Building relationships is one of the most valuable things you can do during your college experience. From a career perspective, conversations with professionals about their career paths, the organizational culture they work in, and tips for entering a career field can offer insights you won’t find anywhere else. These connections can help you explore career fit and uncover opportunities, often before they’re publicly posted. 

The articles and resources on this page are designed to help you gain confidence about engaging in conversations with people from a career lens. Sometimes these conversations may be a structured informational interviews. Sometimes these conversations will be a matter of asking a speaker a few questions after a presentation they give on-campus. Other times, you might engage in dialogue at a networking event. Whatever form these conversations may take, remember it is all about connecting with and learning from others.

What is career networking? 

Career networking is the process of building and nurturing professional relationships to exchange information, explore career paths, discover new opportunities, and stay connected within your field of interest. 

Building your networking toolkit

Before diving into networking conversations, build the right tools for success: 

  • Create a strong resume to market your skills and experiences. 
  • Develop an elevator pitch to introduce who you are and what you are interested in. 
  • Know what you want to learn by identifying questions and topics you’re curious about. 
  • Create a strong LinkedIn Profile that reflects your goals and personality.  

Ready to grow your career network? Start here!

Start with your existing network (friends, family, professors, supervisors, etc.) 

  • Join a student organization 
  • Connect with UMass Lowell Alumni on LinkedIn 
  • Conduct an informational interview 
  • Attend Career & Co-op Center events
  • Go to a career fair 

Consulting Coffee Chats: The Ultimate Guide [2026]

If you thought coffee chats were just casual conversations over lattes, then think again. They’re a powerful tool in the consulting recruiting process. Done right, they can provide valuable insights, help you build genuine relationships, and even open doors to …

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Earn Credit and Gain Important Job Search Skills

Is landing a job or internship on your list of goals for the next year? We have a course that can help you with that!

For many students, the process of searching for an internship or job can be a …

By Kerry Willard Bray
Kerry Willard Bray Director, Career Services
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11 Actions in 11 Days That Will Accelerate Your Career Development

Action changes things. These 11 actions can accelerate your career development.

By Greg Denon
Greg Denon Associate Dean, Career Services & Cooperative Education
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December Employer Events – UML Student Eli’s Picks!

While the fall 2025 semester is coming to a close, there are still numerous exciting opportunities available for our River Hawks to explore with off-campus employers through Handshake. We asked our front desk student, Eli Stratton (with some help from …

By Victoria Barbeisch
Victoria Barbeisch Communications and Program Specialist, Career Services
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Five Actionable Tips for Career Success at UMASS Lowell

Hello, aspiring leaders of UMASS Lowell.

Here are some quick tips I would like to share that will help you along your successful career journey. Although we often have preconceived notions of what it’s like to work in a specific …

By Anthony Ross
Anthony Ross Director
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Resources

UMass Lowell LinkedIn Group

Connect with other Alumni on LinkedIn!

UMass Lowell Alumni Website

Visit UMass Lowell Alumni Online Community!

Informational Interviews

PDF: An informational interview is an interview with someone currently working in a field of interest to you.

Job Search Letters Guide

PDF: Cover Letter, Letter of Inquiry, Informational Interview Request, Thank you/Follow-up Letter

This worksheet will help you develop an elevator pitch to use at career fairs and in other networking situations.

The Career & Co-op Center is making available grants of $250 to support career-related programming by university recognized student groups. …

Contact & Location

Phone
978-934-2355
Address

University Crossing, Suite 450
220 Pawtucket Street
Lowell, MA 01854-5148

O'Leary Library, Rooms 314 & 318
61 Wilder Street
Lowell, MA 01854-5148

Appointment Hours

Monday 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Friday 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.