What are the best practices for reaching out to alumni via email or LinkedIn?

Some companies, especially Consulting Services, have in house teams or points of contact whose role is to liaison their alumni with potential 3rd party opportunities. Building relationships with those teams can keep you on their radar for potential future executive candidates.

Before hitting that send button, take a moment to identify which alumni you want to reach out to. Not all alumni will be relevant to your current needs or interests, so it’s important to target those who are. Maybe you’re looking for advice in a specific field, or perhaps you’re interested in networking opportunities. Use alumni databases, LinkedIn, or even your university's alumni office to find people who align with your goals. It’s like planning a road trip; knowing your destination makes the journey smoother and more fruitful.

This involves personalization, clarity, and professionalism. Start by crafting a concise and engaging message that highlights your shared connection as alumni and the purpose of your outreach. Personalize the message by mentioning any common experiences, interests, or connections you may have. Clearly communicate the reason for reaching out, whether it's to reconnect, seek advice, or explore potential opportunities for collaboration. Keep the tone friendly and professional, and avoid using overly formal language. Additionally, make it easy for the recipient to respond by including clear call-to-action prompts, such as suggesting a specific time for a call or meeting. Finally, always express gratitude for their time and consideration.

When contacting alumni via email or LinkedIn, follow these best practices: identify relevant prospects, research their background, craft a clear subject line, introduce yourself and your purpose succinctly, provide details about the opportunity, and include a clear call to action. Respect their time and boundaries, and express gratitude in your follow-up for a positive interaction.

As with all LinkedIn messages - personalization personalization and personalization . I believe in keeping the message short and to the point and including my personal contact details for a more in-depth conversation. My message usually comprises of who i am and why i want to talk to them - I ask them to let me know if they are not interested so that i dont keep following up. I am in agreement that subject lines make of break if someone is even opening the message

Once you’ve got a list of alumni prospects, dig a little deeper. Check out their LinkedIn profiles, any publications they might have, or even their social media presence. Understanding their career path, current role, and areas of interest can help you tailor your message to resonate with them. It shows you’ve done your homework and you’re not just sending a generic blast. This personalized approach is much more likely to get a positive response. Think of it as getting to know the audience before a big presentation; the more you know, the better you can connect.

Totally agree, to expand on this, I briefly research every executive before I reach out (usually mutual connections), but more thoroughly research them if they engage and we schedule to speak.

Before reaching out, thoroughly research the alumni's background and interests. Tailor your message to reflect your genuine interest in their career path or expertise. Mention any shared experiences or connections from your alma mater. This personalized approach demonstrates respect for their time and increases the likelihood of a positive response.

Tailor each message to the specific individual. Don't send generic templates. Mention any common connections, shared experiences, or mutual interests.

Subject Lines Matter. Think about your personal email and the unexpected emails that show up - you make the decision to open, delete, block or mark as junk based on the subject line. The same applies in business email. As in all things KYC, you lead with "them" not with "we"

Your subject line is your first impression, so make it count. Keep it clear, concise, and relevant to the reason you’re reaching out. Whether it’s seeking career advice, exploring job opportunities, or simply looking to connect, your subject line should reflect that. Avoid vague phrases like "Seeking help" or "Quick question." Instead, try something like "Fellow [University Name] Alum Seeking Career Advice in [Industry]." This immediately tells the recipient who you are and why you’re contacting them, increasing the chances they’ll open your email.

I have used "Executive Job Opportunity". But I like Catheryn Perry's "Personal and Confidential". I believe either one would entice a candidate to read your email. I also look for a common denominator between myself and the prospective candidate.

When reaching out to alumni, you must be concise and clear from the outset. Alumni are often busy with their careers and personal lives, so they appreciate direct communication that respects their time. Start your message with a clear and succinct purpose to significantly increase the chances of them engaging with your communication.

I historically have used either "Personal and Confidential" or "network with you", depending on the context of the note. I would be interested in others perspective on this.

I believe an introduction is unnecessary. I believe this is obvious from my Linked In Profile and makes the note too long. We just have a second to engage. I do describe the role, but very high level. Here is where I want to capture their attention and curiosity. I leverage words like ""high level", "make an impact", drive the CEO agenda", "highly visible, etc.

In your message, start with a brief introduction. Mention your connection to the same alma mater right off the bat, as this shared experience can warm up the conversation. Quickly transition into why you’re reaching out, being specific about what you’re hoping to achieve. Are you looking for insights into their industry, advice on breaking into a particular field, or interested in job opportunities at their company? Being upfront and clear about your intentions helps set the tone for a straightforward and meaningful exchange. Remember, respect their time by keeping your message concise and to the point.

I only mention a search/role if the person has Open to Work turned on, otherwise I comment on their success and wanting to connect in regards to future opportunities.

Giving more information about the role is redundant and again makes for a longer note. The question I close with "Would you be open for a "brief call in the next few days". Keyword here is "brief". I close with "I would value your thoughts,

Make sure you end with a clear call to action, such as requesting a brief meeting or a response to your questions. Make it easy for them to respond.

I firmly believe the note should be short. I respect executives's time and most don't have time to read a long unsolicited note. * Short note *Peak the curiosity without giving a long job description *Close with a compliment. *Don't be assumptive that they are your candidate. Tone of note should be networking.

While reaching out to a fellow alumni is considered a somewhat warm lead since you have something in common, it would still be helpful to take a couple of additional steps: 1) Find out who are the common contacts that you share with this alumni. The LinkedIn mutual connections feature can help with this. 2) Reach out to these mutual connections to a) do a soft check to get further insights on your target prospect to see if he/she would indeed be suitable for your search; b) get them to introduce you to the prospect or at least to get their permission to mention that they recommend speaking to the prospect. With the additional steps, the prospect will be more likely to respond to you.