As a Clark student, you already have connections.
Family, friends, alumni, professors, peers, clubs, social organizations, and advisers are all a valuable part of your network. During your career journey, that network will be your most important tool in finding new opportunities.
How to start? Try informational interviews
Informational conversations are an opportunity to get insider information from professionals whose career or expertise you admire. In just 20 minutes, you can learn a lot — and jump-start your network.
How to make connections
Need help building your network?
Find new contacts
- Friends and Family: The first step in finding new contacts is to reach out to your immediate network of friends and family. Talk to your parents, professors, teachers, family members, or your friend’s family members. Start by asking them to help you make connections with people who are in careers that interest you. Once you connect, you can start to build a relationship or ask for additional contacts that might be of value for you.
- LinkedIn is a powerful networking resource of 70 million professionals around the globe representing 150 industries, including 35,000+ Clark alumni. You can create a free account to begin expanding your network of connections.
- How do I connect with people on LinkedIn? When connecting with others on LinkedIn, you will be prompted to describe how you know the other person through a set of choices that LinkedIn provides. You also will have the option to include a personal note along with the connection request, a message that the person on the other end will be able to see. You should customize this message to describe the nature of why you are connecting. In it, briefly include:
- An introduction (“Hi, I’m a junior studying International Development at Clark University…”).
- An explanation of your common interests or shared affiliation (“I see you were an athlete at Clark; I’m a student-athlete on the baseball team”).
- A brief “ask” of what you hope to learn or do (“I’d welcome the opportunity to learn more about your career path into investment banking through a 30-minute phone call at your convenience”).
- Sincere thanks (“Thanks so much for considering my connection and I look forward to your response”).
- How do I Connect with Alumni on LinkedIn? To connect with Clark alumni on LinkedIn, you need to first ensure that you have listed Clark University in the “Education” section of your LinkedIn profile. Once your profile is complete, simply go to Clark University’s main LinkedIn page and click on the alumni tab on the column on the left. Once there, you’ll see an ongoing list of alumni that you can easily filter by industry, location, job title, company, or keyword. One thing to keep in mind: Your LinkedIn profile is often the first link that appears when someone searches your name via Google.
- How do I connect with people on LinkedIn? When connecting with others on LinkedIn, you will be prompted to describe how you know the other person through a set of choices that LinkedIn provides. You also will have the option to include a personal note along with the connection request, a message that the person on the other end will be able to see. You should customize this message to describe the nature of why you are connecting. In it, briefly include:
How to network
Think about your strengths and interests by reflecting on your current positive and negative experiences.
- Assess your current connections by identifying the people who most align with your values and interests and with whom you should connect to diversify your perspective.
- Connect with curiosity by asking questions without the pressure of a formal networking event or a formal ask for a job or internship.
- Look for opportunities to connect with people and experiences through social networks, clubs, volunteering, and job boards.
- Cultivate your network by showing genuine interest in people’s experiences and by keeping in touch with those who took the time to connect with you.
Sample messaging
Want to start making a professional connection with alumni but not sure where to start? Here are a few sample messages to help guide you:
Graduate School
“Hi Alumni,
My name is Student and I am a junior at Clark double majoring in Spanish and psychology. I am interested in pursuing graduate school after Clark and noticed that you recently finished your Ph.D. in psychology. I’d like to learn more about the psychology program at X University and hear about your path from Clark, to graduate school, to career. Could we schedule a time to speak, at your earliest convenience?
I look forward to connecting!
Sincerely,
Student”
Career Exploration
“Hi Alumni,
My name is Student and I’m a Media, Culture, and the Arts major at Clark University. I want to work in journalism after graduation; I saw you interned at X Organization during your time at Clark and I’m wondering if you could tell me more about your experience there. I’m interested in learning more about the journalism field and would love to hear about your work at Y Company. Is there a time that we could schedule a phone call? I appreciate any insight you’re able to share.
Thank you,
Student”
Informational conversation
“Hi Alumni,
My name is Student and I’m a sophomore at Clark. I am majoring in business, but think I might want to pursue a career in policy reform. Since you majored in business and now work at a think tank, I’d like to hear about your unconventional path from Clark to policy research. How did your business degree help prepare you to work in this field? Can we schedule a time to talk more about your academic and professional experiences?
Looking forward to talking soon,
Student”
Tips for connecting with alumni
Here’s a guide to the Do’s and Don’ts of connecting with alumni.
