W&M Connect
A program intended to strategically engage students with alumni.
Desired outcomes:

Students gain corporate insight and career guidance

Alumni are engaged at a personal level and drawn back to the mission of W&M

Meetings can serve as a gateway to increased corporate engagement

Alumni are engaged in regions where we may not have significant numbers

Increased annual giving
We urge students to maximize their student experience by engaging alumni as part of the career exploration process.
To give each an opportunity to gain professional knowledge and insight from an alumnus working in a field that is of
interest to him/her, or into which he or she intends to go – we urge students to connect with alumni while on summer or
other academic breaks.
We urge students to simply go to LinkedIn or the list of W&M Career Champions at
http://mason.wm.edu/alumni/MasonCareerChampions/index.php
and select an alumni or parent whom he or she feels might best provide information and guidance regarding a chosen
field. Significantly, intentional networking is critical to a successful job search and face-to-face meetings with alumni are
an important part of that journey – we want to eliminate barriers to those conversations.
W&M Connection Links to Alumni & Parents:
 Link on Cohen Career Center Website regarding making connections via LinkedIn:
http://www.wm.edu/offices/career/alumni/mentor/be_a_mentee.php#Mentee
 Link to LinkedIn Tribe Connections Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/Tribe-Connections-3897053/about
 Link to LinkedIn Tribe Parents and Families
Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=4927431&mostPopular=&trk=tyah&trkInfo=idx%3A1-11%2CtarId%3A1423594735589%2Ctas%3Atribe+parents
 Link to Mason School of Business Career
Champions: http://masonweb.wm.edu/MasonCareerChampions/mason_alumni_champions.xls
W&M Connect conversations are intended to provide:

Real and actionable career advice

Insightful information on career trends

Economic and cultural shifts that impact careers

Career exploration

Networking

Professional development

Industry perspective

Understanding of corporate culture

Tips for success
Resources:
Registration Form: https://forms.wm.edu/19134
Links to connect with Alumni & Parents
Sample Questions
Sample Informational Interview Request Letter
Process:
Once a student has identified an alumnus with whom he or she wishes to meet, we recommended a carefully considered
visit.
These steps are strongly suggested:

Email or call selected alumni or parent and schedule a meeting place and time. Students can find alumni and
parents through the LinkedIn W&M Tribe Connections Group; the LinkedIn Tribe Parents and Families Group, or
the Mason Champions listing (see links provide above).

Students should have a clear understanding of what he or she hopes to gain

Students should convey expectations to the alumni or parent with whom the meeting will take place

Upon returning to campus, Students will be required to submit a Follow-up Form letting us know with whom
they met, “takeaways,” a copy of your thank you note/email, and a receipt. You must complete these items by
May 1, 2015.

Students will be given a $30.00 Visa card as reimbursement after completing the Follow-up Form.

If the alumnus with whom a student meets generously picks up the tab, the student is welcome to use the Visa
card for another meeting.

In preparation, you should research the company and come with an agenda.

Planning your questions is perhaps the most important task. They should be relevant, smart and informed.
Mistakes to avoid:

It is important that students be clear they are not there to ask for a job – rather building a professional network
and gaining valuable information.

The greatest mistake is wasting the time of a contact, or presenting oneself as unprepared

Being late

Not attentively listening

Not following up with the alumnus