By the tiswa editorial team, from the official sources listed at the end of this guide. How we write our guides
How to find alumni on LinkedIn is the fastest way to see how graduates of your university reached the roles you want. Search for your university, open its page, and choose the Alumni tab. You will see a list of people, plus filters that narrow it by where they live or work, what they studied or do, their skills, how they are connected to you, and the years they attended. The goal is not to ask anyone for a job. It is to learn from them and build a relationship that lasts.
Find graduates from your university
- Search for your university
Type the university name in the search bar and choose its page from the results.
- Open the Alumni tab
From the university page, choose Alumni to see people who studied there.
- Narrow the list with filters
Filter by location, company or field, what people studied or do, skills, how you are connected, and years.
- Start with the closest match
Begin with people who studied your major or work in the field you want, and note what stands out in their path.
Not every graduate appears in the list, because it depends on who has a profile linked to the university. Use the filters to reach the people most useful to you, rather than scrolling through everyone without a purpose.
Search beyond your campus
If you want someone from outside your university, use the people search with the company name or the job title you care about. Open the profile and read what the person wrote about their background, how long they have held the role, and the projects they mention. Those details let you write a specific message instead of a generic one that could go to anybody.
The short note that gets a reply
When you send a connection request, you can add a note. Keep it short, because a long message reads like a cover letter. On a computer, open the profile, choose Connect, then Add a note, and send. In the mobile app, open the profile, tap More, then Personalize invite. Labels can vary slightly, so look for the closest wording if you do not see the exact one.
Hello [name], I study [major] at [university] too, and I am following the career paths of graduates in our field. I noticed you work in [field], and I would love to ask about your start in two minutes, if that suits you. Thank you for your time, [your name]
For more wording ideas, the connection message guide covers recruiters, professors and people you met at events.
The informational conversation
Once someone accepts, do not open with a long message. Ask one clear question. How did you start? Which skill matters most for someone entering the field? Specific questions get better answers than broad ones. If the exchange goes well, you can ask for a short call later, only if the person is comfortable with it, and never as a demand.
What was your first step after graduating, and why did you choose it? What skill did you wish you had learned as a student? What do you look for in candidates for roles like this one? Is there a course or a book you would recommend in my field?
Etiquette no guide writes down
- Do not send your CV link in a first message unless the person asks for it.
- Do not ask for a job in the first message. Say you are trying to learn about the field.
- Thank the person after every reply, even a short one.
- If there is no answer, send one follow-up after a few days, then stop.
- Make the conversation useful for them too, by telling them later what you did with their advice.
Prepare before you message
Before you send anything, read the person’s recent posts if they are public, and check the current role and company. Choose three questions from the list below and note why this person in particular. A message written after a minute of thought reads very differently from one copied for everyone.
After the first conversation
If you talk, send a short thank-you note the same day or the next day. Mention one specific idea from the exchange and say what you will do with it. That small step helps the person remember you, and it opens the door to a later question if you need advice months from now.
Think of the network as slow to grow. Many useful relationships start with one question and deepen over time, and they do not need to end in a job. If someone helps you understand your field, that is a real result at this stage.
Be specific about what you want
Name the thing you want to learn, such as how a team plans a semester project or which tools a first-year analyst uses. A narrow question is easier to answer in a few lines, and that makes a reply far more likely.
Get your profile ready before the first message
The alum you write to will open your profile before replying, so make the first impression work for you. Check that your photo, headline and summary are clear, and that your major and university show at a glance. Run through the LinkedIn profile review checklist before you send anything, and if your account is new, start with LinkedIn for students. If the alum mentions an opening at their company, follow it through LinkedIn Jobs and apply knowing more about the team than most applicants.
