How to Network with Alumni on LinkedIn

Your university’s alumni network is one of the most powerful and underutilized resources for your career, and LinkedIn is the fastest way to tap into it. This guide gives you the exact blueprint for finding the right people, crafting messages that get responses, and turning simple connections into genuine professional relationships. We’ll cover everything from optimizing your profile before you reach out to nurturing your new network for long-term growth.

Start with a Strong Foundation: Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile

Before you send a single connection request, you need to make sure your own profile looks professional and clearly states your goals. Think of it as tidying up your home before guests arrive. When an alum clicks on your profile, they should immediately understand who you are, what you’ve accomplished, and what you’re interested in. A half-finished profile sends the signal that you aren’t serious about your career.

Key Areas to Audit:

• Professional Headshot: Your photo should be a clear, high-quality shot of your face. Dress professionally, stand against a simple background, and smile. No party pictures, logos, or blurry selfies.
• Compelling Headline: Go beyond just your job title. Your headline is prime real estate. For students, something like "Marketing Student at [University] Seeking a Role in Digital Marketing" is good. For professionals, try "Software Engineer at [Company] | Python, AWS, and Cloud Architecture." Clearly state what you do and what you're passionate about.
• Engaging "About" Section: This is your chance to tell your story. Write in the first person. Briefly cover your current role or studies, your key skills, and what you’re looking for next. End with a call to action if you want, like "Feel free to connect with me to discuss emerging trends in digital marketing."
• Detailed Experience: Flesh out your work, internship, and even significant volunteer experiences. Use bullet points to describe your responsibilities and, more importantly, your achievements. Quantify your accomplishments whenever possible (e.g., "Increased organic social media engagement by 25% over six months").

Find the Right People: Using LinkedIn’s Alumni Tool

LinkedIn’s alumni search feature is your secret weapon. It allows you to sift through thousands of graduates from your school with surgical precision. Accessing it is simple: navigate to your university's official page on LinkedIn and click the "Alumni" tab.

Once you’re there, you'll see a dashboard that lets you filter the entire alumni database. This is where the magic happens. Instead of blindly scrolling, you can zero in on people who are truly relevant to your career path.

How to Use the Filters Effectively:

• Where they work: Looking to break into a specific company like Google, Deloitte, or a hot startup? Type the company name in this filter to see every alum who works there now or has in the past.
• Where they live: Moving to a new city? Filter by location to find alumni in that area who can offer localized advice, industry insights, or just a friendly face.
• What they do: Use this to filter by industry or job function. If you’re a finance student, filter for "Finance" or "Investment Banking" to find people already in your target field.
• What they studied: Trying to connect with someone from your specific degree program? This filter is perfect for finding people who share your academic background, which creates an even stronger initial connection.
• What they’re skilled at: Looking for someone with a specific skill, like "data analysis" or "product management"? The skills filter helps you find subject matter experts.
• Keyword Search ("Search alumni by title, keyword, or company"): This is the most powerful tool of all. Use it to search for job titles like "Marketing Manager," "UX Designer," or even niche keywords relevant to your field like "SaaS" or "renewable energy."

Example Scenario: Imagine you're a recent Communication graduate trying to find a social media marketing role in Chicago. You would go to your university’s alumni page and apply these filters:
- Lives in: "Chicago Metropolitan Area"
- What they do: "Marketing"
- Search by keyword: "Social Media"
In seconds, you’ll have a curated list of alumni in your city working in your desired field.

Craft a Connection Request That Gets a "Yes"

Once you’ve identified a few alumni you’d like to connect with, the next step is sending the connection request. Never, ever send a request without a personalized message. The default "I'd like to connect with you on LinkedIn" is generic and easily ignored. Your goal is to be personal, respectful, and clear about why you’re reaching out.

The Anatomy of a Perfect Message

A great connection request message has three simple parts:

1. Remind them of your shared connection. Lead with your common ground - the university you both attended.
2. Briefly introduce yourself and mention something specific you noticed. Show you’ve done your research. Briefly mention their company, their career path, or a piece of content they shared.
3. State your "ask" clearly and gently. The key is to ask for something small - their time and advice, not a job.

