Alumni connections powerful for relations in workplace

TAIWAN - According to a survey by the 1111 Job Bank, 40 per cent of office workers have received assistance from alumni in the working field, and 53.32 per cent have found jobs through these connections.

In addition, the survey said that 54.84 per cent of those who received help from alumni benefited from experience-sharing, while 41.94 per cent were given living or emotional support.

1111 Job Bank Deputy General Manager Henry Ho said that connections are crucial to a person's career and life plans.

"Especially for those who graduated from the same school. Similar memories of school events or even pre-career training spark a sense of identification," he said.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) representative Kao Fung-chung said that most of their talent recruitment came from co-workers who recommended people from their graduated schools.

"It's easier for our co-workers to introduce the working environment or the company culture if we hire their alumni. Additionally, it makes it easier for the alumni to stay," Kao said.

While networking among alumni is important, Ho also stated that maintaining the relationship is fairly important.

According to 1111, 88 per cent of office workers still keep in touch with alumni from their highest educational academia, while 11.54 per cent have admitted they've lost all connections with school chums.

"Connections are good. Useful connections are even better. One needs to keep the relationship going in order to broaden their career path," he said.

Other than simply keeping in touch through the Internet, he suggested that people occasionally gather with alumni.

Although, Ho reminded, connections still work as a stepping-stone for one to enter into the work field. "Whether one will prosper in his or her career depends on one's own skills and talents," Ho said.