www.linkedin.com/alumni is a relatively new LinkedIn feature that I have found quite valuable for tapping into my alumni directory and alumni networking. This feature allows you to see a visual representation of where your fellow university alumni live (i.e. their location), work (companies), as well as what they do for a living (career).

Powerful Alumni Networking

A good portion of alumni are happy to help out fellow alumni in their career or job search. Whether an individual graduated in the same year or 30 years before, many are happy to help a fellow alumnus achieve their goals. You share a connection and a common experience.

Alumni Networking in a New City

Did you recently move to a new city and you’re looking for a job? Many individuals move to a new city without a support system or a job. Finding career opportunities without a set network in a new city can be very challenging. Use this linkedin.com tool to find alumni that may be able to provide information on the city, a popular industry, the state of the work force, or tips for a job search in that city. If you are still considering a transition to a new city, evaluate who will be part of your local network. Alumni may be a great source of information as you consider the job market and the move itself.

Researching Career Transitions

If you are contemplating a career transition, use this feature to identify alumni who work in the career you are considering. They would be great individuals for you to conduct informational interviews with to learn more about the career field or even run your potential career transitions by.

Increase Alumni Networking

Even individuals who are happy with their career may want to increase their network for many purposes, including skill assessment, developing relationships, etc. Or you may want to connect or re-connect with individuals from your university to discuss their career transitions too.

The alumni networking feature of LinkedIn has many features that can be useful for individuals in all aspects of their career. Take a look and see what information you find useful! Also find out how we can help you optimize a Linkedin profile to get a job.