Alumni networks are no new subjects in the corporate world. In recent years organizations have realized the value of their employees hence commence alumni networks to engage and continue with relationships after employees leave the organization. Such relationships have created a plethora of opportunities including the founding of successful companies such as Uber that has its operations spread across the globe. Corporate alumni networks are redefining traditional relationships between employers and employees by creating new ways to invest in talent development.
Why Should Organizations Invest in a Corporate Alumni Network?
Alumni networks allow you to maintain mutually beneficial relationships with former employees who will at some point provide significant value to your organization. While the primary goal behind establishing alumni networks was for recruitment purposes, organizations have realized more than a pool of talent. Former employees have turned to loyal customers and brand ambassadors helping organizations realize profits through increased lead generation and closing of sales deals.
Launching Alumni Network Programs
The advancements in technology have made it easier for organizations to integrate their alumni network programs in their business management software. It is important to invest in reliable alumni network software to manage most of the operations within the alumni group. The best corporate alumni networks allow you to communicate with your members through automated and personalized emails, organize seminars and events with streamlined attendance processes, and gain visibility to industry-experts who might need potential cofounders. For you to realize these benefits, you will need to build a compelling community. Below are tips on how you can build the community to drive value for your organization and alumni employees.
- Personalization: Giving former employees a personalized experience allows you to drive value for them and the organization. This can be accomplished through an intelligent platform that adopts AI technology to help you understand who your alumni are, what they are interested in, and where they are geographically and career-wise. While CEOs and interns added value to the organization during their tenure, each groups need a different peer group. The same case will apply to retirees and graduate trainees.
- Inclusivity: An alumni community will not feel like a community if some members are excluded. If you are looking to create an inclusive network, excluding employees from a different cadre, geographical region, or department will not send a positive message about the alumni program. Although you can start with a small group to pilot the program, your long-term goals should behave every employee who has been part of the organization’s history included in the group.
- Authenticity: The corporate alumni network is an opportunity to create inclusive dialogue. The platform is not an avenue for you to share content about the organization without giving employees the chance to discuss the opportunities they can bring to the organization. By their very nature, alumni have left the organization hence might be disinterested with certain information. While initiating dialogue, ensure to share content that alumni resonate. Launching the alumni group is the beginning, not the end of a process for active participation and engagement.
Establishing and Alumni Network Made Easier
With the advancement in social networking technology, the cost of operating alumni programs remains low whilst the ROI increases every day. Instead of looking at employees who leave your company as traitors or valueless, look at their departures as new opportunities for your organization to realize new benefits.