"Our people will be movers and shakers wherever they land next. We're planting seeds for the future." says Katie Weiser, global director of alumni relations at Deloitte Consulting
If you know you're hiring great people, don't you want to continue to know them after they've left your employment? Business contacts, potential rehires, ease of knowledge transfer-- these are only a few of the reasons that you may want to stay in touch.
CIO Updates writes "Participants in these networks may hold regular events and meetings, host job-referral programs, publish alumni directories, offer professional training sessions or provide career-placement services, among other activities. Some groups encourage company leaders to attend functions periodically to keep members informed of interesting business developments. Websites are frequently used to maintain communication among participants."
A recent article went so far as to break down the "Top 5 Reasons" to be part of a network. According to Anne Berkowitch, CEO of SelectMinds, a corporate social networking solutions provider, they are:
• Access to highly relevant career marketplace, both job opportunities and candidates
• Access to privileged content not found elsewhere: intellectual capital and professional development resources
• Ability to ask questions/search for information from highly relevant and trusted individuals
• Continued social and professional association with a brand, organization and culture – particularly in the case of strong brands
• Corporate perks offered to employees and extended to alumni
Whatever your views of alumni relations are, it remains true that social networking is redefining the way we interact with colleagues, corporate alumni and business partners. But making business case for building one internally-- either for alumni or employees-- can be a tough sell unless you can show a direct impact on the bottom line. On March 9, join the Human Capital Institute for a complimentary webcast as we chat with Stephanie Oesch, AVP with Swiss Re Insurance. She'll explain how Swiss Re built their business case to gain internal buy-in and successfully launched their network through referrals, communication, and events. Whether you are in the stages of planning, implementing or revamping your network, this webcast will give you the insight, tips and reasoning to get approval for your initiative.
PS- We also have a great library of information on the topic!
