IIM-A gets LinkedIn: Using social networking to find the ideal job

Setting graduates on the right path to their ideal job is at the top of the to-do list of many MBA alumni networks globally, but this trend has now hit Indian shores too.

In an attempt to support its alumni, the Indian Institute of Management-Ahmadabad, the country's top B school,has tied up with professional networking site LinkedIn to keep placement channels open with recruiters even after students graduate. Moreover, recruiters can go through alumni profiles for hiring at the middle and senior levels.

Currently, over 17 million members use LinkedIn in India to meet like-minded people in their industry, foster professional relationships, and search for new jobs. Since 2009, LinkedIn has more than tripled its India users.

According to data provided by People Matters, an HR magazine, companies like Genpact hire over 300 candidates per month using LinkedIn and MyParichay - a Facebook based enterprise hiring tool.

More from Business

[caption id="attachment_514342" align="alignleft" width="380"] Currently, over 175 million members use LinkedIn to meet like-minded people in their industry, foster professional relationships, and search for new jobs. Reuters[/caption]

With a search engine full of contacts to some of the world's most influential business moguls, active involvement with the alumni network could open the doors to opportunities for an MBA job seeker.

According to a report in the Economic Times, apart from alumni, headhunters, too, will get an invite to join the LinkedIn group. The institute will also invite regular recruiters to be a part of the LinkedIn group.

The move is a win-win for both recruiters and job seekers. Well aware of the strengths in the school's curriculum and faculty, many successful MBA alumni often return to their business school to find their next appointee.

"Apart from networking infrastructure, this (the tie-up) will provide secondary placement platform to alumni. Not only recruiters, but IIM-A alumni, who have become industry captains in various sectors, look for hiring potential candidates and they will prefer graduates from their own institute", Hari V Krishnan, country manager of LinkedIn India, was quoted as saying by ET.

On the other hand, a college alumni, particularly from their own department, can tell you how they got to where they are now, thereby providing the essential career guidance. Passing on this secret to success is a definite benefit that MBA graduates and students should take full advantage of.

As for the potential of finding the ideal job, there is also the possibility of finding MBA internships through your alumni network since many are in key recruitment positions.

You can read the full Economic Times report here.