Looking Back: Alumni Wine & Cheese Networking Reception

Looking Back: Alumni Wine & Cheese Networking Reception

Written By: Kat Castro

Last Wednesday evening, we welcomed over 20 Zarb MBA and MS Alumni for a Wine and Cheese Networking Reception, hosted by Graduate Business Career Services.  Students arrived ready to mingle with our successful alums from a variety of industries, ranging from Finance to Media to Healthcare. 

We started the evening with a welcome address from Dean Berliner, followed by introductions from Alumni, some of whom were actively seeking Hofstra students for opportunities! 

As I walked around the perfectly lit room listening to Alumni provide invaluable information about their experiences and their work life to Hofstra students, I noticed that a palpable feeling of excitement pervaded the room. Students were excited to hear from those who were once in their very own shoes. Alumni were thrilled to give back to their Alma Mater in an impactful way.  The room had such great energy and we had the combination of fantastic students, knowledgeable alumni, and professors to thank for that! 

The night was a resounding success for most. As an outsider looking in on the event, I could see that some students tended to flock to the alumni they thought could have potential job or internship opportunities for them.  This is, of course, a good strategy, but it’s still very important to network outside of your comfort zone. Speaking with alumni or employers that might not work in your area of interest could open the door to possible career paths that wouldn’t have otherwise been on your radar. When you discuss your career goals with someone at a networking event, they may be able to connect you to someone they know that might have an opportunity in your area of interest.

Creating relationships throughout your time at Hofstra both inside and outside of the classroom will always help you. Continue to build those invaluable connections with your professors, alumni, and classmates over the course of your education, as they are just as important as doing well in school on your journey to success. 

If you attended the event last week and are wondering what you should do next, we’re glad you asked!

All students in attendance received the list of Alumni at the event.

If you haven't done so already...

·       Connect with them on LinkedIn.  Make sure to write a note with your introduction so they know who you are and how they met you!

·         Thank them! Hand-written notes can go a long way towards making you stand out from the crowd. After all, who doesn't like to receive hand-written notes?  Emails are certainly the most accepted and widely-used mode of communication, but there's nothing like a getting a letter in the mail.  Write a note that highlights something that you spoke about at the event to help that alumni or employer remember you.  

·         If you connected with an alum or employer at the event and felt that you would like more time to speak with them, reach out to see if you can schedule a follow-up informational interview.  A coffee meeting or phone call is a great way to gain some more insight into that person’s field and strengthen your connection! Be mindful of their time, and make sure you thank them for speaking with you.

We hope you enjoyed the Networking Event. Always feel free to provide GBCS with any input or recommendations that could help make future events even more successful! Please stop by our office if you need any guidance on following up.