This document discusses creating linkages between alumni, faculty, and students of Acadia School of Business through the professional networking site LinkedIn. It recommends that individuals create a professional LinkedIn profile, join relevant groups like the Acadia School of Business alumni network, and judiciously build their network by asking and answering questions. The goal is to facilitate connections that benefit student recruitment and placement, faculty recruitment, program development, fundraising, and allowing alumni to give back through activities like mentoring and providing career advice.

1. Linking Acadia: Alumni, Faculty & Students Martin Suter, BBA (1988) [email_address]

2. METCALFE’S LAW The "value" or "power" of a network increases in proportion to the square of the number of nodes on the network.

3. Linkages

4. Acadia School of Business: LinkedIn Objective To facilitate network linkages across Acadia constituencies Alumni, Faculty, Students Corporate Canada Benefits Student recruitment & enrolment Faculty recruitment Program development & enrichment Student placement Fundraising

5. What is LinkedIn? LinkedIn is to professional networking as Facebook is to social networking

6. Why LinkedIn? It is important to create a professional persona on-line and to build a network with shared interests

7. LinkedIn To-Do’s Sign up and create a LinkedIn Profile www.linkedin.com Join Groups of Interest Acadia School of Business, Acadia Alumni Network, Professional Associations, etc. Begin to build your network Ask questions, answer questions Network, network, network!

8. Step 1: Create a Profile www.linkedin.com This is your professional persona Invest the time Use key words (think Google!) Ask for Recommendations, reciprocate when asked!

9. Step 2: Join Groups of Interest http://www.linkedin.com/groupsDirectory This is your network of like-minded people Join Acadia groups Acadia School of Business, Acadia Alumni Join professional interest groups

10. Step 3: Build your network http://www.linkedin.com/search Identify potential “Connections” - DO NOT SHOTGUN IT! Manage your “Connections” judiciously Connecting to someone is a privilege not a right You can “network” with non-Connections

11. Step 4: Ask & Answer Questions http://www.linkedin.com/answers?trk=hb_tab_ayn “ Questions” are sent to your groups Ask intelligent questions NOT the place to ask for a job!! Build credibility by answering questions… research if you have to! Impress them!

12. Linking Acadia Alumni, Students & Faculty Alumni  Students Market research projects Co-op students Recruiting Giving back by making it real! Students  Alumni Mentors Career advice Job shadowing Co-op placements Internships Job leads Faculty  Alumni Guest speakers for classroom Real-world business challenges Role models Keep current