Employee Alumni Programs: The What, the Why, and the How

Turnover is an inevitable challenge that companies of all sizes must face. The downside: The departure of skilled employees can create gaps in talent and institutional knowledge. The upside: It also presents opportunities to foster long-lasting relationships through employee alumni programs.

These programs keep connections with former employees open, transforming them from mere ex-staff to valuable advocates, resources, and potential rehires. By implementing a well-structured employee alumni program, you can reframe turnover as a strategic advantage and reap the benefits of a robust professional network that reaches beyond your current personnel.

What Is an Employee Alumni Program?

At a bare-bones level, an employee alumni program is an organization’s initiative to maintain long-term relationships with former employees after they leave the company. The idea is to keep ex-employees engaged with the company by providing them with resources, networking opportunities, and sometimes ongoing benefits. 

Building a corporate alumni network is about more than just keeping a running list of employees who leave the company. Employee alumni programs encourage a reciprocal relationship in which both the organization and former employees reap the benefits. 

These programs turn the challenge of employee turnover into an opportunity for ongoing collaboration, professional growth, and mutual support. In this way, the connections built during employment can continue delivering value long after the official working relationship has ended.

Benefits of an Employee Alumni Program

There are mutual advantages on both sides of employee alumni programs. 

Benefits for Companies

Among the many ways companies can benefit from continued relationships with former employees are the following:

Talent Pool

Alumni programs create a network of potential rehires who already understand the company’s culture and processes. Rehiring former employees – who are then known as boomerang employees – can streamline the hiring process and reduce onboarding time.

Brand Ambassadors

Former employees who have had positive experiences can act as brand ambassadors. Their advocacy can enhance the company’s reputation, attract new talent, and churn up new business opportunities.

Networking and Partnerships

Alumni can become valuable business contacts, facilitating sales, collaborations, and business development opportunities.

Knowledge Sharing

By staying in touch with your alumni, you can glean new insights and industry trends to encourage continuous improvement and innovation.

Referral Programs

Often, alumni are willing to refer qualified candidates from their new networks. This can improve the quality of your incoming talent.

Benefits for Former Employees

Employee alumni programs are a two-way street. Some advantages for former employees include:

Career Development

Many alumni programs offer professional development resources like workshops, seminars, and access to job boards. These resources can help former employees advance in their careers.

Networking Opportunities

Employee alumni programs provide platforms – both virtual and in-person – for alumni to connect with other professionals in their field, which can lead to new job opportunities, partnerships, and mentorship.

Continued Benefits

Some companies extend certain benefits and discounts to alumni to support positive relationships.

Sense of Community

Staying connected through alumni networks helps former employees maintain a sense of belonging and community, even after they have moved on to new opportunities.

Rehire Opportunities

Alumni who wish to return to their former employer can find it easier to re-enter, benefiting from their previous experience and relationships within the company.

Components of an Employee Alumni Program

Launching an employee alumni program involves some essential components that, when integrated effectively, facilitate a productive long-term relationship with former employees. 

Database and Communication Platform

A robust database and communication platform will help you manage alumni information and facilitate interactions.

• Database setup: Collect and update former employees’ contact details, career progress, and interests.
• Communication tools: Use tools like email newsletters, dedicated social media groups, and a centralized alumni website or portal.

Tools and Technologies

You can boost your alumni engagement and communication efforts using advanced tools and tech.

• Alumni portal: Develop a dedicated alumni portal for easy access to resources and networking opportunities.
• Social media groups: For informal networking and updates, LinkedIn or Facebook groups can be helpful. 
• Email marketing software: Consider using email marketing tools for sending newsletters and announcements.
• Survey platforms: Online survey platforms can be useful for gathering alumni feedback.

Engagement and Networking Opportunities

Create regular and meaningful engagement opportunities to keep alumni connected with the organization and each other.

• Events and reunions: Organize in-person or virtual events such as annual reunions, industry seminars, and social gatherings.
• Online community: Develop online forums or social media groups for continuous interaction and networking.
• Workshops: Alumni will be grateful for the opportunity to participate in valuable workshops and training programs.

Content and Resource Sharing

Providing valuable content and resources helps to keep alumni engaged and informed about company goings-on and industry trends.

• Newsletters: Consider sending regular updates on company news, industry insights, and alumni achievements.
• Exclusive content: Alumni will appreciate access to webinars, white papers, and other professional development resources.

