CUeLINKS

Do you have a question or are you looking for people or resources to help provide direction? CUeLINKS can help you connect with knowledge sharers (alumni, faculty/staff, or peers) to answer questions that range from navigating Cornell and deciding on career paths to making life choices and any other questions that come to mind. Cornell’s alumni network is a significant benefit and resource for students for personal as well as professional knowledge sharing. Students are using CUeLINKS to explore, connect, and learn from others by:

• Reviewing the Cornell Network to explore Alumni profiles.
• Using the filters in both the Cornell and Peer Network to find people.
• Connecting with knowledge sharers through the message or request meeting function.
• Reading the discussion questions submitted by students and reviewing the answers from alumni.

1. It only takes a couple of minutes! Visit cuelinks.cornell.edu and click Join the Community.
   • For best results, use Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.
2. Create an account using LinkedIn, your NetID or another e-mail. (Some profile information will be imported from LinkedIn.)
3. Sign up with an e-mail account you check daily. CUeLINKS messages will be sent to this e-mail. You don’t want to miss anything!
4. Opt in to be a Knowledge Sharer for your Cornell peers. You will be searchable by your peers, but you can change this in your profile preferences at any time.
5. Follow the guided steps to complete your CUeLINKS profile. This should take you only about 5 minutes.
6. Add a photo (unless already imported) to make your profile stand out. You can always add this later, but don’t let this prevent you from completing your profile. If you don’t have a profile picture, you can visit our office to use the Profile Picture Kiosk. Once you have a picture of yourself, upload it to your profile!

Select the Connect tab and then choose “community” to search the CUeLINKS community.

1. Use the search bar and filters to find people you want to connect with. Use different search words, or click on other filter options to narrow your search. The “More Filters” option provides a list of additional filter options such as “College/School”; “Matriculation Type” and “Clubs/Organizations”.You can also create and save Search Alerts so the system will notifies you via e-mail when new alumni join the platform that match your search filters.
2. Browse or search profiles to identify individuals who may have the information you seek. Note that alumni can’t search for students and, unlike LinkedIn, they aren’t notified when you search for or look at their profile and can’t see your profile until you send a message.
3. Connect to alumni by clicking the “Message” button. (You can connect with up to 10 alumni per month.) This will give you the option to:
   • Send a message using a built-in message hub.
   • Request a meeting using the “Request Meeting” link at the bottom of the message and the system will walk you through selecting dates/times and method of communication (phone call, video chat (through the platform), or in-person meeting).
4. Prepare for your information interview. More information can be found using these resources in the Networking Module and the Informational Interview page in Canvas.

Join the Discussion Group to view the questions that students (and alumni) have submitted about careers, the student experience, and more. Click on the Connect tab and then select “Groups” to view and/or join the Discussion Group and/or another group you are interested in. Check out the alumni responses to questions, submit a question, or provide a response. The Discussion Group is open to all members of the CUeLINKS community and is a great resource to learn from others. Use the search bar on the Discussion Board to plug in key words that will filter and find questions or answers based on your search.

Be active! Ask questions, reach out to new people, visit the Discussion Group, and check out our resources. Don’t be afraid to reach out to someone. People are waiting for you to connect with them. Everyone in our community is here to support you. Here are some quick tips to help you get started:

1. Worried about what to say? Ask some genuine open ended “what” and “how” questions. For example, “What are you passionate about in your career?” Let your curiosity guide you! And don’t worry, the system helps you craft a professional message.
2. Not ready to connect? That’s perfectly OK! You can explore the network, view profiles and bookmark them (click the upper right-hand corner of each profile), and search by these individuals later. Browse the network and start reaching out. You never know when a conversation will turn into a lasting connection! Connections can take many forms. When you are ready to find a formal knowledge sharer to work through goals together, navigate to the Cornell Network section of the site.
3. Having trouble finding connections? Explore by searching broadly as well as by specific companies or positions. Consider searching alumni by “Help Topic” or “Industry” to connect with alumni across college, industry, major, and degree. You never know who they might connect you with. Remember that new alumni are joining the system every day. We recommend that you create a search alert found in the upper right corner of the Cornell Network page.
4. You didn’t receive a response to your message or meeting request? Everyone gets busy, even when you volunteer to be a resource. Give them a few days and try sending a follow-up message. If after seven days you don’t hear from your requested connection, feel free to reach out to our office. Another feature on the platform are icons that might show up on the upper left hand side of the profiles to indicate engagement with the platform and with other community members.
5. Having technical issues? Remember the system works best using Chrome or Firefox. If you are in CUeLINKS, click on the question mark icon to submit a ticket to address the issue. If you are having trouble accessing the system or have questions, e-mail cuelinks@cornell.edu.

What kind of discussions can I post?

• Your question is visible to the CUeLINKS community, so think broadly (e.g., job tips by industry vs. job tips by industry, location, position).
• Avoid sharing personal financial information.
• CUeLINKS Administrators review your question before posting so if there are questions, we will ask before posting.
• Have fun and look at other questions to get inspired!

Can alumni see if I click on their profile?

No

What is the difference between CUeLINKS and LinkedIn?

• Both platforms provide opportunities to explore and connect with people.
• The CUeLINKS community is made up of alumni and other knowledge sharers who have volunteered to be a resource to Cornell students. There are many reasons someone might join LinkedIn.
• All members of CUeLINKS are associated with Cornell University and are looking to connect with Cornellians. Follow the Cornell University LinkedIn page to connect with Cornell University alumni and students.

What should I say to someone I want to connect with?

• Start with sharing a little bit about yourself and asking about their Cornell student experience, or ask them about their career path and what they do in their current role.
• Prepare for your conversation. Be curious and select a couple of informational interview questions you want to ask during your conversation.