Reaching out to alumni working in your ideal field is a proactive way to gather information, mentorship, and possibly start a connection for internships, employment, or research opportunities. Alumni connections can be very valuable for high school students who want to apply and be competitive for summer pursuits, realise summer programmes and explore potential career paths. This guide contains everything you need to know about how to create alumni connections and how to construct cold-emails and improve your chances to develop useful professional relationships.
Why Connect with Alumni?
Alumni are those who have already traveled the path upon which you wish to embark. They understand the complexities, possibilities, and uniqueness of your area of interest. It is advantageous to connect with alumni to:
learn about career paths and trends within the industry
receive advice around applications, interviews and skill aspects
discover hidden opportunities like internships, summer programs, or research opportunities
build your professional network early in your academic journey.
Step 1: Identify Your Dream Field
Before contacting alumni, it is important to confirm your field of interest. Would it be for biomedical research, computer science, engineering, etc? Specifying your field of interest will allow you to narrow your search for relevant alumni, and ask better questions.
Step 2: Research alumni in your dream field
There are a number of effective ways to find alumni who will be able to help you:
1. University Alumni Networks
A majority of schools and colleges have specific alumni directories for students. You can search by year of graduation, your field of study, employers, or geography. You will want to:
Sign in to your school's alumni credentials.
Set filters to see the alumni working in your field.
Scan through profiles for relevant work and present positions.
2. LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a powerful tool for finding professionals, including alumni from your institution.
Use the “Alumni” feature on your school’s LinkedIn page.
Filter by company, field, location, or skills.
Review profiles for career paths similar to your aspirations.
3. Department Websites and Newsletters
Numerous departments at academic institutions feature accomplishments of alumni on their websites or in their newsletters. Usually, these profiles include current positions and contact information.
4. Social Media and Professional Organizations
Facebook, Slack, or an industry-based forum may host groups for alumni. Participating in such groups is a great way to network informally.
5. Faculty and career services
Professors and career services professionals typically have a list of successful alumni. Ask them for introductions, or recommendations, based on shared interests.
Step 3: Research your target alumni
Do some research before you reach out for a number of reasons to shape your outreach:
Take a look at their LinkedIn profiles and professional homepage.
Do you have any commonalities based on their job history, projects, and any other screwballs they may be involved in?
Ask yourself if you can relate to any of their organizations or groups you are a part of or similar experiences connected to (clubs, majors, internships).
Preparing in this manner demonstrates that you have a true vested interest and helps you in writing an email that does not look like an email any of their other contacts may send.
Step 4: Writing a successful cold-email
A more successful cold-email increases the chances that they will respond to you. You should include the following in your correspondence:
Subject line
Be brief and relevant. Some examples could be:
"Current [Your School] Student Interested in [Industry]"
"Looking for Advice from a Fellow [School] Alum in [Industry]"
Greeting
Use a nice, professional greeting like:
"Dear Ms. Smith,"
"Hi John,"
Introduction
Introduce yourself briefly:
Name, year in school, major.
State your connection (same university, mutual interest, etc.).
Purpose
Explain why you are reaching out:
Explain your interest in their field or company.
Mention some particular attributes about their background that motivated you to contact them.
Request
Be clear and respectful:
Request a short informational interview (15-20 minutes).
Be specific about what you want to know (for example, career advice; information on summer programs or other industry trends for aspiring professionals).
Gratitude and flexibility
Thank them for their time and suggest flexibility:
"Thanks for your consideration. Happy to work around what is best for your schedule."
Signature
Include your full name, school, and contact information.
Step 5: Follow-Up and Etiquette
If you didn't hear back after 1 week, it's a good time to reach out again with a nice follow-up email.
You will want to restate your interest, while recognizing their busy schedules.
Make sure to keep it short and respectful.
If you received a reply, you should:
Reply back quickly.
Prepare for questions relating to your meeting.
Make sure you send a thank you email after your conversation.
Get the Most from Your Alumni Networking
To really get the most from your meeting(s):
Prepare questions for your meeting (example: "What skills do you find most valuable in your profession?" "How did you find your first summer research opportunity?").
Take notes during your meeting.
Ask if they can recommend any professionals to contact or suggest resources to look into.
Occasionally reach out to them to provide updates on how you are doing.
Common Missteps to Avoid
Generic, copy and paste email.
Thinking solely about yourself, and not the person you are communicating with or inquiring about their experiences.
Asking for jobs or internships directly in your first message.
Not following up or thanking the alumni for their time.
Utilizing Alumni Connections for Summer Programs
For high school students looking into competitive summer programs in STEM, business, or the arts; alumni can provide:
Their experiences in the programs
Advice on their essays and interview.
What the selection process is like and what to expect.
When you reach out, make sure you mention the programs you are interested in and ask for guidance on how to strengthen your application or apply the experience.
Locating and cold-emailing people in your field of interest and reaching out in your complimentary email can be a great pathway into your career development and exploration. Alumni records available through school networks, LinkedIn, or department resources can help you find contacts and arrange a meeting. If you write personalized and professional emails and prepare for your conversation in advance, you can successfully establish a relationship that can assist in your academic and career decision-making process. The overall goal of your email is to learn, connect, and progress - one email at a time!
If you are a high school student pushing yourself to stand out in college applications, RISE Research offers a unique opportunity to work one-on-one with mentors from top universities around the world.
Through personalized guidance and independent research projects that can lead to prestigious publications, RISE Research helps you build a standout academic profile and develop skills that set you apart. With flexible program dates and global accessibility, ambitious students can apply year-round. To learn more about eligibility, costs, and how to get started, visit RISE research and take your college preparation to the next level!
Read More
