Finding Alumni Who Can Help with Career Changes

“Just go network!” They say it like it’s a vending machine. Put in small talk, get out a job. Reality check? For international students, networking feels more like... Screaming into LinkedIn and hoping someone answers. Let’s change that. Here are less-talked-about ways to network that actually work — with tools & stats that most grads miss: 1. Tap ‘Boomerang Alumni’ – People Who Returned to Your Country Not everyone stays in the U.S. forever. Some grads move back — after working here for years. These “boomerang alumni” are gold. Why? They’ve done OPT → H-1B → full-time. They’re way more likely to respond to international student struggles. They now often sit in recruiter or hiring seats abroad or with U.S.-based remote teams. How to do it: Use LinkedIn Alumni tool → Filter by your school → Filter by country (India, China, Nigeria, etc.) Message: “Hi [Name], I noticed you graduated from [school] and worked in [U.S. company] before moving back. As someone navigating the OPT phase, I’d love to hear what helped you thrive and what you’d do differently.” It’s not a job ask — it’s a wisdom ask. And that often leads to real referrals. 2. Use NAFSA's Employer Lists (Barely Anyone Uses These) NAFSA: Association of International Educators is the professional org for international education. Hidden Gem: They’ve quietly released a list of U.S. companies known to hire F-1/OPT students → nafsa.org/recruiters According to their 2023 report: 67% of employers cited “lack of awareness” as their reason for not hiring international students. Which means: YOU can be the one to educate them. Tip: When reaching out, say — “I saw [company] listed by NAFSA as a global-talent-friendly employer. I’d love to learn more about how your team supports early career hires from diverse backgrounds.” 3. Use “LinkedIn Audio Events” as Warm Entry Points Text DMs? Ignored. But someone who asked a thoughtful question in a live audio session? Recognized instantly. How to do it: Search “Audio Events” on LinkedIn’s Events tab Join sessions hosted by recruiters, VPs, or alumni Ask a 10-second question at the end DM them after: “Thanks for hosting. Loved your take on [topic] — it gave me clarity as a grad trying to enter this space.” Stats show we retain 70% more from voices vs. text. That emotional connect → higher reply rate. Bonus Resource Few Know: CPTDog: Lists jobs that accept CPT/OPT with real-time filters Pathrise: Career accelerator that assigns mentors specifically for visa-holding grads H1BData.info: Filter companies by location, title, and even salary history Final Thought: You’re not doing it wrong. You’re just trying what worked for others who didn’t have to cross oceans for opportunity. Now it’s your turn to network — not harder, but smarter. #InternationalStudents #OPTJobs #NetworkingTips #HiddenResources #LinkedInStrategy #Grad2025 #ImmigrantSuccess #JobSearchUnlocked #H1BJourney #CareerTips

I recently go asked "what is one thing that no one tells you about networking when you're an international student?" When I came to the U.S. 6 years ago to study Data Science, I had no idea how important networking would be for my career. Coming from Spain, I thought hard work and a good resume would be enough. Spoiler: it wasn’t. As an international student, job hunting comes with extra challenges: visas, sponsorships, and navigating a system that sometimes feels overwhelming. But here’s the truth: networking changed everything for me. Here’s what worked: 1️⃣ Reaching out to alumni: - I was at Suffolk University in Boston, and I used LinkedIn to connect with alumni in Data Science. At first, it felt awkward—what could I possibly say? But I learned this: people love sharing advice when you ask the right questions. Instead of asking for jobs, I asked about their journeys, challenges, and advice. Those conversations didn’t just lead to referrals; they gave me confidence and clarity. 2️⃣ Leveraging LinkedIn: - LinkedIn became more than just a job board. I posted about projects I was working on, shared my thoughts on the industry, and commented on others’ posts. Over time, recruiters and professionals in my field started noticing me. 3️⃣ Attending industry events: - From local meetups to webinars, I treated every event as a learning opportunity. The key wasn’t handing out resumes—it was making meaningful connections. One conversation at a career fair even led to an internship that shaped my path. Looking back, I realized networking isn’t just about getting a job—it’s about building relationships. As an international student, those connections helped me navigate a career system I didn’t grow up in, and they became my biggest advantage. What’s your go-to strategy for networking? Let’s share tips below—I’d love to hear what’s worked for you!

