Career Connections

It is highly unlikely that alumni and friends of the school will know specific job openings, so similar to other networking contacts, do not ask them for a job or a referral to someone else in their firm. All you want is advice and information. They will serve as guides, idea generators and information providers.

You may eventually turn an information provider into a personal "résumé distributor," but this only develops over time and after repeated positive contacts. Even if this relationship develops, remember that contacts cannot get you a job. They facilitate and provide information.

Send a LinkedIn invitation with a short personalized message. Be sure to mention how you are connected. Once the contact responds, the process can begin. It is important to respect the contact's time constraints. In your follow-up message, be prepared to provide information about your background and career interests to aid them in their ability to help you.  You may contact multiple alumni, but stick to just two or three until you get the hang of it.

The most effective way to initiate contact is in writing, generally via a LinkedIn invitation or direct email. Your message should explain the reason for your contact and be concise (two paragraphs long). Use formal business writing, and make sure it is free from errors or abbreviations.

The introduction should indicate that you're a UB School of Management student. In subsequent paragraphs, describe the type of information you're seeking. Be specific; the more complete your email is, the more worthwhile your meeting with the contact will be. 

If the contact has responded to your initial expression of interest, you may include a résumé. This will allow the contact time to gather any pertinent information you requested and to review your background and career interests.

Finally, ask if you can schedule a brief meeting. The meeting could be just a telephone call, or a virtual meeting through Zoom. If the contact is local you could leave it up to them to choose the format. There are some contacts who like meeting students in person and don't mind stopping by campus, or even meeting at their office or local coffee shop. Offer several dates and times for this meeting.

After your initial message, you may decide to connect by telephone, either to arrange an appointment or to conduct an informational interview. In either scenario, you need to be prepared.

Introduce yourself and remind them of your initial contact. If you are calling to schedule an appointment, then explain that you are calling to arrange a convenient time when the contact has 15-20 minutes to answer some career- and industry-related questions. Be prepared during this initial telephone call with specific questions; even if the contact does not have time immediately, he or she will want an idea of the information you're seeking. It's difficult to make a good impression if you're not prepared.

If you've previously arranged a specific time to call or meet a contact, be sure to keep your appointment.

Introduce yourself again and remind the contact of any specific career or industry interests you stated in your previous email or telephone call. At this point, let the conversation take its course. Do not be pushy. You should expect this to be the first of several interactions.

You should have a list of prepared questions that focus on no more than three to five topics. Ask for advice frequently and listen attentively, taking notes as you go.

Visit the link below for a detailed list of questions regarding the contact's profession, industry, company and more.

Remember that this person has volunteered to help you. Someone who wants to help you in your job search is a great asset, so treat him or her as a valuable resource. Be sure to thank every contact for his or her time.

You should close with a thank you and ask if you may keep them informed about your progress. Not only will this be important for your career exploration, the contact will also appreciate your thoughtfulness. Perhaps later they will have additional thoughts and ideas to share with you or may hear of a job opening.

Also send follow-up email thanking the contact for their time, information and advice. See tips on writing a thank you email.

• Have questions prepared ahead of time
• Always be polite, appreciative and respectful
• Do not monopolize their time
• If you get voicemail, be brief (10-20 seconds), speak clearly and leave your phone number, but say you will call back on a specific date/time
• Do your research about their company before you reach out to them
• Do not ask for a job
• Meet in person, if possible
• Use summer, winter and spring breaks to do geographic-specific networking
• Always send a thank you within a few days
• Follow-up is your responsibility