Written by Andrew Shanahan, Editorial Team, Graduate Prospects..
Most universities have an alumni office, whose responsibility it is to keep in touch with the old girls and boys and provide a range of services that might well be of interest to you. The chances are it’s even free. One common misconception about alumni membership schemes is that they are a ‘Friends Reunited’ for the ageing. Whilst social meetings are an aspect of alumni membership schemes, you don’t necessarily have to be old, or even a boy, to join the old boy network. Networking is one of the main advantages to joining your alumni membership scheme. The alumni offices work hard to try to arrange functions where young and old alumni can get together and talk shop. A good example is the University of Manchester’s alumni scheme where special interest groups have been set up to put alumni in touch with those who have interests in the same field. If you’ve been hearing that networking is a good way to get work and have not been sure how to get into the networking scene then this provides a ready-made opportunity to make contacts and maybe even get a boost up the career ladder. Alumni schemes can also provide a more practical level of help for graduates. Although different schemes offer a range of benefits the majority of them offer extended access to the facilities that you used as a student. This means that libraries, sports facilities, unions, accommodation and internet access can all be at your disposal. Another good incentive is that you might have extended use of your careers service, which can prove useful when you are looking for some job advice a few years into your career. This can often be a comfort to those who have just left university who might feel that they have become persona non grata at their uni now they have their degree. Most schemes also offer a range of commercial benefits as well. These may vary from reduced entry prices to local attractions to discounts on insurance to round-the-world cruises. Another misconception about the alumni schemes is that they are only useful if you still live near to your university after graduating. Admittedly, using the university library is unlikely to be attractive if you live four hundred miles away but the alumni schemes still have some advantages for those exiled from their university city. Some of the larger universities have branches of their alumni schemes in different cities, like the Manchester Alumni in London. These special schemes can provide much of the support that the home branch of the alumni scheme can offer. Alumni schemes are also represented at a regional and international level, where schemes join together to form a group with an extended reach and increase the level of help that they can offer, such as the South West Alumni group and overseas alumni groups. If you’re interested in finding out more information about what your alumni membership scheme can offer their details will be on your university’s website. Give it a try, you might just like it. Related topics
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