Lehigh University: Alumni

Alumni Career Solutions and LUAA would like to thank all CNR hosts and attendees for making the 2008 CNRs the most successful events yet! We are currently planning the 2009 events. To learn more about Networking Receptions, please review this page.  If you registered for a 2008 CNR, please note that we will keep Lehigh Links available over the next few months so you can continue to network with the alumni and students who registered for all of the events across the country.

Why You Should Attend Networking Receptions

The purpose of the Networking Receptions is to provide a comfortable venue in which alumni can network with each other and students can connect with alumni. If you are job searching, keep in mind that 80% of job-seekers secure jobs through networking. It is important to know what your objective is when attending such an event.  Each attendee may have different goals, which can include:

• Seeking career information about your chosen career field or learning about a new field.
• Seeking new job opportunities.
• Assisting other alumni and students.
• Recruiting alumni and students for their companies.
• Making business-to-business contacts.

Whatever your goal, Networking Receptions are the perfect venue for you to expand your network and keep you connected to Lehigh!

What you need to know!

Structure of Networking Receptions

While we like our events to be open and welcoming, we do create a little structure to make the events as effective as possible for everyone. At the beginning of the program, we allow all attendees to briefly introduce themselves and explain why they are attending, so that you can place a name with the face. Then we begin the speed networking portion for the next hour, in which you can meet several people whom you may not have been able to speak with had you been simply milling around. After that, all attendees spend an open 45 minutes meeting additional people.  Because of this structure and the two-hour time frame of the events, we strongly encourage everyone to arrive promptly at 7 p.m. so we can begin the program on time.

Light refreshments will be served during the event. If you’re really hungry, make sure you grab some dinner before you go.

What to Wear

We encourage all guests to dress professionally, as if you were going on a job interview. Some of the people you will be meeting could be your next employer, so making a great first impression is key to your future success.

Networking Resources

Lehigh Links (to access this site, you must be a registered event attendee)
Lehigh’s Online Networking Database
LinkedIn
Sample Introductory Email
Sample Informational Interview Questions

Interested in Hosting a 2009 Networking Reception?

If you are interested in learning more about hosting a Networking Reception in your area next year, please contact Robin Dougherty at 610-758-5516.