The goal of networking, from a job search perspective, is to acquire knowledge about career fields of interest and build genuine relationships with professionals and experts to increase your knowledge and the likelihood of securing an opportunity for which you are well suited.
LinkedIn is a professional networking platform where individuals can showcase their career profile, connect with peers and industry professionals, and discover job opportunities. Union's alumni database on LinkedIn includes 25,000+ members, making it one of the largest and most expansive resources available to Union College students and alumni.
To access the alumni network, type "Union College" into the LinkedIn search bar and navigate to the College's profile page. From there, select the "Alumni" tab, located between the "Jobs" and "Insights" tabs. Use the tab's search bar to filter alumni by keywords like company name, job title, industry, or location to find alumni that align with your interests and goals. When you find an alum you'd like to connect with, click the "Connect" button and include a brief, personalized note explaining who you are and why you're reaching out.
LinkedIn gives you access to career resources beyond the alumni database, including industry-specific content, job market insights, and LinkedIn Learning, a library of professional development courses spanning business, technology, and creative skills. You can also join LinkedIn Groups that connect students and alumni around shared industries, interests, and career paths.
To get started, students and alumni can create or log in to their LinkedIn profile. Schedule a "Networking Communications" or "LinkedIn/GarnetGrove" appointment on Handshake to work on crafting messages to alums or to learn more about how to use these platforms.
GarnetGrove is a searchable database of approximately 1,000+ Alumni and Friends of the College who have offered to share career and/or graduate school information and advice. The GarnetGrove database is exclusive to Union College students and alumni.
GarneGrove allows you to access career resources unique to the platform and join affinity groups that connect students and alumni with shared interests. Through the database, Union students and alumni can send unlimited messages with no character/word limit and schedule video chats directly in the platform, boasting a 50+% message response rate compared to LinkedIn’s 13% average.
To gain access to the GarnetGrove platform, students and alumni can start by creating their GarnetGrove profile. If you have any additional questions, please contact Will Wright.
Utilize the Application and Networking Tracker
Schedule a Networking Communications appointment with a Career Center Advisor through Handshake and check out the Career Center's Networking Guide in Handshake's resource library.
Stanley R. Becker Hall
807 Union St.
Schenectady, NY 12308
-Appointments and workshops are scheduled through Handshake.