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Alumni
Career Networking
Tips
Before the Contact
Making the Contact
20 Questions to Consider
Shadowing Opportunities
After the Contact
Final Tips to Remember
Before the Contact
Preparation
before making the contact is important. A good rule of thumb is to
define an agenda. This will make it easier to ensure that you have
accomplished all that was intended. Consider these tips prior to making
the contact.
•
Decide whether you will contact alumni by phone, in writing, or
both. If you precede the call with a letter, it is important
not to ask them to call: YOU must take the initiative.
•
If contacting alumni in writing, use the sample letter located here
as a guideline. If you have prepared a resume, you may wish
to enclose it with the letter to give the alumni more information
about your interests and skills.
•
Keep in mind that the alum's purpose is to provide information about
their field and organization, NOT to provide an interview or
a job. Their purpose is to open doors to potential job opportunities
and to help you in your career decision-making process.
(However, you may get lucky and get a contact that knows of an opening!)
•
Take time to evaluate yourself. Be prepared to discuss your skills
and the nature of your interest in that field or company.
•
Prepare a list of questions in advance. If you prepare insightful
questions prior to the contact, you will find the discussion
beneficial and you will leave a good impression.
Making the Contact
Now
that the contact is ready to be made, there are a few guidelines that
should be followed. Being smart, confident, and professional will
make favorable impressions upon the alumni that you will be contacting.
Reviewing these helpful hints will aid you in the process.
•
Present yourself in a businesslike manner
•
Begin with a brief introduction, offering your name and the reason
for the contact.
•
Explain to alum that you received their name through the JMU Online
Community.
•
When contacting alumni by phone, be sure to ask if it is a good
time to speak with them or when you might schedule a call at
a more convenient time.
•
Define an agenda along with a list of questions. Use these to obtain
the information that you are seeking.
•
Get your contact involved. Have them talk about themselves and ask
advice.
•
Be courteous and keep a time limit. Remember that you are using
the alum's valuable time.
20
Questions to Consider
Now
that you have the general guidelines to making the contact, here is
a list of questions from which to choose when making the alumni contact.
| 1.
What is your job title? |
2.
In general,
what is your work like as a (name of occupation)? |
| 3.
How did you get into this field? |
4.
What was your college major? |
| 5.
What preparation
is required to qualify for a job like yours? |
6.
What is
the minimum amount of education required for entry into this
field? |
| 7.
How did you prepare yourself for this kind of work? |
8.
Are there any classes that you think are helpful to prepare
for this job? |
| 9.
What academic majors does your company hire? |
10.
What skills and abilities have
you found to be most important to your work? |
| 11.
What personal qualities do you feel are needed to succeed in
this line of work? |
12.
What do you like most about this position? |
| 13.
What do you like least about this position? |
14.
What activities
do you focus most of your time? |
| 15.
Please describe a typical day or week on the job? |
16.
What is the typical career path this job follows? |
| 17.
What advice
would you give to someone still in college, aspiring to a career
in your field? |
18.
How would you advise someone to begin seeking a job in your
field? |
| 19.
What compensation might I expect at entry level? |
20.
Can you refer me to others in your company or field that may
lead to permanent employment or internship opportunities? |
Shadowing
Opportunities
"Shadowing"
is just that -- tagging along with someone for a day to gain insight
into the daily operations of a work environment. Several alumni have
agreed to invite students to their office to participate in a day
or half-day of shadowing. If your contact has agreed to this service,
take advantage of this opportunity. Shadowing for a day will provide
insight into "real world" experiences.
After
The Contact
•
Be certain to thank alumni generously for their assistance.
•
Ask permission to keep in touch by phone or in writing. You never
know when they may hear of an opportunity.
•
Organize a personal record keeping system for future use.
•
Record important points of the conversation.
•
Write down names, titles, addresses, and phone numbers.
•
ALWAYS follow-up with a thank you note to the alumni!
Final
Tips To Remember
You are seeking information, not a job. Be courteous and professional.
Offer your name and state the reason you are making the contact. Ask
when you may call back if the present time is not convenient. Don't
stumble, prepare your questions in advance. Be sensitive to the alum's
time. Thank the alum and follow-up with a written letter.
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