Tap into Valuable Alumni Resources
Are you aware of all the programs and services available to you?
Cooper
Photo by Neal Hamberg
Most of us know to search the online Alumni Directory for a classmate’s contact information, but have you ever explored the many other features of the HBS Alumni Web site? It’s full of information on programs, services, and re-sources, available at the click of a mouse. But according to informal surveys conducted by an Alumni Board committee, most alumni are not aware of the School’s many offerings.
A classic marketing conundrum? Yes! While the School works on sharpening the message of what’s available and how to access it, I’d like to highlight three areas I believe are of enormous value to a large proportion of alumni: careers, lifelong learning, and networking.
Careers: Click on Careers on the Alumni homepage and you will find an array of services and resources, including career counseling, self-assessment tools, and career resources. The new Alumni Job Bank, launched last year, gives alumni exclusive access to hundreds of positions, and it is searchable by industry, region, salary, and more. This year the Job Bank will add a much wider range of opportunities specifically for more senior executives, second-career seekers, and those interested in corporate and nonprofit boards. In addition, there are international job opportunities and reciprocal access to listings posted by Stanford, Kellogg, and INSEAD.
Lifelong Learning: This is perhaps the area about which alumni are least aware, but where HBS excels. Did you know that alumni get a 30 percent discount on all open-enrollment HBS Executive Education programs? Click on Lifelong Learning on the Alumni homepage and find details on what’s available. In addition, you’ll find links to other exclusive learning opportunities, such as the Global Leadership Forum — an annual three-day conference that showcases the faculty’s latest research, brings together corporate leaders and government officials from around the globe, and provides unparalleled networking. You can also learn about programs tailored to alumni career advancement — Charting Your Course and The Entrepreneur’s Tool Kit. In addition, the Harvard Business Review is available free online, and HBS Working Knowledge, a free weekly online business management publication, is e-mailed to alumni who sign up. We also have access to the extensive resources and services of Baker Library. Finally, the HBS Alumni Travel Program offers tours to fascinating spots around the world.
Networking: Click on Alumni Network and find contact information for over 100 HBS clubs and associations, including industry-specific alumni groups with global memberships. Also find information on spring and fall class reunions that bring alumni from around the world back to Soldiers Field (recent attendance rates have reached 45 percent in some cases). The Alumni Directory, found under Alumni Navigator, has been substantially enhanced with search capabilities, but it is only as good as we all make it by keeping our profiles and contact details updated.
I urge you to explore the HBS Alumni Web site. There is much more than initially meets the eye, and it is an ever-evolving portal to HBS and our community. I invite you to e-mail me or any other Alumni Board member with comments and suggestions. We value feedback that helps us to advise the School on the resources and services that you value most.
Peter Cooper (MBA ’75)
President
HBS Alumni Association