The top question I get from students and those looking to make career changes is, “How do I reach out to people and not make it transactional?” I’ve been on both sides of this question and narrowed down my advice to this acronym: CLAWS C = Common. Common background, common interests, common people. The first thing that is incredibly helpful to do as a thoughtful networker is to find common ground. You could both be alums of a CS program, have a mutual connection that you know and can speak to, maybe you interned at a company they worked for, or maybe they made a career transition you are currently interested in pursuing. Start with common ground. L = Listen. There’s a reason why this step isn’t to ask for a referral or ask how to get a job at that person’s company. Your goal is to show that you’re being thoughtful with their time. Do your research on them, on specific gaps you may have in your background that they have as strengths, and most importantly, seek advice from them on what they would do if they were you. What was most helpful for them as they went through something similar? Underrated skills in their role? Advice to another version of them who could go through it again? It’s about them, not you. A = Ask. But not quite referral time yet. Ask for a specific piece of feedback: “thank you so much again for taking the time to speak with me. I’ve spent a lot of time crafting my resume with XYZ skills in mind from our conversation. I know you’re incredibly busy, but would you be open to taking a look at it with a XYZ role in mind?” W = Wait. Your goal is to build relationships, and not make it feel transactional, right? So after your first meeting or first message exchange, give it some time. Act on the advice you were given. Take your resume for another spin. Talk to more people. Then, check back in for the final step. S = Show, Share, Specify. Show them that you’ve done all this work and really used their feedback and enough to time has passed for you to share what you’ve learned both about roles you’re interested in or skills you are excited to build based on the conversations you’ve had. From there, be specific about what you would like their help with and why. If it’s a role at their company, specifically link to it and ask if they’d be open to referring you or to connecting you with someone on the team to talk more about it. This is just a framework that I have found helpful both as someone who gets requests from people looking for support, and as someone who benefitted greatly from the time, patience, and thoughtfulness of individuals that answered my career questions.

I always like to mention the Alumni feature when I’m teaching about LinkedIn job search tools because it’s one of the most effective. LinkedIn’s research discovered that alumni are 3x more likely to help you than any other type of connection. To use the alumni feature, go to your school’s LinkedIn page. You can do this easily by typing the school name in the search bar. Once you’re on the school’s page, you’ll see a tab for Alumni. Click that tab. The Alumni feature allows you to search for job titles, industries, and the years attended — you can broaden this range to find people who graduated close to you or ahead of you. You can even search by where they live to target people near you or where you want to move (another connection point). You can search by where they work or by alumni who are employed at a specific company where you want to work. I love this feature because I can find multiple common connection points (key networking currency). My first connection point is that we’re both alumni of the same school. Then, I can choose to find alumni where I live, so I choose Jacksonville, FL. Now, I have two common points of connection with this person. Let’s say I also have my heart set on working for Mayo Clinic, so I click Mayo Clinic. Now, I can see all the alumni in my area who work for Mayo — but now, I want to dive even deeper and find a third point of common connection. I will search by what they do to connect with people in HR at Mayo. So I can select that option. You could also narrow it down by what area they studied (maybe you both have business degrees — another point of connection), and you can also select what they’re skilled at (these are the main skill areas on their profile). Lastly, you can choose how you’re connected. LinkedIn will show you 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-degree connections. If I message a UNF alumnus who also studied business, lives in Jacksonville, and works in HR, we have much more in common. This is the perfect person I need to speak to about working in HR at Mayo. When you send a connection request, make sure to list your common points: “Hi (name), we’re both UNF alumni and Jacksonville natives. I studied and worked in HR, too. I’d appreciate the opportunity to connect and network since we’re in the same field.” After you’re connected, you can follow up and ask questions like: “I aspire to work for Mayo Clinic one day. I’d love to hear what path you took to work there.” Or you could say: “I see you’ve been in HR for 10 years and you’re a VP of HR. I hope to grow my HR career and become a director in the next 3 years. I’d appreciate hearing any advice you might be willing to share about your path.” These are the people you want in your network. They are the people who will become your biggest cheerleaders and helpers — the ones willing to hold informational interviews with you, share their stories, and give you advice. #networking #jobsearch #careers

Reminder: tap into your alumni networks as part of your #jobsearch or #careerdevelopment strategy! This week I had great intro networking calls with fellow alumni from William & Mary and Columbia Business School. While we met through other channels, having attended the same school established trust and gave us something to talk about right off the bat to break the ice. I sometimes hear from clients who are hesitant to reach out to alumni from schools they attended - but these networks are a fantastic, and often untapped, way to find folks who are more inclined to be helpful and to respond to your outreach because of your shared affiliation. Wondering how to find #alumni to connect with? Here are a few ideas: 1. LinkedIn's alumni tool makes it super easy to find and filter alum who live in your city, work in organizations you're interested in, etc. This is one of the most valuable and underutilized features of LinkedIn, so definitely spend some time with this great tool if you're not familiar with it! 2. Most universities put on regular #networking events for alumni, both virtually and now in-person again. Take advantage of these - you never know who you'll meet! 3. Search your school's alumni directory for folks who have opted in to talk about their careers or serve as mentors. 4. Join LinkedIn or other social media groups of alumni from your school(s). 5. Remember that "alumni" can be from any group you've been a part of, not just schools. Brainstorm other groups or organizations (including past employers) you're affiliated with for more outreach ideas. How else have you connected with your #alumni networks, and how have they been helpful to you?

