Found 30+ alumni at target banks but zero responses to generic ‘would love to connect’ notes. Heard the key is offering value first - what actual strategies make alumni WANT to help you? How do you transition from digital hellos to real mentorship without coming off as a clout-chaser?
I once messaged an alum saying ‘Hey fellow [University] grad - noticed we both worked in energy sectors. Could I send you three questions via email?’ Sent a tight 2-pager analyzing their latest deal. Got a 30-min call and internal referral. Key was making THEIR life easier.
alumni dont owe you squat. instead of asking for calls, find their deal announcements and shoot a 3-bullet market insight. subject line: ‘[University] perspective on [Industry] M&A trends’. gets forwarded to associates 60% more than ‘career advice pls’ trash
Analysis of 120 successful outreach attempts shows: Messages referencing specific alumni achievements + containing open-ended industry questions had 37% response rate vs 6% for generic requests. Propose a 15-min call offering fresh data points from their school’s latest employment report.