It's wise to take advantage of your alumni network. Obtaining a degree takes years of hard work and is quite expensive, so you should leverage your connections you’ve made in college if possible. The alumni network can help you find a suitable career, and you will also be able to find potential job opportunities. 

The alumni network gives you a chance to learn and stay in contact with each other even after years of leaving your institution. 

Let's discuss the alumni networking event tips to advance your career. In addition, Teal has a free CRM, so you can save your network's information and follow up with them later. 

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Alumni Networking Event Tips for Your Career Growth

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These networking tips can help you advance your career and move forward in life. 

Consider the following: 

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#1. Find Your Alumni Network On LinkedIn 

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LinkedIn is a great place to find and meet professionals. In addition, it can give you a chance to reconnect with your college alumni.  Find the right people and add them to your connections and build a strong network. You can easily find the contact information of the alumni group. Job searching gets easier with LinkedIn. In short, alumni networking becomes a lot easier when you are using this platform. LinkedIn has nearly 800 million members. 

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#2. Volunteer for Your Alumni Network 

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Ask if there is a need for volunteers for the upcoming event! Never miss a chance to show up where you can for an alumni event.  Put your best foot forward and show the world that you have the required skills and expertise to land a potential job. Plus, volunteering can give you experience that you can mention on your resume. The networking events give you a chance to explore informational interviews so that you can find a field, career, or job of your interest. You can also connect with potential employers. 

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#3. Attend Virtual Events 

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If you find it hard to take time out from your busy schedule, you can attend the virtual events. It’s wise not to miss a chance to build a strong connection with your alumni network. Also, keep yourself updated on the upcoming events so that you will know what to expect! The beauty of virtual events is the fact that you can attend them from anywhere. It doesn’t matter where you are as you just have to show up for the online event. You may also host events in the future to keep everyone connected in one place. It’s a great way to see what others are doing in their career and how anyone can be of help to you! 

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#4. Attend Events In-Person

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It's wise to attend the events in person as it can give you a chance to connect with someone one-on-one. You can also go for coffee or lunch. Doing so can help you find lucrative opportunities, or you can learn new information that you may not be aware of previously. Plus, if you find a mentor in your alumni groups, it will be great for your career. You can ask for advice and also tips for career growth. 

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#5. Offer to Mentor 

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You can offer to interview the new graduates or mentor the fresh students. Doing so can help you advance your career, and you will be of service to the alumni network. It's good to be resourceful for others as it's a two-way street, and what you give can increase in multiple folds and come back to you! In addition, you can offer career advice to the newcomers. People look up to someone who has knowledge and experience. It's also a great way to contribute to the betterment of your community. Also, it keeps you highlighted and makes you an important person. 

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#6. Find Key People 

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Always find key people from your alumni network and try to be in their good books. Be genuine and make sure you are also helping others the same way. It's great to help others who are looking for connections. If you can find key people or become a key person for someone, it will be great for your career. You can refer people or provide recommendations. When people look p to you, it builds your credibility. In turn, it can be great for your own success in the future. 

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#7. Focus On Your Elevator Pitch

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When networking with the right group of people, you never know when a golden opportunity may strike. So, it's wise to focus on your elevator pitch. Prepare your elevator pitch in advance and be ready to stun your audience when you have to introduce yourself. 

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#8. Take Advantage of Social Media 

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Social media is not just for entertainment! You can take advantage of social media if you want to, and you can connect with your alumni on social media. You can comment on their posts and like the messages they share. Doing so can help you stay connected to them. Plus, if you share insightful information, people will keep an eye on your posts or wait for your comments when you have something interesting to say. 

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#9. Keep Business Cards Ready 

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If you want to go to the next level, you can prepare business cards. Doing so can help you in distributing the business cards during alumni network events. In addition, if your business card is catchy, it will help others remember your name. 

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Wrapping It Up 

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Your institution is the common ground where you meet your network. You can expect career advancement and growth when you connect with the right people. Focus on these networking tips and you will be good to go! 

Take advantage of Teal's free Contact Tracker today!