<p>I'm getting ready to request an interview and in my area, there are several people I can choose from.</p>
<p>From your experience, does a younger alumnus, say a recent graduate, is easier to talk to or an older alumnus, like somebody who graduated in 1990?</p>
<p>Also from a male perspective, is it easier to talk to a woman or a man?</p>
<p>Man women wasn't an issue for me, both similar. But I'd opt for younger, as when I asked current school culture questions, my older interviewer couldn't really answer</p>
<p>I like interviewing with people of the opposite sex. I don't know why, but I just feel more comfortable.</p>
<p>I don’t think gender really played a major part in my interviews. </p>
<p>Age didn’t matter to me either, because while young graduates could tell me about school life, I already knew about that from my contact with current students. I chose older graduates so I could ask how their degrees from x school had helped them and see where they are 15-20 years later. My alumni interviewers’ careers were impressive, and they said that part of it was due to x school, so that made me feel like getting a degree from there wouldn’t be worthless. Of course, you have to keep in mind that you do what you will with your degree, but still, it was nice to know that these alumni had gone far with theirs.</p>
<p>What I think does make a difference is location. I had some interviews in casual settings and others in downtown high-rise business offices. Obviously, I was more comfortable in the former setting, but if you can be poised in the latter, it sends a message.</p>
<p>Also, if you have the information, pick someone who majored or has a career in your field of interest. If you want to go into medicine, choose a doctor, etc.</p>
<p>You can use their names and emails to find out more about them. By email, I mean the domain name might be @soandsocharity.com or something, and you can look up that charity or workplace. I did that and steered away from people I didn't think I would connect with. (And it worked!) </p>
<p>I agree with opposite sex though. I also enjoyed the later graduates, they seem more empressed with your modern views because when you explain things to them, they are like "wow, we could never do that"..</p>