Message an Alumnus of Your College
The short answer
Alumni often reply to students of their old college. Say you study there, say what you admire about their path or company, and ask one specific question. Keep it short and do not ask for a job in the first message. The template is written in that order.
Shared college is a good reason to write.
Your message
Short and specific beats long and general. Add one detail only you could know, like a post of theirs you read. Connection notes have a short character limit that LinkedIn has changed over time, so trim the note if it is refused. Your details stay in your browser.
Everything runs in your browser. What you type is not sent anywhere.
How to: Message an Alumnus of Your College
- 1Search your college's alumni on LinkedIn for people in the field you want.
- 2Fill in your name, theirs, your college, their company and the topic.
- 3Copy the message and send it.
- 4Reply quickly if they answer, and thank them.
At a glance
- Reason to write
- The shared college
- Ask
- One specific question
- Avoid
- Asking for a job in the first message
Frequently asked questions
How do I find alumni?
Open your college's page on LinkedIn and choose Alumni. You can filter by company, city or what they do now.
How many alumni should I message?
A few well-chosen ones a week beats a mass send. Personalise each message with one detail about their work.