Finding Mentors & Building Your Network

Why Mentors Matter

Networking is the foundation of career exploration and advancement. By connecting with people working in fields that interest you, you gain:

  • Industry insight you can't find in a job description
  • An insider's perspective on workplace culture and required skills
  • Confidence in communicating professionally about your goals
  • Personal criteria to make informed choices about your career path
  • Leads on opportunities that are never publicly posted

Alumni Mentors are people who offer sustained guidance over time and are often a subset of your network. They can help you think through decisions, make introductions, and advocate for you. The three tools below are the best places to start finding them.

LinkedIn is the world's largest professional network with more than 300 million users. It connects you to people you know and lets you view their connections, greatly expanding your potential mentors and contacts.

Setting Up for Success

  • Complete your profile before reaching out — a strong profile gives contacts a reason to respond
  • Add your UChicago affiliation, your program (MAPSS, MACSS, CIR, etc.), and a professional photo
  • Join the UChicago-affiliated LinkedIn groups listed below to immediately expand your network

How to Search for Mentors

  • Go to the search bar and type a job title, company, or industry you're exploring
  • Click "People" → filter by "School" → type "University of Chicago" to surface UChicago alumni first
  • Look for professionals 3–10 years ahead of you (close enough to remember being in your shoes but established enough to offer real guidance)
  • Review their career trajectory: do they hold roles you aspire to? Work in sectors that interest you?
  • Save profiles you want to reach out to so you can draft outreach in batches

Sending a Connection Request

Always personalize your message. The default "I'd like to connect" rarely works. Keep it to 300 characters (LinkedIn's limit for connection notes) and follow this structure:

Hi [Name], I'm a [Program] student at UChicago exploring careers in [Field]. Your work at [Company/Role] caught my attention and  I'd love to connect and learn from your experience. Thank you!

Pro tip:  Mention one specific thing about their background. Specificity signals genuine interest and dramatically increases your response rate.

UChicago LinkedIn Groups & Pages

Every UChicago student has access to the Alumni Directory, a searchable database of graduates across all programs. It's one of the most powerful and underused tools available to you.

What the Alumni Directory Offers

  • Search by name, employer, industry, program, or graduation year
  • Contact information (email) for alumni who have opted in to be reached
  • A starting point for identifying who to look up on LinkedIn for richer profile detail

Recommended Workflow

  • Start in the Alumni Directory to identify alumni at organizations that interest you
  • Cross-reference on LinkedIn for up-to-date role information and a fuller career picture
  • Use the Alumni Directory contact information or tool to send your outreach message directly

Why both?  The Alumni Directory may have more current contact information, while LinkedIn typically has more up-to-date role and career history details. Use them together. Additionally, LinkedIn is moderated on the site, the directory provides access to a preferred email for alumni.

Tips for Outreach via the Alumni Directory

  • Identify yourself as a current MA student in the SSD early in your message
  • Reference the shared UChicago connection (alumni are generally receptive to students from their programs)
  • Be specific about what you're hoping to learn; "I'd love to chat" is less effective than "I'd love to hear about your transition from policy research to consulting"
  • Keep the ask small: a 20-minute conversation, not an open-ended mentorship request

Access the Alumni Directory

CareerShift is a UChicago career tool that helps you search for contacts and companies alongside job and internship listings all in one place. It's especially useful for finding contact information at specific organizations you're targeting. What makes CareerShift different is that is provides company emails versus personal ones.

Getting Access

  • Go to the UChicago Career Tools page and create your free account
  • Use the program code: SSDMAPrograms (required to unlock full access)

How to Find Mentors & Contacts

  • Search by company name to find employees, including their job title, email, and LinkedIn
  • Filter by industry, job function, or geography to build a targeted contact list
  • Store and organize contacts in your account — track who you've reached out to and when
  • Combine with job search: find a role that interests you, then identify who works there

Key Features for Networking

  • Up-to-date contact information including email addresses for millions of companies
  • In-depth company profiles and organizational charts
  • Ability to record and save correspondence history — never lose track of a follow-up
  • Manage your job search and network contacts in one organized dashboard

Pro tip:  Watch the CareerShift tutorial linked below before your first session — it walks you through finding contacts at target organizations in under 10 minutes.

