Networking is often an intimidating word, but it can be easier than you think to get started! Especially as the semester begins to wind down and we get closer to the summer, you might be wondering how you can connect with alumni to find your next job, to learn about future opportunities, or even to discuss their experience navigating the job market.
Where can I find people to reach out to?
Networking can happen anywhere – in class, at an event, or even when you run to get your morning coffee. But if you want to start networking intentionally, there are a few great platforms to check out first:
- The Black Alumni Network: The Black Alumni Network seeks to empower, connect, and celebrate the University of Rochester Black Community. This group encourages connection between current students, alumni, friends, faculty, and staff, with their webpage featuring webinars, stories, and initiatives to connect.
- The Latin Alumni Network: The Latin Alumni Network seeks to provide students, staff, faculty, and alumni who identify at Latin or Hispanic with opportunities to engage, network, mentor, and partner with others. Their webpage features upcoming events such as volunteer opportunities, webinars, and social events.
- The Meliora Collective: The Meliora Collective is a networking platform exclusive to the University of Rochester, which highlights alumni and current students in different fields, majors, and with different identities. Find alumni in the Black Alumni Network and Latin Alumni Network, and search for alumni who are eager who chat about navigating the workplace and the job search! Just make sure to use your filters when you search – or to search through groups.
- LinkedIn: LinkedIn is a great platform for finding others and reaching out – but it can be difficult to narrow down your options! The Meliora Collective already highlights alumni, but on LinkedIn, you can go to the University of Rochester page and click the alumni tab. Narrow down your search from there.
How do I reach out to people?
Now you know where you might search online, but that leaves one more problem: what do you say when you reach out? Remember: networking is a conversation, so when you reach out to connect, you don’t want to ask for a reference or a job right away. Instead, try including these in your initial message:
- Who are you? Introduce yourself!
- Where did you find their profile? If you have something in common, like you’re both alum, let them know.
- Why do you want to connect? Check out their profile to see whether they might work at a company you would like to know more about, or in a certain industry. You might even include some of your own experience.
- How can they continue the conversation? Include a prompt for a meeting or for further connection to learn more.
For example, I might say something like “My name is Alyssa, and I am a senior at the University of Rochester studying History. I recently found your profile and wanted to reach out to you since I have been interested in learning more about editing and publishing. I was wondering then if I might be able to speak to you for 15-20 minutes on Zoom to learn more about your career and experiences. I will be looking forward to hearing from you, and thank you for your time today!”
This is only one example, but keep in mind that this can vary based on how much space you have to message or what you want to say. LinkedIn, for example, provides you with a very limited number of characters, so your message might need to be even shorter than this!
For more examples of what you might say when you reach out, check out our sample networking letters to help you get started – and check out the Meliora Collective too, which includes templates to help you reach out when you go to message someone on their profile!
Other Ways to Network
Outside of the ways listed above, there are a few other ways to connect with others. Try going to events on or off campus, like networking events and alumni events. Check back here for more information on upcoming programming for the 2025-2026 academic year!
The Greene Center has created Alumni Office hours, which are meant to help you learn to navigate your field and make your way through a difficult job market. You are able to sign up directly for a slot to speak with alumni, but if there are no times that work for you, let us know! We are adding more time slots often and want to help connect you with alumni who can help.
Also be sure to check out the Bridge to Career Success Program, a program meant to help you in your job or graduate school search, and which includes webinars, Job Search Group Sessions on getting your application ready, and more opportunities to connect!