If you’re a student, coffee chats might feel intimidating. “How do I even ask?” "Who should i reach out to?" “What if I don’t know what to say?” Trust me—I’ve been there. But the truth is, coffee chats aren’t about asking the perfect questions or landing a referral. It's about learning what other people's career paths are like and applying their advice through years of experience to 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵. Coffee chats are 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 a two-way street. If you're a student, professionals aren't going to expect to be 'learning' from you. They're going to be sharing advice based on the 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 questions that you ask. That’s why for #3 on my list of 44 'productive' things to do this summer, we’re tackling how to actually do coffee chats. Check out the full list here: https://lnkd.in/g9W5BCWa Here’s a simple roadmap 👇 1️⃣ Start small Message someone from your school, a club alum, or a professional you admire. The worst they can say is “no,” and most will say yes. 2️⃣ Reach out with curiosity, not an agenda The message should focus on learning, not asking for opportunities. People can tell the difference. 3️⃣ Prepare a “conversation starter” list What inspired you to choose this career? What does a day in your role look like? What do you wish you knew as a student? 4️⃣ Do your research Read their LinkedIn, browse their projects, and prepare tailored questions. This shows respect for their time. 5️⃣ Let it be a conversation, not an interview Ask open-ended questions, share your own experiences, and let the dialogue flow naturally. 6️⃣ Listen more than you talk Take notes if you want—but focus on truly listening. Sometimes one sentence from them can change how you see your path. 7️⃣ Express gratitude Send a thank-you note within 24 hours. Mention a specific insight that resonated with you. 8️⃣ Keep it going Relationships are built over time. Share updates, engage with their content, or reconnect in a few months. ✨ Bonus tip: Use LinkedIn’s “Alumni” feature to find professionals from your school who’d love to support students like you. Or if you have companies that you're interested in, go to their 'People' tab on LinkedIn in their company page, type in your school as a filter and find your alumni working at that specific company to coffee chat! 🔔 Follow me to keep up with this series of 44 'productive' things to do for your early career journey before the summer ends + recruitment ramps up! _____________ 💙 Like or share the post! ☻ Follow Arlina Yang to join my journey as a non-technical major pursuing tech

International students, are you feeling lost after graduation? Still looking for a job? You are not alone. Looking for a job while in need of future sponsorship was one of the hardest things I have ever done. And that was 5+ years ago. I can't even imagine what it's like to look for a job in this market as an international student. 2 resources that were incredibly helpful to me: 1. 𝑻𝒂𝒑 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒏𝒊 𝒏𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌 ↳ Alums are typically more willing to help, provide referrals, and offer free advice. You can search for alumni of your alma mater at any company on LinkedIn. Use this feature. 2. 𝑳𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒔:  ↳ Many universities offer career services for alumni. They can provide job search assistance, resume reviews, and interview preparation. Some even have job boards specifically for international students. Don't give up—keep networking, keep applying, and keep going💪 #OPT #internationalstudents #H1B #workvisa

I have been asked several times for advice that I could give to new graduates about their upcoming new careers. As a Purdue University alumni I think of my alma mater's core goal is to be a global leader in discovery, learning, and engagement. I could sum up my advice in three specific areas: 1. Stay Curious — Keep Learning Beyond the Diploma - Your degree proves you can learn — but the half-life of knowledge is shrinking. The future will reward adaptability, not just expertise. - Keep sharpening both technical and “soft” skills through online courses, certifications, and stretch projects. 2. Leverage the Purdue Network Aggressively - The Boilermaker network is global and surprisingly accessible — many alumni actively want to mentor. - Reach out on LinkedIn or Purdue alumni platforms. Don’t just ask for jobs; ask for perspective. 3. Think Globally, Act Locally - Even if your career is local now, industries are globally interconnected. - Stay aware of global market shifts, supply chain risks, and cultural contexts in your sector. I have had three major career changes in my life in core areas; military, finance and semiconductors. Always be ready to embrace change, always try something new and try to achieve your goals that you set. #purdue #boilerup #LinkedInTopColleges