Alumni networks are a relatively new phenomenon in Austria, notes
Silke Eisenreich, a consultant at Egon Zehnder International, Vienna, in a contribution to the Austrian business daily
Wirtschaftsblatt. So how do such networks function and what role do they play in individual career-building, asks Eisenreich? Essentially alumni networks unite individuals with a common educational background to create career opportunities by enabling experts to exchange views on trends and developments in a specific field, for example, or by facilitating contacts to decision-makers in a given branch. To create business value, alumni networks need active members, stresses Eisenreich. Strong alumni networks are characterized by the commitment of their members and the high quality of their content. Ultimately, such networks are more about giving than taking, she concludes.