Career Support and Opportunities

Show support for your alumni. Encourage their career growth and leverage their potential as future employees or business partners.

• Job boards: Share job openings within the company and encourage alumni referrals.
• Mentorship programs: Facilitate mentorship opportunities between current employees and alumni.

Recognition and Acknowledgment 

Acknowledging your former employees’ contributions will foster a sense of belonging and appreciation.

• Alumni spotlights: Feature success stories of former employees in newsletters or on the alumni website.
• Rewards programs: Consider offering incentives like discounts on company products or services or exclusive event invitations.

Feedback and Improvement

Seek continuous improvement for your employee alumni program. This involves regularly gathering feedback from alumni to ensure the program meets their needs and expectations.

• Surveys and polls: Conduct regular surveys to gauge alumni satisfaction and gather suggestions for improvement.
• Program adjustments: Use alumni feedback to refine and enhance the program so it remains relevant and valuable.

Legal and Privacy Considerations

As with all business endeavors, observing relevant local regulations and guidelines is paramount. Maintain compliance with data protection regulations and establish clear and observable policies for data use and membership guidelines. 

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How to Start a Corporate Alumni Program

There are several important steps to establishing an employee alumni program that is well-structured and beneficial for everyone involved. 

1. Define Your Goals and Objectives

Begin by defining what you aim to achieve with your employee alumni program.

• Define goals: Clarify whether your program will focus on rehiring, networking opportunities, brand advocacy, or business development and referrals.
• Identify metrics: Determine how you will measure success, such as rehire rates, referral rates, or alumni event engagement levels.
• Establish timeframes: Setting timeframes or deadlines will help keep your team on track. 

2. Secure Leadership Buy-In

As with all corporate initiatives, gaining support from top management is essential to secure adequate resources and organizational alignment. You’ll also need budget approval for the program’s development and ongoing activities.

3. Develop a Strategic Plan

Plan the overall structure of the program, including any membership criteria you may want to consider. Some criteria may include tenure requirements, voluntary participation, and so on. 

4. Create a Dedicated Team

Form a team to manage the program and assign roles to individuals, such as program manager and support staff. Allocate resources efficiently and make sure the team has the tools to operate effectively.

5. Build a Communication Plan

Come up with a brand for your employee alumni program, including a name, logo, and tagline. Decide which communication channels you plan to use, such as newsletters, social media, and a dedicated website or portal. 

With those decisions out of the way, you can begin developing engaging content tailored to alumni interests, including company news, job opportunities, and industry insights.

6. Develop a Membership Database

Create and develop a membership database for your program, including contact information and professional details of former employees. Implementing a customer relationship management (CRM) system makes maintaining and updating alumni records much easier.

7. Launch and Promote the Program

Consider launching over two phases: a soft launch and the official program launch.

During the soft launch, you’ll start with a pilot group of alumni to gather initial feedback and make improvements before the official launch.

Once the employee alumni program is fine-tuned and ready to launch, announce the program through various channels such as emails, social media, and company events.

8. Plan Regular Events and Activities

To establish a successful program and keep alumni interested, organizing frequent, or at least regular, activities is non-negotiable. Organize virtual and in-person networking events. 

Encourage professional development by offering your alumni access to webinars, workshops, and training sessions. Also, don’t underestimate the importance of social activities, such as gatherings and alumni reunions. 

9. Engage and Maintain Relationships

Keep alumni informed with regular updates, such as periodic newsletters. Feedback loops help identify areas for improvement, so you should solicit feedback from your alumni to continuously enhance the program. 

10. Measure Success and Adapt

Monitoring key metrics such as membership growth, event attendance, and engagement rates is necessary to make iterative changes to the program. 

Regularly review and adjust goals based on feedback and performance data, and adapt the program to meet the changing needs and expectations of your alumni network.

Creating Lasting Impact With Alumni Programs

A well-structured corporate alumni program transforms the challenge of employee turnover into a strategic advantage. By maintaining and nurturing connections with former employees, you can create a network of brand advocates, potential rehires, and business partners. 

With an employee alumni network, your company can extend relationship value beyond an employee’s tenure to benefit both the organization and its alumni. 

For more guidance on hiring, retention, and engagement, visit iHire’s Employer Resource Center.