Remember, LinkedIn limits connection messages to 300 characters, so you have to be concise.

Template 1: For General Career Advice

"Hi [Name], I saw we both graduated from [University]! I'm a current [Your Major] student and was so impressed by your career progression at [Their Company]. If you have a moment in the coming weeks, I’d love to ask a few questions about your experience in the field."

Template 2: For an Informational Interview

"Hi [Name], Go [Mascots]! I found your profile through the [University] alumni network and noticed you work in [Their Industry]. As I'm exploring a similar path, I was hoping to chat for just 15 minutes to learn more about your role at [Their Company]. Thanks for considering!"

Template 3: After You've Seen Them Speak or Read Their Work

"Hi [Name], I'm also a [University] alum and really enjoyed your recent article on [Topic]. Your insights on [Specific Point] were fantastic. I’d love to connect and follow your work."

The goal isn’t to land an interview in this first message. The goal is simply to get them to accept the connection and open the door for a conversation.

Follow Up and Build the Relationship

Once an alum accepts your connection request, don't let the conversation die. A prompt and polite follow-up can turn that connection into a meaningful conversation.

Step 1: The Thank You Message

Within a day of them accepting, send a follow-up message. Thank them for connecting and gently reiterate your reason for reaching out. This is also your chance to expand on the short connection request message.

Example Follow-Up:
"Hi [Name], thanks so much for connecting! As I mentioned, I’m really interested in the work you’re doing in product management at [Their Company]. The path you took after graduating from [University] with your [Their Degree] is exactly what I’m hoping to learn from. If you have 15-20 minutes for a brief chat in the next few weeks, I’d be grateful to hear about your experience."

Step 2: Be Specific with Your Questions

When you do get a conversation - whether it’s over email, a call, or coffee - come prepared. Respect their time by having thoughtful questions ready. Avoid generic questions like "Can you tell me about your job?" Instead, ask targeted questions:

• "What does a typical day look like in your role as a [Their Job Title]?"
• "What are some of the skills you’ve found most valuable as you've advanced in your career at [Their Company]?"
• "What advice would you give a recent [University] graduate trying to break into the [Their Industry] industry?"
• "Is there a particular trend or challenge in your field right now that you find exciting?"

These kinds of questions show you’ve done your homework and are genuinely curious about their experience. And never forget the golden rule: do not directly ask for a job or a referral. If you build a genuine connection and impress them with your preparation, they will often offer to help without you having to ask.

Stay on Their Radar (Without Being Annoying)

Networking is not a one-time transaction, it’s about nurturing relationships over time. After your initial conversation, find subtle ways to stay in touch without demanding their time.

• Engage with their content. Like and, more importantly, leave thoughtful comments on their LinkedIn posts. A comment like "Great point on AI's impact on supply chains. It reminds me of..." is far more valuable than a simple "Great post!"
• Send occasional updates. Did you follow their advice and land a great internship? Send them a quick message to let them know and thank them for the help. For example: "Hi [Name], I just wanted to let you know that I took your advice and landed an internship with [Company]! Your insights were invaluable."
• Share value where you can. If you come across an article or an event that seems relevant to their work, share it. A simple message like, "Hi [Name], I saw this article on [Topic] and thought of you," is a thoughtful way to stay connected.

By staying in touch and adding value, you can transform a simple connection into a professional relationship that supports your career.

Final Thoughts

Networking with alumni on LinkedIn is a powerful strategy, grounded in building genuine relationships. By starting with a polished profile, methodically finding the right people, crafting respectful messages, and nurturing the conversation over time, you can turn your shared school pride into real opportunities that accelerate your career.

As you start building these new connections and managing follow-ups, staying organized is key to your networking strategy. This is where tools for personal brand management can be game-changers. For a simple way to manage your brand and content planning, check out Postbase. Our visual calendar helps you schedule your content so you can focus on what matters most: building meaningful relationships.