Insiders are invaluable during your job search. They can give you the scoop on trends the industry is facing, what key things their company is specifically looking for, and what kinds of people succeed there. Also, if an insider recommends you, you will certainly stand out in the pile of applicants.

How can you find insiders inclined to help you? Check out this Linkedin feature: the alumni tab! Go to the official page of your school on LinkedIn, and click on the Alumni tab. There, you can search alumni by title, keyword, or company, with a year range. You can see cities where fellow alums live and companies where they work. (See here for more info from LinkedIn.)

For example, Santa Clara Law’s alumni tab reveals it has over 10,000 alums, 80% in CA and 60% in the Bay Area. So if you are interested in a particular company, I recommend you go to this site and find alums working there. Say hello to your first degree connections. For second degree connections, research their profiles and interests, and see if you know anyone in common who will introduce you. And if you don’t know anyone in common, see here for examples/templates on how to do an effective cold reachout.

Happy job hunting!