The Growing Popularity of Organizational Alumni Associations

Organizational alumni networks are gaining popularity as the culture of work continues to evolve. With the rise of Millennials in the workplace, many employers are experiencing shorter periods of tenure from employees, often as little as a year or two. When individuals leave an organization, it is often because of new and exciting opportunities with another employer, rather than dissatisfaction with a current employer. Because of this trend, employers are finding it advantageous to create a sense of loyalty and connection to the organization, even for former employees. This allows departing employees to gain more experience, skills, and knowledge elsewhere, and then possibly return to the organization later.

Alumni associations can bring like-minded individuals together for events such as regular association meetings, monthly luncheons, or celebrations like founder’s day or holiday receptions. Alumni associations typically keep members informed and connected via regular emails, flyers, newsletters, a contact directory, and social-networking communities. An active alumni association can create a stronger connection between the organization and the community and promote interest in and loyalty toward the organization. This can help develop a pool of talented and motivated individuals to draw on for recruiting purposes.