Catherine B. ’15, a CWS intern on the CWS marketing and communications team, has put together information she discovered from conducting informational interviews with Wellesley alumnae. Take a look below:
Wellesley alums are – without a doubt – one of the best resources at Wellesley. Our alums are passionate and almost always eager to speak to current students. As a second-semester junior, here are some of the lessons I’ve learned from networking with these fantastic women:
Come With Questions
After thanking an alum for having coffee with me, she ended the conversation with how “impressed” she was by my questions. I asked her what she meant, after which she explained that students would often times sit down and expect her to just start talking. Moreover, another alum told me how frustrated she is when students ask general questions that are easily accessible online (ie, her career history that is available on LinkedIn). Both alums emphasized that meetings like these become a “waste of time,” discouraging the alums from agreeing to meet with future students.
TIP:
-When reaching out to an alum, be sure to specify your particular reasons for contacting her in the first place. Take a look at these sample networking emails on the CWS website.
-If an alum does agree to speak with you, be sure to prepare beforehand. Read through her LinkedIn profile thoroughly, learn about her current and past companies/organizations, and create a list of specific questions tailored for her in particular. The “Networking” section of the CWS website is a great place to start (and one of the website’s best kept secrets).
The Little Things Matter
From initial contact to final goodbye, all of the little things matter. Alums will, understandably, take note of how you conduct yourself over email, on the phone, and in-person. Your demeanor demonstrates your competence.
TIP:
-Your email correspondence, conversation, and dress (if in-person) should generally be professional (see these suggestions for successful interviewing). Be sure to personalize your LinkedIn connection request (nix the LinkedIn generic message). And always, always write a thank you note!
“Stay in Touch” Means “Stay in Touch”
Another alum told me how frustrated she is when students do not “stay in touch” as promised. After making the time to speak to students about internship opportunities, she never heard back from them!
TIP:
-When you do eventually find that job or internship, be sure to thank those who helped you along the way. Send a quick email to the alum informing her of your plans – doing so demonstrates your genuine interest in establishing a long-term professional relationship.