Alumni

Alumni are a terrific resource to assist with exploring your career choices by conducting informational interviews or shadowing opportunities. Also, connect with them through networking opportunities throughout the school year, or develop your own relationship with them thereby enhancing your personal network. Alumni enjoy sharing their experiences with students and are often very flattered to be asked to share their knowledge.

The Carnegie Mellon Alumni website has two ways to search for alumni: the Searchable Directory, available to registered alumni, and the Career Network. Once you have sourced some alumni you would like to contact, you need to construct an introductory letter. Also, you will want to provide your resume for their review. After you make initial contact, you need to wait to see if they respond. There may be time when they are not able to respond quickly due to a very busy schedule. If you get no response after a week, you may resend your first message. If there is no response after that, do not pursue the alumnus any further.

Once the alumnus has returned your email, offer to either arrange for a phone conversation, or if they are in the Pittsburgh area, then suggest a face-to-face visit. Again, keep in mind that they are very busy. After you have conducted your interview or shadowing day, send a thank you letter. You may find that your relationship ends at that point or that it may continue. We would encourage you to maintain the relationship if possible, again, building your personal network.