. Expectations should be calibrated based on how well and recently you knew the alum. In most cases, be pleased with any limited insights or advice they provide in their initial response. Don’t assume you’ll develop an ongoing mentorship-type relationship.
Discussions May Be Kept High-Level and Uncertain
Since alumni are not official company representatives, they may be unable to share confidential information or make firm commitments. Conversations will likely remain high-level and focused on general advice. Unless they explicitly have job openings to share, they likely cannot guarantee consideration. Manage expectations accordingly.
You Could Receive Well-Intentioned but Inaccurate Advice
Even the most experienced alumni have biases and limited purview. Take any career advice or industry insights with a grain of salt rather than as absolute truth. Do your own detailed research as well to validate recommendations given to you.
Tips for Thoughtfully Messaging Alumni
If you want to maximize your chances of getting a positive response when reaching out to alumni online, keep these tips in mind:
Personalize the Introduction
Reference your specific connection, whether you briefly met at an event, took a class together years ago, or were college roommates. Include dates, locations, and anecdotes to jog their memory. This demonstrates you are not blindly spamming LinkedIn connections.
Acknowledge Their Time and Position
Show you understand they likely have many demands on their schedule and are doing you a favor. Say you appreciate any insights they can briefly provide when they get a chance. Avoid phrasing that sounds like you assume they’ll make themselves available for an hour-long call.
Have Clear Goals in Mind
Know exactly what type of advice, insights or referrals you are seeking so you can concisely explain this in your message. Whether you want industry perspectives, feedback on skills gaps, or introductions to other professionals, be upfront about your goals.
Provide Context on Your Background
Quickly summarize your academic status, work experience, career goals and interest in their company or field. Giving relevant context makes it easier for them to tailor any advice they provide.
Ask Open-Ended Questions
Pose questions that spark interesting conversations, rather than those with simple one-word answers. For example, “What skills are most valued in this industry?” rather than “Is coding important?” Make them thought-provoking but easy to respond to quickly.
Watch Tone and Length
Avoid sounding overly formal or familiar. Keep messages concise and scannable, focusing on the most important details. A couple short paragraphs are ideal. Giant blocks of texts can be overwhelming or off-putting.
Suggest Low-Commitment Options
Rather than pushing for a long call or in-person coffee, suggest lower-commitment options like a short 20-minute phone call or answering a few questions by email. This reduces the demands on their time.
Express Gratitude
Thank them for any insights provided, even if they choose not to respond. If they engage in an initial dialogue, follow up to reiterate how much you appreciate their time and advice.
Avoid Messaging Too Frequently
Unless they directly express interest in ongoing communication, assume your exchange will be limited to a few messages. Follow the alumni’s lead in terms of cadence and frequency.
Sample Outreach Messages
Here are some examples of thoughtful introductory messages to adapt when reaching out to alumni on LinkedIn:
For Advice on Breaking into an Industry
Dear John,
I hope you’re doing well! It’s been a long time since we took Economics 101 together at State U back in 2018. I still remember how insightful your questions always were in class.
I see that you now work in healthcare consulting at ABC Corporation. I will be graduating in May with a business degree and have become extremely interested in healthcare consulting roles. However, I don’t have healthcare-specific experience beyond one healthcare internship.
Would you be open to a quick 20 minute call to help me better understand:
– What skills and experiences firms like ABC look for when hiring consultants for healthcare clients?
– What you enjoy most and find most challenging about healthcare consulting work?
– How you broke into the field right out of undergrad?
Any insights would be tremendously appreciated whenever you have a spare moment. Please don’t hesitate to connect me to any other professionals in your network who may be able to provide additional perspectives. Thanks again for your time – looking forward to hopefully catching up soon!
Best,
Monica
For Resume and Job Search Advice
Hi Sarah,
I hope all is well! It’s John Smith – we were in the same accounting program and study group at City College circa 2014. I still remember collaborating with you on all those late night projects in the library.
After several years in public accounting, I’m now hoping to transition to an Analyst role at a tech company. I’d love any insights you could offer on:
– How my accounting resume may be tailored for tech roles
– Key skills or experiences tech recruiters target
– Your approach to searching for roles, networking, etc.
I completely understand you’re busy, so any general advice or recommendations you can provide when you get a moment would be greatly appreciated. No need to prioritize this over your other commitments! Looking forward to reconnecting.
Best regards,
John
For Feedback on Job Application
Hi Jane,
I hope you’ve been well! It’s Mark Jones – we served in student government together at State College about five years back. I really enjoyed working with you on reforming the club funding policies.
I saw on LinkedIn that you’re an HR Business Partner at Highlight Corporation. I just applied for a Program Manager role there and wanted to get your insight. Would you be open to taking a quick 5 minute look at my resume and application to advise if:
– You have any tips to improve how I framed my project management experience
– There are any key areas I should focus on in interviews based on what Highlight values in PM candidates.
Please don’t feel obligated to provide feedback – I completely understand how busy you must be in HR! But I would sincerely appreciate any guidance if you do have time. I hope to reconnect soon.
Best,
Mark
Type of Advice Needed | Key Points to Include |
---|---|
Industry Knowledge | – Note alumni’s current role and company – Express interest in their industry – Ask about skills needed, culture, typical career paths |
Career Guidance | – Highlight alumni’s career achievements – Share your background and goals – Ask for advice on skills development, job search tips |
Resume Feedback | – Mention applying to alumni’s company (if relevant) – Ask for quick resume review – Seek guidance on presenting certain experiences |
Job Application Insights | – Note you applied for a specific role at their company – Ask for insights on how to emphasize skills, experiences – Seek tips on acing the interview process |
Referrals | – If alumni responds positively, ask if they can refer you – Only request if they have directly mentioned openings – Avoid asking for referrals in initial outreach |
Should You Message Alumni?
Messaging alumni is highly situational. Consider factors like:
- How well and recently you knew them
- Their industry and position
- Your goals for outreach
- How genuinely interested you are in reconnecting
Avoid mass outreach blasts. Personalized messages aligned to clear goals typically gain the best responses. Gauge receptiveness and do not pressure unresponsive alumni.
With thoughtfulness, most alumni are willing to provide some basic guidance to early career professionals and recent grads. Use alumni insights to supplement other research when exploring career options.
Conclusion
Connecting with university alumni on LinkedIn can provide valuable career insights, advice, and referrals. However, thoughtful consideration is needed to ensure your outreach is welcome, adding value for both parties. Show personalized respect for their time, focus on low-commitment asks, and convey authentic interest in re-establishing your school connection. With a genuine, professional approach, most alumni are happy to briefly mentor juniors within their university network.