The Alumni Advantage

Happy Friday! I hope that those of you in the path of this pending winter storm are somewhere safe and warm.

This week, I have an exciting suggestion of a way you can give back to your community. I recently became involved with my own university’s alumni association, and there are so many ways to give back!  I don’t know about you, but I really enjoyed my college years. So, an opportunity to give back to both my university and students currently at school sounds amazing. That is why this week’s proposal of how you can change the world is to be an active alumna or alumnus of your alma mater. There are several ways that you can do this.

1. Mentor current students
   Volunteer through the alumni relations office to be connected with students who are interested in your career field. You can arrange informational interviews for them, help with their resume, and even just give advice! Obviously, getting a job has a lot to do with who you know, so help them know you! That right there is the alumni advantage.
2. Speak on behalf of your university to professional organizations
   By doing this, you increase the profile of your university and help them attract top talent. This also helps you in the long run. The better the name of a school, the better the name of its graduates.
3. Speak on behalf of your profession to current students
   All universities host regular career panels with alumni. Volunteer your services to help give students that are interested in your profession a glimpse at a “day in the life”.
4. Interview Potential Students
   Most universities utilize alumni to interview students for either admission or scholarships. This is a great opportunity to represent your school to the world, and help a nervous high school senior relax a little bit
5. Financially support your university or its scholarship fund
   This one is self-explanatory, but probably one of the most helpful ways you can assist your school.

I hope this at least got you to consider contributing to giving YOUR school the advantage of having you as an alumna or alumnus.