Your college
alumni association is an often overlooked networking resource. Atlanta has a rich
alumni culture with representation from Colleges and Universities across the
country. There are even a few local schools with a big following. It is on
full display every Saturday during Football season. Just try to get a table at a local sports
bar. Not easy to do. I was reminded of this fact after attending
an Alumni dinner this week, hosted by two Business Development Managers from my Alma mater’s College of Business. These folks
were in town on other business and because they are good net-workers, they
reached out to a number of local alums.
They offered an invitation to dinner with an update of activities at the
College. Who could resist?
These events have a tendency to attract the same people
and this dinner was no exception. There
were, however, a few new faces, including four alums who had not attended the
College of Business. After a little
small talk and a cocktail or two, the ten of us took our seats and proceeded to
order our meals. It was a cozy affair
that included two young couples, three more-mature alums, and the protege of
one of my peers, Bill, a retired AT&T Executive. Also in attendance was the Chapter President,
a current AT&T Manager and his fiance.
After the waiter left with our orders, the senior
Business Development Manager formally welcomed us and invited each of us to
introduce ourselves. Since I was
immediately to her left, I was the first with my brief bio. I was followed by a young lady who turned out
to be an account executive with Career Builder.
Next was Bill, followed by a College of Engineering alum, the junior
Business Development Manager, the married couple, and finally the Chapter
President and his fiance. It was a very
interesting group which gave us a lot to talk about. I learned that the AE with Career Builder was
calling on many of my clients; that Bill is active in volunteer work helping
Military Veterans find jobs; that the young married couple across the table
from me are looking to open their own business; and that the Chapter President
and his fiance were leaving for the weekend to begin planning their August
wedding. Bill lives near me, so we
agreed to get together to explore some mutual interests, especially in
connection with helping Military Veterans with their job search skills.
The next day, I fired off my thank you notes and sent
invitations to become connected on LinkedIn.
Bill and I scheduled a luncheon meeting next week. I am confident that the other attendees have
been active in a similar way since that dinner.
Many people are a bit surprised when I speak to the value
of participation in one’s alumni association to further their networking
goals. It just doesn’t register on their
priority list. But think about it. The most difficult part of any networking
event is establishing a connection with someone. Can you really think of a networking venue
with as powerful an immediate connection?
When you attend an alumni event, you are with people who shared the same
college experience. The hard part is
done. You already have the
connection. I have made some very good
friendships which transcend alumni functions.
Having learned the value of my association with the alumni
association I have become a passionate advocate, especially to young alums and
recent graduates working to build their careers. In a major city like Atlanta, seeking out
your College Alumni Association should be the first thing you do when moving
into the area. So, to broaden your
networking reach give strong consideration to your college alumni
association. Its value should not be
underestimated.
Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read. Your input is very important to me so please leave a comment.
Jim
Weber, President
www.newcenturydynamics.com
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