Cornell CS Alumni Network for Job Referrals

Cornell CS graduates work across every major tech company and are especially well-represented at Microsoft, Amazon, and Google. With Cornell Tech in New York City, the network spans both coasts. If you attended Cornell CS, your alumni connections are closer than you think.

Find Cornell CS Alumni at Your Target Companies

Where Cornell CS Alumni Work

Top 10
CS program in the US
20,000+
Cornell CS alumni worldwide
~500
CS undergrad students per year

Cornell CS alumni work at every major tech company and are particularly well-represented at Microsoft, Amazon, and Google. Cornell Tech NYC has added a strong presence in the New York tech scene, including fintech, media, and enterprise software. Cornell CS alumni founded companies including Akamai and are senior leaders across the tech industry.

Companies Cornell CS alumni commonly join

MicrosoftAmazonGoogleAppleMetaGoldman SachsMorgan StanleyBloombergTwo SigmaSpotifyTwitchPalantir

How to Use Your Cornell CS Alumni Network for Job Referrals

  1. Search by company, not by person: Instead of thinking "who do I know at Google?", flip it: search for Google employees who attended Cornell University Computer Science. FindWarmIntros does this automatically — enter your school and target company to surface alumni connections you didn't know you had.
  2. Lead with the school connection: Open every message with "I'm a Cornell CS alum" or "We both went to Cornell University Computer Science." This shared identity dramatically increases response rates compared to a generic cold outreach.
  3. Be specific about your technical background: CS alumni respond best to outreach that mentions specific research areas, projects, or technical skills. Generic messages get less traction — show that you've done real work in a relevant area.
  4. Ask for a 15-minute call, not a referral: The goal of the first message is a conversation. Learn about their experience and show genuine interest. The referral request comes naturally after a real call.
  5. Follow up promptly: After a good call, send a thank-you the same day and ask directly: "Would you be open to referring me for [Role] at [Company]?" Include your resume and the specific job link.
Search Cornell CS Alumni Now — Free

Tips for Cornell CS Alumni Outreach

Cornell Tech NYC opens unique doors in New York

Cornell Tech's Roosevelt Island campus has built one of the strongest CS-to-NYC-tech pipelines in the country. For roles at finance-adjacent tech companies, media, and New York startups, Cornell Tech alumni connections are uniquely strong.

Microsoft and Amazon heavily recruit from Cornell

Both Microsoft (Seattle) and Amazon (Seattle) run active Cornell recruiting programs. For candidates targeting Seattle-based tech roles, Cornell alumni networks at these companies are particularly warm — the Cornell connection opens doors faster than at many other companies.

Finance firms actively recruit Cornell CS for quant and engineering roles

Goldman Sachs, Two Sigma, and Bloomberg all have significant Cornell CS alumni populations. Cornell's strong applied math and CS curriculum maps well onto finance engineering roles. For candidates targeting Wall Street tech, Cornell connections are a major asset.

Frequently Asked Questions

What companies hire the most Cornell CS graduates?
Microsoft and Amazon are historically the largest employers of Cornell CS graduates due to their Seattle presence and active Cornell recruiting. Google, Apple, and Meta are also major employers. Goldman Sachs and Two Sigma recruit heavily from Cornell for technology and quantitative roles.
How does Cornell Tech in NYC affect job placement?
Cornell Tech has dramatically improved Cornell's presence in New York City's tech ecosystem. Graduates from Cornell Tech work at companies including Google NYC, Spotify, and Bloomberg, and the program has strong connections to NYC-based VCs and startups. For candidates targeting New York tech roles, Cornell Tech is a distinct advantage.
Are Cornell CS alumni responsive to referral requests?
Yes — Cornell alumni have a strong tradition of helping fellow Cornellians. The "Big Red" alumni identity creates genuine warmth in outreach. Mentioning specific courses, professors, or the CS building (Gates Hall) creates an immediate shared connection. Cornell alumni at major tech companies respond well to specific, well-prepared outreach.

Find Cornell CS Alumni by Company

These pages show you exactly which Cornell CS alumni work at each company and give you personalised outreach templates to reach them:

Cornell CS Alumni at Google Cornell CS Alumni at Amazon Cornell CS Alumni at Meta Cornell CS Alumni at Apple Cornell CS Alumni at Microsoft

More Resources

Tech Referral Guide Google Referral Guide Amazon Referral Guide Microsoft Referral Guide Find Alumni at Any Company How to Ask for a Referral