CareerShift Resources

Networking is not about collecting names, but building genuine, mutually beneficial relationships. Think of it as career research: every conversation gives you better information about industries, roles, and what it takes to get where you want to go.

Building Your Network

Start Closer Than You Think
  • Professors and academic advisors 
  • Classmates from your MA program 
  • Family, friends, and acquaintances 
  • Guest speakers / Alumni you meet at career-related events (conferences, workshops, or career panels)
Expanding to New Contacts
  • UChicago alumni (via LinkedIn, the Alumni Directory, and CareerShift)
  • Professionals in LinkedIn groups related to your field of interest
  • Former colleagues, supervisors, or collaborators from past jobs or internships
  • Members of professional associations in your target field

Maintaining Your Network

  • Follow up after conversations with a brief thank-you email within 24 hours
  • Share relevant articles, events, or opportunities (give before you ask)
  • Check in periodically, not just when you need something
  • Update contacts when you reach milestones: new position, graduation, completed projects

Mindset shift:  Networking feels transactional only when it's one-sided. Approach every interaction with curiosity and an opportunity to learn rather than a request, and relationships will follow naturally.

Crafting Your Elevator Pitch

Before you network, prepare a 30–60 second introduction that answers: who you are, what you study, what you're interested in, and what you're looking for. Tailor it to your audience. You'll use it at events, on calls, and as the opening of your outreach emails.

"I'm a MAPSS student at the University of Chicago studying behavioral economics. I'm particularly interested in how organizations design incentive structures, and I'm exploring careers in consulting and public policy. I'd love to hear how your work at [Company] connects to those areas."

An informational interview is an informal yet purposeful conversation with someone who works in a career pathway, organization, or industry that interests you. Unlike a job interview, the goal is not to secure a position (it's to gather firsthand information, explore options, and expand your network).

Why They Work

  • You gain insight that no job description or website can give you
  • You learn about workplace culture, required qualifications, and career paths directly from practitioners
  • Even a single conversation can open doors to further introductions
  • You build confidence talking about your interests professionally
  • Alumni and professionals are generally more willing to talk than you might expect, especially with a UChicago connection

How to Request One

Email or LinkedIn message (keep it concise and specific):

Subject: UChicago Student — Quick Informational Interview Request 

Dear [Name], 

I'm a [Program] student at the University of Chicago exploring careers in [Field]. I came across your profile through the UChicago Alumni Directory / LinkedIn, and your work at [Company] in [specific area] stood out to me.  I would be grateful for 20 minutes of your time to hear about your career path and any advice you might have for someone entering this field. I'm happy to work around your schedule. 

Thank you so much for considering this. 

[Your Name] | [Your Program] | University of Chicago

Preparing Your Questions

About Their Role & Organization
  • Can you walk me through your career path to your current position?
  • What does a typical day or week look like for you?
  • What do you find most rewarding — and most challenging — about your work?
  • How would you describe the culture at your organization?
About Breaking In
  • What skills or experiences were most important in landing this role?
  • What would you do differently if you were starting your career today?
  • Are there certifications, experiences, or coursework you'd recommend?
  • Are there professional associations or events in this field you'd suggest I explore?
Closing the Conversation
  • Is there anyone else you'd suggest I speak with?
  • Would it be okay if I followed up with you in the future?

Critical rule:  Never ask for a job in an informational interview. The ask is for information and guidance. Opportunities often follow naturally, but only if you respect this boundary.

After the Conversation

  • Send a thank-you email within 24 hours (be specific about something they said)
  • Connect on LinkedIn if you haven't already
  • Follow up if they offered to make an introduction or share a resource
  • Add notes to your CareerShift account or a spreadsheet to track the conversation

Informational Interview Resources