One very exciting benefit of being a part of LSE is the incredible network of alumni that are doing great work all over the world. Job hunting during a pandemic has not been easy, but one thing I’ve enjoyed has been reaching out to LSE alumni who work at organizations that I’m applying to and connecting with them.

If I’m applying to a role at a company that an LSE alumni works at (thank you LinkedIn for showing me these things), I’ll often send them a message about who I am and ask if they have a few minutes to tell me more about their role and their life post-LSE.

While you have to be okay with a few unanswered messages, you may be surprised just how many people respond and are willing to have a brief but informative Zoom chat or phone call.

When taking this approach, it’s important to know that you’re not asking them to get you hired; that’s unfortunately not how it works. The value in these conversations is learning more about the company or role you’re applying for and getting real-world advice from someone who was once in your shoes.

Be appreciative of their time and respectful of their schedules – it often takes some people awhile to get back, and that’s okay!

They may refer you to speak to someone else or share resources that they found helpful when they were applying for jobs. Maybe they can help point you in the right direction or answer some questions you’ve had. Every conversation is a helpful one and could get you one step closer to landing that job.

LSE has a strong network of alumni in London but also all over the world. Don’t be too shy to send a LinkedIn note – the worst they can say is no.