SOE EdConnect

Who Will Be There?

Accomplished alumni, CPD career coaches, and students like you who are interested to hear from successful professionals in education.

Why Should I Attend?

• Establish connections with new and seasoned education professionals
• Explore trends in education
• Learn about career paths of SOE alumni

How Should I Dress?

Business professional attire is recommended for this event. No blue jeans!

Know who’s in the room

• Review the list of alumni located inside your folder and strategize who you would like to meet.
• Set a goal (“I want to gain information about career opportunities that I can pursue with a degree in Higher Education Administration.” or “I plan to speak with five alumni to grow my network as I apply for jobs or seek career advancement opportunities)
• Start circulating by walking up to an alum to introduce yourself
• Leave your top alum as your last conversation as you strengthen your networking skills

Deliver your pitch

• Be confident as you walk up to introduce yourself by your first and last name
• Lead with a firm handshake, eye contact and smile followed by “nice to meet you”
• Share your class year, major and objective “I am graduating in May with Master of Arts in Counseling. My professional experiences including teaching at a local high school and community counseling. I am seeking high school counselor positions and would be interested in learning more about your career path.”
• Build rapport through questions and commonalities “You mentioned that you majored in Elementary Education at LMU. What fieldwork placement sites did you work at while attending LMU?”

Listen more than you speak

• Engage in a conversation and allow for give and take. Ask questions and be curious.
• Recognize who is in your conversation circle, extend a handshake and introduction to all
• Create space for others to join the conversation and ask questions
• Listen intently to remember key points from your conversation to include when you follow-up
• Take notes throughout the evening for future reflection and follow-up

Ask questions

• What did you do during your time at LMU that prepared you for your career?
• What recommendations do you have for gaining experience or knowledge of your industry?
• Can you describe the culture at (company name)?
• What types of skills are needed for someone to be successful in your role?
• May I follow-up with you after tonight to discuss your position and company?
• Which industry publications do you read? Who are the industry influencers you follow? Which professional affiliations or groups do you belong to?

Move along to build another connection or two

• Ask if you can follow-up with questions or to potentially meet for an informational interview
• Thank the alum for his/her time and advice before excusing yourself
• Move on to the next alum speak working your way up to your ideal alumni conversation
• Recognize that the staff, faculty and students in the room are also part of your network
• Ask for a business card so you can follow up after the event

Take the next step

• Follow-up 24-48 hours after the event by email or LinkedIn (ask the alum for his/her preference)
• Include a highlight from your conversation to remind the alum of who you are
• Build a relationship by requesting an informational interview 

Schedule an appointment with a CPD Career Coach via Handshake to gain support on next steps (i.e. updating your LinkedIn profile, practicing interviewing or crafting follow-up communication)