Tips for an In-Person Meeting With Alumni

• Dress professionally. We recommend wearing a suit – or at the very least going business casual (khakis, shirt and tie for men; slacks/khakis and blouse for women). Please do not show up wearing jeans, t-shirts, sweatshirts, etc. This is a place of business and you want to look like a co-worker, not a customer or, worse yet, a high school "kid"!
  
• Be sure to make eye contact with the person you're meeting with and offer to shake their hand (firm, not brutal! grip and this goes for women too!! No limp wrists or offering half your hand).
  
• Be prepared with a note pad and pen, as well as with the questions you'd like to ask.
  
• Be ON TIME!!!! We cannot stress the importance of this enough. Be sure to get directions (online as last resort) and take a map along in case of detours or traffic jams. We suggest leaving half an hour earlier than you think you'll need to in order to ENSURE you're on time. Nothing shows disrespect for another's time like being late.
  
• Bring your resume even if you're not close to graduation! You never know when an opportunity for a summer job or internship might pop up. Obviously, you're not going to ASK for a job, but if they inquire, you want to have that resume ready and handy.
  
  
• Turn your cell phone OFF before entering their place or business. If you're not comfortable turning it off, at least turn it to vibrate or silenced mode – and DO NOT answer it if it rings during your meeting. Again, this would be terribly disrespectful.
  
• Bring a calendar or daytimer. The graduate may offer to meet with you again and rather than having to get back with them about a date/time, you want to be ready for this.
  
• Most importantly, try to relax and enjoy your meeting! Think of this as a learning adventure and get the most out of it that you can!