October 16th, 2003

1
Implementing a Career Networking Group
October 16th, 2003
2
Career Networking Group History
The UMBS Atlanta Alumni Club developed a Career
Networking Group in 2002 based on unprecedented
number of Michigan b-school alumni in
transition due to the economic downturn that
started in 2000.
Career Networking Group History

• Started a career networking group for UMBS
  Atlanta alumni in mid-2002 based on similar
  groups focused on helping people in transition
  (Kettering Career Network, JobSeekers, RUMS,
  etc.) but focused on the needs of UMBS alumni.
• Created career networking group in late 2002 for
  the Atlanta Business School Alliance (ABSA), an
  alliance between the business school clubs of
  other top nationally ranked schools. Continued
  having UMBS bi-weekly meetings with ABSA meetings
  on alternate weeks.
• Shifted focus to ABSA career networking group in
  Summer 2003 to leverage the larger number of
  people involved through the ABSA and
  discontinuing the Michigan only meetings

3
Successes
The career networking group has had a number of
successes during its development including
directly helping people land in new positions.
Career Networking Group Successes

• Started group to help people in transition that
  has continued for 1-2 years and has expanded to
  include other top nationally ranked business
  school alumni clubs in Atlanta
• Approximately 80-100 people have participated in
  the career networking group in the past year
• Established relationships with recruiting firms
  in Atlanta including top retained search firms
  such as Egon Zehnder and SpencerStuart
• Have become a source for talent where some
  companies have proactively looked to our group to
  find talent for their companies
• Have created connections and leads resulting in
  several people in the group landing including one
  person who was hired directly by a person who was
  in the group earlier

4
Best Practices
The most successful aspects of the UMBS / ABSA
career networking groups and similar groups are
those where proactive initiatives are created to
help people in the group.
Best Practices
Best Practice
Key Elements
Executive Recruiter Meetings

• Hold group meetings with 6-12 CNG candidates and
  top executive recruiters
• Have held meetings with Egon Zehnder, Spencer
  Stuart, Hudson Global Resources, Carter Baldwin,
  and Elite Financial Staffing
• Leverages the strength of Michigan Business
  School, ABSA, and quality of people in group to
  get meetings with executive recruiters who
  wouldnt meet with people individually

Lead and Contact Sharing

• Utilize group to share leads and contacts within
  meetings and through the group website as well as
  linking CNG members with people having large
  (1,000) contact list of people locally

Becoming a Source of Candidates

• Companies and CNG members whove landed view the
  CNG as a source of candidates and send position
  descriptions to be posted

Group Working Sessions

• Focus meetings on a particular topic (e.g.
  networking, bios, resumes) and leverage
  experience of the group to identify best
  practices and help each other (e.g. group resume
  reviews)

• Utilize web services such as MSN Groups or Yahoo
  Groups to provide a communications vehicle
  between group members as well as a place to post
  sample documents, suggestions, and member
  information

Strong Communications
Cost Minimization

• Utilize free services (e.g. Yahoo Groups) and
  public locations (e.g. restaurants in off hours
  and coffee shops) for meetings so the cost to CNG
  members is low or nothing.

5
Starting a Career Networking Group
Starting a Career Networking Group can be done
with a few dedicated people, the key ideas, and
good communications to let people know about the
group.
Career Networking Group Startup Steps
Step
Key Actions
Identify people to develop and lead CNG

• 2-4 dedicated people
• Leverage people currently in transition to lead

Develop group objectives

• Lead and contact sharing
• Speakers
• Proactive initiatives (e.g. Corporate Partners
  Program)
• Sponsorship
• Topics of interest
• Leverage working alumni

Develop infrastructure

• Meeting location and meeting time (e.g. every
  other Wednesday 900-1100 AM)
• Website (recommend Yahoo Groups!)
• Sample documents and light training plan (i.e.
  utilize publicly available materials and
  experiences of the group rather than develop
  heavy training)

Create Awareness and Launch

• Utilize UMBS e-mails direct to alumni in area
• If an ABSA type organization exists, leverage
  that to create larger group and communicate more
  effectively
• Expect largest response when group starts, then a
  drop, then stabilization and growth

6
Growth Ideas
The Atlanta Career Networking Group has grown and
evolved over the past two years, but there are
areas of opportunity for growth, particularly for
large alumni clubs.
Growth Ideas
Job Search

• Todays focus is on getting people back to
  generating income and having jobs. There are
  areas of opportunity for further growth of the
  CNG in this area
• Leverage alumni more by contacting local senior
  executives and getting them to view the CNG as a
  source for talent
• Contacting local companies and asking them to
  forward position listings to the group
• Leveraging CNG members whove landed as contacts
  in companies and get them to use the CNG as a
  talent source
• Develop a website with information on CNG members
  available to companies looking for talent

Career Development

• As the economy improves and people get back to
  work, the CNG can be used for continuing
  networking and to help people better achieve
  their longer term career objectives
• Hold CNG alumni events, such as happy hours and
  dinners, for people to keep connected
• Have the CNG focus on what it takes to move up in
  different career tracks (e.g. consulting,
  investment banking, corporate)
• Provide speaking events utilizing local executive
  recruiters or other speakers who can give their
  perspectives on success
• Develop stronger links with local senior alumni
  executives to gain their perspective and develop
  a strong local network