By Jake Nelko

Alumni Sharing Knowledge (ASK) Night is a chance to meet Logger alumni who are eager to answer your questions, offer advice, and exchange stories about Puget Sound.

Whether you’re a first-year student who wants to hear how to make the most of your time at Puget Sound from someone who’s “been there,” or you’re planning a job/internship search and want to network with successful individuals, ASK Night is the perfect place to do some research while meeting an awesome group of individuals.

Here are some things to consider when meeting alumni who will be at ASK Night:

A little prep goes a long way:

  1. Check out who is attending so you can make sure to meet alumni of greatest interest.
  2. Decide what to wear. This is a relaxed event, so business casual is appropriate attire—dressy enough to show you care, but casual enough to be comfortable and approachable.
  3. Create or update your LinkedIn profile so you can connect with alumni afterward.

Make a good impression:

  1. Practice your introduction; you’ll be using it a lot!
  2. Prepare a few go-to conversation starters. Here are some of our favorites:
    • What did you do during college that helped you get into your career?
    • What’s one piece of advice you would give to your college-age self?
    • What’s your favorite part about your job? What’s the most challenging part?
    • What’s one thing you didn’t expect about the professional world?
  3. Approach alumni with confidence. Address the alum by name, make eye contact, and offer a firm handshake.

Maximize:

  1. Talk to many people. Even if someone is doing a job that isn’t in your wheelhouse, there’s a lot to learn from any professional. They may even have connections to people in your field of interest who aren’t in attendance!
  2. Have brief but impactful conversations. This first interaction will set you up to chat with them in the future. By keeping it brief, you also allow other students time to meet the alum.
  3. Follow-up with anyone you had a nice conversation with. Ask for a business card and/or if they’d be willing to connect in LinkedIn. Your goal is to have another conversation by phone or over coffee to learn more.

Want help with any of these items? The CES Career Advising team is here to help!

© 2018 Career and Employment Services, University of Puget Sound
Photo: Ross Mulhausen
Artwork: Audra Delisle