Connect and Contribute Now that you have graduated college, you are a part of the worldwide and lifelong network of women who share a common bond with you.  You will always have other sisters who, without even knowing you, are willing to support you.  Being an Alpha Phi is a reason to keep connecting, expanding, and contributing to the network… Listing Alpha Phi on your resumé in a professional way can appeal to potential employers and spark great conversation.  Highlighting the contributions you made to your chapter and explaining how your Alpha Phi experience shaped you into a smart, responsible woman can help you stand out among a pool of applicants.  If you were an officer for your chapter, list the position and discuss the unique skills you acquired that are applicable to the job you are hoping to get.  Did you reach a particular goal?  Did you raise a certain amount of money for your philanthropy?  Did you manage an impressive number of people on a project?  Using concrete statistics and data can be clear and concise illustrations of your accomplishments.  Do not be afraid to customize the descriptions of your position for a specific job.  If you were social chair, for example, stress your ability to maintain a budget while planning your chapter's formal when applying for a financial position or, instead, stress your contribution to decorations or favors when applying for a creative job.  Simple tweaks can make a big difference. When it comes time to obtain recommendations and name references for applications, do not forget about Alpha Phi.  If you held an important position in the chapter and worked closely with a Chapter Advisor, ask her to write a recommendation for you.  She can provide a unique, personal perspective on you.  When references are required for applications, don't hesitate to list older Alpha Phi sisters.  Who better to speak about your character and your strengths than the women who know you best? If you ever participated in the Alpha Phi Emerging Leadership Institute, attended a Regional Conference, or sat on a Panhellenic committee, talk about it on your resumé and/or in your interview.  Talk about training you received in those programs that may be valuable to the company with which you are applying. Connect with alumnae in your area.  Take advantage of offers people make to put you in touch with other Alpha Phis.  It can be as simple as a chat over coffee.  Two strangers can have an instantaneous connection simply because they are Alpha Phis. Remember that help can come in a variety of ways.  Support can be in the form of having someone to listen and understand what you are going through.  You are building relationships that last.  A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT      Congratulations on your graduation! You are about to embark on an incredible adventure ... The rest of your life! So many doors will open for you because of your degree and the skills you developed as an Alpha Phi over the past several years. Alpha Phi chose you because you are a remarkable woman with tremendous potential. Make the most of every     opportunity to demonstrate your excellence to the world. Wherever life takes you with career and family, please know that your Alpha Phi sisters are cheering you on. Don't hesitate to use your chapter and International resources now and in the future. And please support Alpha Phi whenever possible; there are many ways to assist throughout your life. Our Founders call upon us to commit to making the most out of our lives and supporting each other along the way. Together, we are the most extraordinary sisterhood in the world!     Heart to heart,     Laura Malley-Schmitt (Zeta Phi-MIT)   Networking is a lifelong job.  You never know when a relationship you make now is going to help you in the future.  Being an Alpha Phi can be an excuse to meet new people …women who have lived through this very same transition in their own lives. If you don't know where to start, reach out to the Alumnae Chapter Presidents in your area.  They can answer questions or put you in touch with other Alpha Phis.  As a graduate, you are also now a part of our Online Community.  Through this online networking database, you can search for people in your city.  You won't be alone if you take advantage of the network at your fingertips.  As a part of the class of 2009, you are part of a new generation of alumnae.  We are calling on you to connect and contribute to the network that exists around you.  Remember the best way to continue your involvement in Alpha Phi is to keep forming these meaningful relationships throughout your life.  Be there for future graduating classes.  Update your contact information and pay it forward in the years to come.  This transition out of college is not the end but the beginning of a greater legacy you will leave behind.  What will your impact be?