Engaging in informational interviews with alumni from your program is one of the best ways to understand the current landscape of your chosen industry. It’s the perfect opportunity to get guidance on transitioning from student life to working life, discuss what it takes to succeed in your chosen industry, and learn how you might stand out as a job candidate in interviews.
Once you indentify an alum that you'd like to request an informational interview with, send them a message!
Navigate to the Indiana University Bloomington LinkedIn page
Select Alumni from the menu
Enter broad search terms related to your area of study (you can search alumni by title, keyword or company)
Visit the profiles of any individuals of interest who are generated in the search results and scroll down to the Education portion of their profiles to confirm they studied at IU
Navigate to the LinkedIn page of your organization of choice
Select People from the menu
Enter “Indiana University” as a search term
Visit the profiles of any individuals of interest who are listed in the search results to confirm they studied at IU.
The Walter Center Success Network is like LinkedIn, but just for College of Arts + Sciences students and alums. It is the perfect place to learn more about an organization or industry you are interested in. You can search alums by shared interests, what city or industry they work in, what major they studied and more! The best part is, all of the alums on the platform have signed up because they want to help students with their careers.
Connecting with professional associations through their LinkedIn pages is a great (and free!) first step toward staying in touch with industry trends, and finding opportunities to engage with practicing professionals.
Below, you’ll find a few LinkedIn groups and/or companies to search for and join that are maintained by professional associations in your industry.
National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA)
Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts
The American Ceramic Society
Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA)
AIGA Design
Design Council
Product Development and Management Association (PDMA)
World Design Organization (WDO)
Indiana Chapter of User Experience Professionals Association (UXPA)
UXPA only offers regional groups. Search ‘UXPA’ on LinkedIn to find other regional chapters.
Indiana Collaborative - Living Building Challenge
Living Building Challenge
Living Building Challenge only offers regional groups. Search ‘Living Building Challenge’ on LinkedIn to find other regional chapters.
AIGA Design
The One Club for Creativity
Communication Arts
Design Council
CAA Advancing Art and Design
World Design Organization (WDO)
Graphic Artists Guild
International Council of Design (ico-D)
International Game Developers Association (IGDA)
American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA)
Fashion Group International, Inc.
International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA)
Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA)
Costume Society of America (CSA)
Association of Sewing and Design Professionals (ASDP)
Fashion Design Pros
National Retail Federation (NRF)
CAA Advancing Art & Design
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
Fiber Art Now/Fiber Art Network
Penland School of Craft
New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA)
Center for Craft
Fashion and Textile Professionals (group)
National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO)
Organic Trade Association
International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA)
American Tapestry Alliance (ATA)
Costume Society of America (CSA)
Association of Sewing and Design Professionals (ASDP)
Textile Society of America (TSA)
AIGA Design (page)
AIGA | Professional Association for Design (group)
AIGA Eye on Design
The One Club for Creativity
Communication Arts
Design Council
CAA Advancing Art and Design
World Design Organization (WDO)
Graphic Artists Guild
International Council of Design (ico-D)
International Interior Design Association (IIDA)
American Society of Interior Designers (ASID)
NEWH, Inc, The Hospitality Network
National Association of Women In Construction (NAWIC)
International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD)
LEED
Living Building Challenge
Living Building Challenge only offers regional groups. Search ‘Living Building Challenge’ on LinkedIn to find other regional chapters.
IU Center for Innovative Merchandising
IU Retail Studies Organization Alumni
American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA)
Fashion Group International, Inc.
International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA)
National Retail Federation (NRF)
Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA)
Merchandising and Planning Professionals
Art Jewelry Forum (AJF)
Accessories Council
American Craft Council
Art Jewelry Forum
CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation
Copper Development Association, Inc.
Gemological Institute of America (GIA)
Gemological Science International
Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG)
Art Dealers Association of America (ADAA)
Association of Women Art Dealers (AWD)
National Art Education Association (NAEA)
Association of Medical Illustrators
National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA)
Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)
CAA Advancing Art and Design (Formerly College Art Association)
Indianapolis Art Center
Newfields
Professional Photographers of America (PPA)
American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP)
North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA)
Nikon Photographers (group)
Canon Photographers (group)
International Fine Print Dealers Association (IFPDA)
People of Print
Prints and Printmaking Enthusiasts (group)
Alliance of Artists Communities
Art Dealers Association of America (ADAA)
Association of Women Art Dealers (AWAD)
National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA)
CAA Advancing Art and Design (Formerly College Art Association)
Regional Organizations:
Mid America Print Council
Rocky Mountain Printmaking Alliance
Print Arts Northwest
Chicago Printmakers Collaborative
Bluegrass Printmakers Cooperative
Art Jewelry Forum (AJF)
Columbine Gallery and the National Sculptors’ Guild
Contemporary Sculpture (group)
Sculpture, Science & Museums (group)
American Craft Council
Artists Communities Alliance
National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA)
Copper Development Association, Inc.
Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts
The American Ceramic Society
Many individual brands also maintain LinkedIn pages — follow a few to help keep you inspired and engaged!
