Contacting alumni toolbox
Reaching out:
To chair group alumni
Start by asking your chair group secretary, your fellow PhD candidates, and your supervisors for the names of (recent) graduates from your group. Check if your group has an alumni network, or if the group is still in touch with alumni in other ways.
Contacting (recent) graduates is a very low-threshold way to explore career opportunities and job search considerations. You could invite them to meet up individually (look up tips online for having informational interviews), or you could invite alumni to join an event with your chair group, such as a contribution to a regular group meeting, either in-person or digitally.
Interested what alumni could have to share? Read the stories of these PhD alumni from the Development Economics group or take a look at the diversity of stories at WUR alumni in the picture.
To people with interesting positions
People that have interesting jobs are a great source of information on how to obtain that type of job, which skills are relevant to have etc. Throughout your career, you will encounter many interesting people, either at events or online through platforms such as LinkedIn. Wageningen Career Services has some useful guides on Networking and using LinkedIn to connect with people:
- Networking guide and links to professional organisations
- LinkedIn guide with networking tips and checklist for your own LinkedIn profile
Additionally, the WGS training Mobilising your -scientific- network will help you to map, build, and mobilise your network.