Your details

Contacting alumni protocol

• Acknowledge why you have their details

  E.g. I found your details through the WBS online directory and see you graduated from the X programme in X year.

• Link - establish the common ground

  E.g. I'm on the current X programme we have a great class here at Warwick this year with X number of students or student from over X number of countries.

• Understand they have other commitments

  Replies may take a week or two. Any longer and they are unlikely to make contact. The majority will reply to a well worded email.

• Make your reason for contacting them clear

  Your email should be specific, targeted and concise. Must be relevant to their personal or organisation's profile. Don't just select someone from the Top 10 companies. Requesting a call or a meeting is best left as a follow up once they have engaged with you. A long email is unlikely to be read.

• Never abuse the information you have

  You could ruin it for yourself and others. I.e. do not ask for a job, nor send your CV unless it's requested. Emails with attachments often end up in junk mail, especially large files.

• Inform and Impress

  Research their company and use their name not a formal address. Putting down a key salient point and award won, a change of management or expansion programme shows a genuine interest and that you have invested time and effort in the request. Remember to thank them in advance for their time.