How To Be A Top Performing Alumni Relations Officer

By Michael Johnson


Students take pride in their former learning institutions. These institutions use alumni relations officers and offices to keep in touch with their former students. This relationship is highly beneficial to the students and institution as well. However, this mutual relation does not come automatically. It requires the office and persons involved to use certain tactics.

See value in every former student regardless of his or her position in society. Naturally, students will respond to invitations based on their career progress and economic status. However, you must see each of these students as valuable. Address all with dignity and respect. Do not appear to be interested in those who have succeeded at the expense of those who are struggling. You have no idea where they will be in future.

Organize activities that will bring the students together. These activities should be in the form of a routine that involves alumni-specific events and occasions in the school. The activities should be modest considering that they have other commitments at work, community and personal level to attend to. A single activity or two of them are enough to maintain their interest in being together and supporting the school.

Work with individual years instead of gathering them together. There is greater warmth and interaction when people of the same year are involved compared to bringing all former students together. The memories they shared bring them closer together and are happy to interact. When they come from different years, their interaction is trained because they feel like strangers.

Handle their concerns as well. Most organizations focus on pulling resources in aid of the school. However, former students have social and career lives that need the involvement of the school. It could involve issuing of a recommendation letter, release of certificates, recommendation for positions and addressing of social welfare. When such issues are addressed, the relationship feels mutually beneficial.

Embrace modern media to mobilize and keep in touch with the former students. Traditional phone numbers could have belonged to parents and elder siblings. New media platforms make it easier to get these old boys and girls whenever you organize an event. In fact, they keep in touch and will spread the word to those who you cannot reach. Modern media, like social media, is also fast to communicate. You end up talking to them in a manner that they understand. Further, you will spend less to keep in touch.

Delegate some of the mobilization and planning to the alumni. They have ideas of what should happen to spice the school and events where they are involved. They take pride in giving back to the school or institution. Should they feel that their ideas are not being considered, they will keep away from the event. This affects its impact.

Cast your net wide when looking for old boys and girls of your school. People disperse to all corners of the world after school. Do not just focus on your town or even country when mobilizing them. This will be restrictive and deny others a chance to participate in your planned activities.




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