Connect with Alumni & Employers
Whether it’s to gain information, develop skills, obtain a job or internship, or build professional relationships, connecting with Stanford alumni and employers is an essential part of your career journey. Below are several ways you can effectively establish these connections.
Resources
Handshake
Use Handshake to connect with employers, apply for a wide variety of job and internship opportunities, and register for Career Fairs and other special events. You can also follow specific employers’ activity by industry, location, size and more, and even make your profile visible to employers allowing them to seek you out for opportunities! Pro tip: You can find jobs and internships posted by Stanford alumni by using the "alumni postings" label in the filters section.
Featured Employers
If you're in search for an internship or a job, there are several companies that are very keen on hiring Stanford students. These employers are members of CareerEd's Circles of Influence program because they know just how talented, driven, and exceptional Stanford students are. Check out our featured employers below.
On Handshake you can also find our other employers!
Career Fairs
Career Fairs are open to all students - from undergraduate to PhDs and Postdocs - and are an excellent way to connect with employers to learn about job and internship opportunities along with the specific skills they are seeking. We host 12 fairs during the academic year, covering a wide variety of industries, majors and degree levels. Other departments and groups including the Computer Forum and the School of Engineering and School of Medicine also host career fairs.
Coffee Chats
Coffee chats are a wonderful way to meet employers, learn more about what they do, and get your foot in the door without the stress of reaching out cold to a new contact or actually interviewing with a recruiter. CareerEd hosts coffee chats with our employers in our building for you to have a strong start to your networking. You can find all upcoming coffee chats (and interviews, too) on Handshake!
Stanford Alumni Mentoring (SAM)
Ready for the opportunity to have meaningful conversations and build your Stanford connections? Learn more about Stanford outside the classroom from alumni mentors' points of view. You'll have a chance to discover career pathways and life lessons from someone who has been in your shoes. SAM is open to all current students. Learn more about SAM.
Informational Interviewing
Informational Interviewing is an opportunity to learn about specific occupations, industries, and companies by talking with professionals about their experience. Through these conversations, you gain an insider’s perspective and establish professional connections. There is a rich network of Stanford alumni who want to help you; identify and connect alumni by using the Stanford Alumni Directory and LinkedIn. Read more about informational interviewing in Handshake.
Job Shadowing
One of the most meaningful ways to connect with employers and alumni is to participate in job shadowing. By spending part of the work day with someone in your field of interest, you can get a first-hand look at the skills, knowledge, and experience needed. After a professional relationship has been established through programs such as Stanford Alumni Mentoring (SAM), many professionals are willing to host students at their workplace – it’s just up to you to ask. Read more about job shadowing in Handshake.
