The end of October means two things for Bucknellians: Halloween and Homecoming. From October 31st to November 2nd, Lewisburg will be flooded by a herd of elder bison. Homecoming Weekend is a great way to restore connections with old friends, but it is also a great way to meet new alumni and network.
Bucknell University has strong relationships with some really awesome companies, which is evidenced by the opportunities posted on The Bridge. Additionally, I highly recommend setting up an appointment with the Career Development Center. If you have an idea of some opportunities you would like to explore, CDC staff members will point you in the right direction and provide you with the tools that can help you find the right contacts to network with.
If you already know an alumnus who has an occupation that parallels your career goals, that’s awesome! You should feel comfortable approaching them and asking for guidance. Prior to Homecoming Weekend, shoot them an e-mail expressing your desire to meet with them and discuss their experience. If you just met an alumnus who you want to network with, that’s just as great! However, keep in mind that the alumnus is at Bucknell to enjoy their Homecoming Weekend, not to devote their time to giving you advice. So, I recommend asking the person for their contact information after your initial encounter (if appropriate), and shooting them an e-mail to further the discussion.
If you’re looking to meet an alumnus to begin networking with, I recommend being strategic about it. For example, if your Greek organization, extracurricular club, sports team (etc.), is hosting a Homecoming event, you should definitely attend. That way, if you meet an alumnus at this event, you already have something in common to talk about. It would be a more fluid discussion than trying to keep a conversation alive at a party.
Another recommendation I have for Homecoming Weekend (and always) is to be friendly. Say hi to everyone! Greet everyone with a smile. Try to resist the urge of fake-texting on your way from place to place, and look up while you walk. You never know who you will run into, and it would be much better to have an alumnus remember you as the girl who greeted them rather than the girl who almost walked into a tree because she was pretending to be occupied with her phone.
My last recommendation would be to get out there! You’re simply more likely to run into an alumnus if you’re downtown or around campus, than if you’re at the gym or studying in the library. Try and eat most of your meals downtown, take a stroll down Market Street, or try and find out if your friends are meeting up with any alumnus they know. Or, go to the football game. Here is a full list of events during Homecoming Weekend, some of which are open to all students and not exclusively alumni.
http://www.cvent.com/events/homecoming-weekend-2014/agenda-261e14e122fb455cb4a06de0293f14cd.aspx