Value of Networking Doesn’t Fade

by lisa ~ July 2, 2009

July 2, 2009 - Is it as valuable to post a profile on the career networking site LinkedIn.com as it is to be a member of the Freemasons? That’s the question posted this week by The Economist.

After examining trends in business relationships across Europe, it concludes that “networking websites are booming, but they have not supplanted more traditional business networks.” It’s more likely that virtual professional networks such as LinkedIn, the French Viadeo, and the German Xing will grow up alongside traditional membership societies like the Freemasons and Opus Dei.

France, in particular, is known for the relationships that continue to bind its business elite. The New York Times wrote of its Club des Cent (Club of 100): “A close-knit brotherhood - it’s nearly all male - that shares school ties, board memberships and rituals like hunting and wine-tasting, the French business elite is a surprisingly small coterie in a nation of more than 60 million people.”

But even in “meritocratic America,” where networks of any sort are less important, it’s still natural to identify with groups ranging from fraternities to college alumni associations.

Businesses have even recognized the value of maintaining ties with former employees. For example, my former employer Moody’s Investors Service holds an annual event for alumni. “We are fortunate to have alumni serving in capacities throughout the capital markets and many alumni are now customers of Moody’s,” says its Web site. “Moody’s success has been supported by the strong relationships we strive to maintain with our former colleagues and the Moody’s Alumni Network was created to serve as an online venue to extend these valuable relationships.”

People who seek to belong to less exclusive clubs should consider The Lions Club International, which The Economist calls “the most global offline business network, with 1.3m members in more than 200 countries.”

To read The Economist article “LinkedIn v freemasons: Joining the club,” click here: http://www.economist.com/businessfinance/displayStory.cfm?story_id=13914661&source=hptextfeature

Lisa Tibbitts is a corporate communications professional with an MBA in marketing. Follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/FinancialPR.

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