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Alumni Contact: Best Practices

Making Contact with Alumni

The initial contact should be by the method the alumni/ae prefers, if indicated. If not, you can use any method you feel comfortable with; just be sure your communications are professional and non-intrusive. Proof your written communications and evaluate the impression you will make. Also, be considerate of time zone differences and time of day (esp. evening) when contacting alums.

Introduce yourself as a Thayer/Dartmouth student (or alum) and indicate how you were referred to them. Explain why you have choosen to contact them and what you are interested in learning more about. Arrange a method of communicating that is most convenient for the person assisting you. If you would like to arrange a phone call, suggesting several times/days that work for you, may be most effective.

We recommend that you do not include a resume in the first correspondence. If an alum is interested in reviewing your resume they will ask for it.

Questions to Ask

(from Dartmouth Career Network)

For Career Exploration Inquiries

What projects or tasks are performed in a typical week in this job?
What would be the top 5 skills needed to be a top performer in this job?
What kind of credentials, education, training, prior experience are needed?
What types of other professionals do you work with, inside and outside your organization? (You may want more details about those related careers)?
How was your major related to your current work?
What was your career path that led you to your current position?
What was the most significant contributing experience/factor to your being in this type of work?
Are there any new trends in your profession/industry that will provide new opportunities?
What type of lifestyle does your job permit?
How much flexibility is there in dress, work hours, place of residence, travel, etc.?
How well suited do you think my background is for this type of occupation?
Are there other professionals to whom you can refer me who are in related types of work?
What professional associations are recommended?
Can you recommend any trade journals that would give me greater insight into issues/trends in the industry?
Would it be possible to 'job shadow' you over a couple of days?

For Job Search Inquiries

What departments within your organization tend to hire (interns/entry-level)?
Is there someone in these departments you would recommend I contact?
What time of the year does your employer typically look for (interview) hires?
What qualities does your company look for in candidates?
What made you choose this employer?
How would you describe the culture of the organization? (pace of work, workstyles, values, etc)
Can you talk about the kinds of projects that new hires have worked on this past year in your own department?
How often are new hires evaluated?
What type of professional development/ongoing training is available?
Where have you worked before and in what capacity? Would I be able to contact any of these employers? Do you have contact names I can use?
What professional associations would you recommend becoming a member of in order to network?
Are there trade journals that you recommend? Do any have job postings?

For Graduate School Inquiries

How did you decide on this program and college/university?
How competitive is the process of getting into the college/program you attended?
*How would you compare this program to other colleges of similar caliber?
What key qualities did this college/university look for in candidates?
Did your Dartmouth education prepare you fully for applying to this program?
How would you describe the faculty advising and mentoring that was available
Was there a 'practicum' component to your program?
Was assistance available in seeking employment after graduation?

Tips for Informational Interviews

Be yourself.
Prepare questions in advance (see samples). This preparation will allow you to relax and devote your full attention to learning as much as you can. It will also help you form meaningful, concise and relevant questions.
Regardless of how you are meeting, bring a copy of your resume to share.

If you are receiving advice via phone or e-mail, send a copy of your resume in advance along with a note that says "Thank you for agreeing to share your insight and advice with me. As I thought it might be helpful for you to know a little more about my background, I am enclosing a copy of my resume. Any constructive feedback that you have would be most appreciated."

Providing your "interviewee" with your resume gives them an opening. Response to resumes in informational interviews generally run the gamut: from constructive criticism on how a resume can be improved, to suggestions on additional coursework or work experience that will enhance your skill set for a given industry. (Remember that everyone has his/her own personal preferences when it comes to resumes. Create a resume that works for you.)

Note: Your "interviewee" may provide you with leads for applying for jobs and internships, or offer to "float" your resume to others on your behalf. You may accept this offer; however, you should not directly ask network participants to do this for you in your behalf. (In other words, they must offer first.)
Speak well (i.e. strive to avoid fillers such as "you know," "like," and "um") and ask intelligent questions.
Immediately send a thank you note. This should be done within 48 hours of your meeting. While handwritten or typed notes sent via U.S. mail are always appreciated, e-mail thank-you notes are also acceptable. The important thing is that you do it!
Always follow through on what you say you will do.
Follow-up by contacting any referrals received, saying, "Mr. Smith suggested I contact you. By the way, he sends his regards. He thought that you would be an excellent source of information. I am interested in investigating the field of biochemical engineering."
Keep a detailed record of your visits; who, when, where, what was said, referrals, thank you note sent, etc.