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September 2008
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ALUMNI NEWS |
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Alumni Association Gets LinkedIn - Join the Group and Network Like a Pro LinkedIn has transformed the working world. The popular site offers a vast, virtual networking reception of sorts, the digital equivalent of handing out a business card to hundreds of prospective clients and employers with just a few clicks of the mouse. More than 30 AU alumni groups are among the 25 million active users of LinkedIn, and as academic relationships transition into professional ones, the number of AU users continues to grow. “With LinkedIn, we’re engaging and connecting alumni with the university by taking advantage of something that already exists,” says Tara Lang, director of Alumni Programs. In February 2008, Lang created the official LinkedIn group for AU alumni, called the American University Alumni Association. The new Alumni Association group joined existing AU groups broken down by category, from school-based sets to professional affiliations, such as the Performing Arts and User Experience Design. “Our alumni are constantly telling us that they want more networking and career opportunities with fellow alumni,” says Lang. “Creating this official AU Alumni Association LinkedIn group is just one more way for us to provide these valuable opportunities.” True to the best intentions of LinkedIn, the relationship works both ways. “Alums looking for jobs want to know about other Eagles working in their industry that they can contact for help or advice, and alums looking to hire want to take on fellow AU alumni, as they know the kind of professional AU produces.” The AU Alumni Association LinkedIn network reflects the diversity of professions hosted on LinkedIn. Participating alumni represent a host of different industries – media production, marketing and advertising, special events, public relations communication, pharmaceuticals, computer networking, information technology and services, nonprofit organization management, human resources, public policy, law, and financial services. Since August 2008, membership in the AU LinkedIn group has spiked, and Lang hopes that one day all AU alumni will be engaged on the site. She also hopes that this is just the beginning for LinkedIn. Beyond serving as an initial point of contact for which alumni to identify and connect with each other. “I really hope LinkedIn will grow as a company to include more dynamic features, like job and career-related events postings.” Lang is particularly excited about a recently added element that allows group members to engage in online discussions. “They’ll be able to communicate with each other, as a group, within the community,” she says. Lang is hopeful the AU Alumni Association LinkedIn community, and the other AU groups, evolve to become well-known and well-used resources, and that, in time, the networks and opportunities they offer become self-perpetuating. “I hope that the connections and communications are alumni driven, since the results and the incentive are one in the same. The AU Alumni Association group makes it very easy for AU alumni either recruiting or job searching to find the perfect Eagle to help or be helped." - Josephine Sanchez
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