Many attorneys
searching for work overlook their alumni connections. But if you’re not using your alumni network to develop
relationships which could potentially lead to valuable connections and job opportunities
then you could be missing out on a way to make your job search easier. Below
are a few tips on how you can effectively use your alumni network to find
career opportunities:
1.
Join
your alumni group and subscribe to their newsletter. An alumni newsletter will
be invaluable in providing you news about what’s going on with your former
classmates and others who attended the university.
2.
Begin
connecting to fellow alumni before you ask them for anything directly. There’s no other bigger turn off than
receiving an email or phone call from a stranger who wants to be connected to
job opportunities. Instead, think
about how you can benefit the alumna to whom you want to connect, then go about
showing them your value first. For
example, if you saw a recent article about an alumna think about complimenting
them on their achievements or even connecting them to another person who can be
of value to them.
3.
Attend
alumni events or organize one of your own. It might be a lot easier to connect to alumni at a casual
get together than a formal “business” networking event. But make sure you do your homework
before you attend, finding out what the interests of those people you want to
meet will pay dividends in helping you to connect.