Are you a Binghamton University student exploring career paths in science or healthcare? Whether you’re considering research, medicine, public health, biotechnology, or another science-related field, LinkedIn’s Alumni Tool is a powerful resource to help you explore the career paths of over 100,000 Binghamton alumni!
This step-by-step guide will show you how to use the LinkedIn alumni tab to:
- Discover potential career paths based on what other science and healthcare alumni have pursued
- Identify top employers and organizations hiring Binghamton graduates
- Find relevant skills and experiences that can help you stand out
- Connect with alumni for networking and informational interviews
Each step aligns with the Path to Career Confidence and Clarity (outlined in the Career Exploration Guide), a framework from the Fleishman Career Center that helps you take intentional steps toward your career goals.
Overview of the LinkedIn Alumni Tool
- Go to the Binghamton University LinkedIn page
- Click on the “alumni” tab
- This opens a database of Binghamton graduates and their career paths.
- Use search filters to explore
- “Where they live” – Find alumni in your target locations.
- “Where they work” – Identify top employers for science and healthcare graduates.
- “What they do” – Narrow down career paths in research, healthcare, biotechnology, etc.
- “What they studied” – See how different majors led to various careers.
- “What they’re skilled at” – Identify the most in-demand skills.
- Click on profiles to gain insight
- Check experience sections to see how they gained relevant skills.
- Look for graduate programs, certifications, and career transitions.
- Identify skills to develop for your target roles.
- Connect & engage
- Send personalized connection requests to alumni in fields of interest.
- Request informational interviews to gain insights and learn more about alumni experiences.
The Alumni Tool Can Support Your Path to Career Confidence & Clarity
1. Research You
At this stage, you’re exploring broad career options and trying to understand what paths are available in science and healthcare. It’s all about identifying possibilities and considering what aligns with your interests, values, and skills.
How to Use the LinkedIn Alumni Tool in This Stage
- Explore career possibilities by searching for job titles in research, biotech, clinical settings, public health, pharmaceuticals, and more.
- Identify emerging career trends in science and healthcare fields.
- Pay attention to patterns in alumni career paths—do they pursue additional degrees? Do they enter industry or academia?
2. Guided Exploration
Now that you’ve gained some career awareness, it’s time to narrow your focus by researching specific career paths and understanding the qualifications required.
How to Use the LinkedIn Alumni Tool in This Stage
- Use the “What they studied” and “What they do” filters to see how alumni transitioned from their major into their current roles.
- Identify alumni who pursued further education—what graduate programs or certifications did they complete?
- Look for research experiences, internships, or clinical work in their profiles to see what helped them advance.
- Start reaching out for informational interviews with alumni in fields of interest.
3. Expand and Reflect
Now, you’re actively gaining experience and reflecting on your career interests. This is the time to get hands-on with internships, research, volunteering, and networking.
How to Use the LinkedIn Alumni Tool in This Stage
- Click on alumni profiles to examine their experience section—what did they do as students at Binghamton?
- Identify top employers hiring alumni in science and healthcare fields.
- Explore internship or research opportunities by looking at where alumni worked while still in school.
- See if they participated in student organizations, research labs, or clinical shadowing—this can guide your next steps.
4. Plan and Dive Deeper
You’ve clarified your career interests, and now it’s time to strategize your next steps, build your professional network, and refine your skills to be competitive in your field.
How to Use the LinkedIn Alumni Tool in This Stage
- Network with alumni working at companies, research institutions, hospitals, and biotech firms that interest you.
- Identify key skills listed on their profiles—are there any technical or soft skills you should develop?
- Research certifications and graduate programs they pursued. If alumni in clinical fields have specific certifications (e.g., EMT, phlebotomy, research ethics training), consider obtaining those.
- Follow companies and track job openings to start preparing for your job or graduate school applications.
Next Steps
By using the LinkedIn Alumni Tool, you can gain career clarity, build connections, and set yourself up for success in the science and healthcare fields. Want help using LinkedIn for career exploration and networking? The Fleishman Career Center is here to support you. Schedule an appointment to:
- Perfect your LinkedIn profile for networking
- Get advice on reaching out to alumni
- Develop an action plan tailored to your goals
Additionally, be sure to join the science and healthcare career cluster to receive tailored career opportunities, employer events, and industry insights!
