There is no question of the strength of the Hampden-Sydney alumni and the shared brotherhood. Our alumni are excited to give back by helping you explore and pursue careers. Yes, we have a strong alumni network at Hampden-Sydney, and our alumni are eager to mentor and guide you as you navigate career choices. Yes, you share the common H-SC experience, but our alumni are still professionals, and should be treated that way when connecting with them, in any capacity – whether it’s on in informational interview, or at a tailgate. Alumni expect you to be prepared and act professionally. It’s important to be prepared before connecting with alumni because it is not only your reputation at stake, but the reputation of the Career Education Office and the College you represent. ARE YOU READY TO CONNECT WITH ALUMNI? To ensure you are putting your best self forward, we require that you complete the following before we introduce you to alumni contacts:  Determine what your goals and needs are for contacting the alumni. Are you seeking career advice, mentorship, connections in a career field, etc. o Draft your ’60 second sell’ (see the Networking Pocket Guide available in Career Education)  Define your professional goals (you do not need to know your career aspirations) and reasons for contacting alumni o If you’re unsure about your career aspirations, it is helpful to take at least one career assessment offered by the Career Education Office  Have your resume reviewed by a Career Coach o To schedule an appointment, contact Jennifer Allen at 223-6106, or visit her in Bagby 209 HOW CAN I CONNECT WITH ALUMNI? Tiger Tracks – in the Career Library, or online, these documents are pathways to careers, including successful alumni in the fields who will serve as a resource while you’re exploring careers. CEVR Tiger Track Live events – alumni are often invited back to campus to speak on a variety of career fields. This is a great way to meet face-to-face and establish a connection that can lead to another meeting or phone call. LinkedIn – the ‘Find Alumni’ tool is the premiere way to connect with H-SC alumni on LinkedIn; find it under the ‘Connections’ tab. See Networking handout for tips on how to reach out on LinkedIn. CEVR Individual Appointments – meet with a Career Coach and establish a relationship. Alumni Club Networking Events – regional Alumni Clubs frequently gather for networking events, formal and informal. Contact James Barton ’06, Director of Alumni Relations at 223-6148 for information about specific regional clubs.

CAREER EDUCATION OFFICE POLICY ON CONNECTING YOU WITH ALUMNI 1 – Schedule a meeting with a Career Coach to discuss why you want to connect with H-SC alumni. This way, the Career Coach can better understand you and your goals when reaching out to alumni on your behalf. Career Education Office | Hampden-Sydney College | 223-6106 | Bagby 209 | hsc.edu/career-education 2 – After the meeting, the Career Coach will send you a list of alumni, and request that you pick several from that list with whom you would like to be connected. 3 – Within one week of getting the list, send the Career Coach your alumni selections. 4 – Within 2 weeks of receiving your selections, the Career Coach will include you and each alumnus you have identified in introductory emails and advise you on how best to follow up on each. 5 – When sending follow-up correspondence to alumni requesting a phone or in-person meeting, CC the Career Coach so that they know when you have reached out. 6 – Please notify us if alumni do not respond. Refer to the Networking and Informational Interview handouts as you are preparing to speak or meet with an alumnus.