I'm a recent(ish) grad (1st degree '06, masters '07) looking to change industry.I've searched the alumni database and found a few alumns who are currently in the industry I'm most interested in. However, the majority of these people have left off e-mail addresses or contact phone numbers.From the name of the firm, and digging about on the internet, it's relatively easy to decipher their business e-mail address. For example, one alumn works at a firm where the e-mail structure is "firstname.lastname@company.com". Other alumns have their faces plastered all over the website of the current firm they are working in.Would it be inappropriate for me to piece together their contact details in such a fashion and send them an e-mail? I can't decide whether they kept their contact details off the database for a reason and would hate to be contacted in such a way. Or, they knew eager graduates would be looking to contact them for informational interviews (as a guise for job recommendations) or advice on breaking into their industry.

They'll prob love it as they'll usually get something for the recommendation (unless you don't get it of course). Also are you changing career? By the dates of your university, and guessing you went normal age, I would say you're not changing so much as starting.

Think Bucks is spot one.g. I am always happy to take calls from students considering applying and suspect this goes for most of my colleagues. However I took my contact details of my university alumni details as got quite a lot of spam.

The usual rules of networking apply - ask not what your alumnus can do for you, but what you can do for your alumnus, etc.I advise that you focus on those alums who graduated within the last 5 years since their experiences and advice will be more relevant to you. They are more likely to show an interest and find some connection with your situation.Targeting VPs and MDs isn't less likely to be a constructive exercise - they can't do anything to help you directly.Most people like to be asked their opinions, but be aware that that's all you ask for. Going in with a direct job request or an implied one is a big turn-off. No university or b-school networks are so tight-knit these days that the affiliation carries much weight on its own (of course if you were also in the Skull & Crossbones society, that's a different matter).