Alumni Advice: How to Make the Most of an Alumni Connection

Advice from Lucas Harrison ’14, ’15

ECU Degree(s): BSBA – 2014; MBA – 2015
Account Executive – Storr Office Environments

…on how to make initial contact with alumni:

Lucas views a phone call as a great first connection with alumni. He feels this is a great way to create a personal connection that will separate yourself from the many emails that this business man or woman receives throughout their day.

Have a plan. Go into the conversation with an idea of what you’d like to gain from the conversation that this particular alumni would be in a unique position to provide insight. For instance, if the alumni is a sales director, seek her/his advice on unique skills or experiences that would set someone up for a successful career in sales.

The gatekeeper. Just remember that some alumni might have administrative assistants that field all phone calls, also known as a gatekeeper. Be pleasant and let the person know the conversation isn’t urgent; however, you are reaching out to make a connection and hopefully get some advice from Ms./Mr. XXX on _____.

…on what to expect of students when connecting with alumni:

As a professional, Lucas would expect a certain level of professionalism and apparent preparation for our conversation. Again, go in with a plan or purpose of the connection. The conversation will likely not always go to plan, but you’ll keep the conversation moving in a forward direction.

Lucas advises that when students speak to alumni, they should prepare themselves for the topics and possible questions they will face in an interview in the future. As a student, Lucas would have a list of questions that he knew he wanted to find the answers to from the alumni. Mr. Harrison shared that these questions always served as great segway to future conversations.

…on why student connections matter to alumni:

As an alumni, it is important to Lucas that students at ECU are considered for the top positions at any company in our region or around the US. While “what you know” is definitely important, sometimes “who you know” can lead to increased professional and personal opportunities. Mr. Harrison really enjoys talking with current students to learn about what is happening within the CoB as well as the university.

…on how to ask for help from alumni:

Students should never be afraid to ask alumni for some advice. Lucas is confident that Pirate Alumni are often eager to provide guidance, and “to help the students be prepared for the challenge of interviewing for their dream job.” Lucas recalls, “In my pursuit of my first job out of college, I was determined to leave no stone unturned in the networking world and I found that this helped to give me a considerable amount of opportunity in the job market.” He highly recommends that CoB graduate students should make the decision early on to use their resources to put themselves in the best position they can.

Struggling for a conversation starter? Look for common ground, especially in our faculty! Many of the MBA and MSA faculty have been at ECU for multiple years. You’re sure to soon be swapping stories and struggles, and likely sharing a laugh or two.

…on choosing a strategic alumni connection:

From Lucas Harrison’s experience as an ECU MBA student, he viewed job location and desired field to be equally important when selecting a strategic alumni connection. Mr. Harrison knew that he wanted to be within the Triangle area in a sales position. Since Raleigh has a large amount of Pirate Alumni, he was able to utilize multiple connections that led to multiple job opportunities to choose from upon graduation from MBA school.

Your toolbox. Think about what’s already in your own toolbox in terms of connections and identify the key missing pieces. Perhaps it’s industry-specific, role-specific, or location-specific.

…on a good book:

Among a list of many, one of Lucas’s favorite books is called, “The Fred Factor.” He says that this book tells a great story about a man who decided early in his career to differentiate himself from the rest of the pack by doing the little things. Lucas feels this book could apply to anyone, at any position life, and is a wonderful read.