BMag-2012 - University of Birmingham

28 The Birmingham Magazine
CONNECTING
THE DOTS
The growing power of alumni networking means it is
increasingly possible to create personal and professional
relationships through networking opportunities. We are here
to help you do this with our ever-expanding online networks.
Eight years ago, the idea of one Stanford
University graduate transformed the way we
build relationships forever more. Now the social
networking service Facebook has more than
900 million active users and has spawned the
creation of a wealth of other social media
channels including micro-blogging platform
Twitter and the professional networking
space LinkedIn.
Social networks provide an online platform
designed to enhance an individual’s virtual
presence and facilitate relationship-building
24 hours a day. Communities of people with
shared interests, activities or real-life
connections can now interact with each
other on a global scale which can generate
amazing opportunities.
Here in the Development and Alumni
Relations Office (DARO), we are proud to
remain connected to more than 169,000 of
our former students, a community which
includes Nobel Prize winners, scientists,
journalists, entrepreneurs, teachers, engineers,
politicians, sportsmen and women, nurses,
authors, musicians, actors, and even a Strictly
Come Dancing contestant. Alumni are making
a real difference in today’s society and our
growing online networking presence is making
it much easier for you to connect with each
other and keep in touch with us.
We always love to hear from you and what
you have been doing since graduating from
Birmingham. Staying connected with us can
help you in so many ways and we would like
to invite you to join our social media networking
channels to be able to make the most of these
benefits and make new connections with fellow
graduates with an affinity to Birmingham.
‘Time spent at university is full of memories and
experiences that people will talk and reminisce
about for years to come,’ explains Ayaan
Mohamud (BA Media, Culture and Society,
2009) Community Manager at Birddog Ltd and
a social media enthusiast. ‘There is a sense of
familiarity when you meet someone who went
to the same university as you and it provides
a good foundation on which business
relationships can be built. Business is about
networking and relationships so being part of
such a huge alumni community gives you the
opportunity to communicate with a large group
of people that is spread all over the world.
‘Joining the DARO social networks means
alumni can increase their own networks,
connect with people who share similar
interests; participate in discussions and
debates, while also learning from one another.
I personally like to attend networking events to
be able to meet online connections in real life.
Following the DARO accounts means I find out
about alumni events instantly and can also talk
to others online who say they are attending.
This helps to build up some rapport before
we actually meet,’ she adds.
Depending on how you already use social
media, we have multiple ways you can connect
with your fellow alumni. You can share your
memories and photos with us and your fellow
alumni by liking the University of Birmingham
Alumni Facebook page. You can join more
than 10,000 business professionals on our
University of Birmingham Alumni and Friends
LinkedIn group to engage in the latest topical
debate, converse about career opportunities,
seek employability advice and find out about
forthcoming events. Or you can tweet us via
@birminghamalum with your latest thoughts,
ideas and news and gain up-to-date
information from the DARO team via
our Twitter channel.
We regularly have alumni posting their latest
job opportunities on LinkedIn and sharing
their memories with us on Facebook and our
newly-launched Twitter account is the first
destination for our latest news. We will be
expanding our presence on this platform in
the future with a series of guest tweeters,
and a regular question time for you to enjoy.
‘Even with the growth of social media the
fundamentals of human nature have not
changed. We are social beings and like to
be in the company of people we like, trust
and who share our similar interests. Being
connected to others online gives us access
to a much wider audience and opens up
new opportunities,’ adds Ayaan.
The old saying ‘it’s not what you know, but
who you know that counts’ has never been
more pivotal in today’s competitive job market
and the fast-paced lives we lead means it is
increasingly important to build relationships
when you are on the go. Let us help to increase
who you know and start sharing your thoughts,
experiences and advice with your fellow alumni
by joining your alumni networks now. There are
also a growing number of individual school and
college alumni networks to look out for.