The global University of Miami ’Canes community is a powerful professional network comprised of the talent and expertise of more than 185,000 alumni worldwide. To bolster the strength of the ’Canes network, the Office of Engagement hosts Global Networking Week each year, offering a lineup of career events and resources virtually and in-person.
Given the diverse and hemispheric reach of the UM community, the theme of this year’s Global Networking Week was LinkedIn: Further Your Online Professional Brand and Connect with Fellow ’Canes. As technology advances and the professional landscape rapidly evolves, LinkedIn’s utility and dominance within professional social media has increased exponentially over the last 10 years. Today, LinkedIn has more than 575 million users, with over 260 million monthly active users. Alumni and friends participated in a variety of programs and were provided with a multitude of resources on how to leverage the power of LinkedIn at any stage of your career.
Global Networking Week kicked-off on May 15th with the Virtual Career Café, offering participants the unique opportunity to connect 1-on-1 with career professionals. During 15-minute text-based chats, participants were given advice on refining interviewing skills, polishing résumés, job search strategies, and revamping their LinkedIn profiles. Dylan Brooks, BSC ’10, president of the Dallas Fort Worth ’Canes Community, participated in one of the chats. “The advice was very personalized,” he said. “And you get a lot done in 15 minutes.”
Following the Virtual Career Café, six career resources about LinkedIn and networking were released daily, including self-guided worksheets, the exclusive UM alumni LinkedIn group, and other digital resources. These offerings provided a preview of an upcoming library of educational self-guided resources to be released this summer, as part of a larger revamp of the Career Corner.
Global Networking Week culminated in a closing event that brought together 15 different cities from around the country: Atlanta, Austin, Broward County, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, New York, Orlando, Palm Beach County, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Southwest Florida, Tampa, and Washington, DC.
Samantha Cohen, BSC ’16, took part in both the Virtual Career Café and Global Networking Night in New York City, which was held in partnership with the New York ’Canes Community, the Office of Engagement and the Miami Herbert Business School. “The events helped me in my job search and new career path endeavor,” she said. “I was able to learn tools and skills regarding my resume, social networking profiles, and how to pursue my current job search. [Global Networking Night] was very beneficial to attend, as I not only made direct connections but potential connections as well.”
Whether participating in virtual career events, taking advantage of online resources, or connecting with local ’Canes at Global Networking Night, participants of Global Networking Week are what makes the ’Canes network grows stronger every day. The University of Miami’s commitment to career success does not end at graduation. Whether a recent grad or an experienced professional, alumni career services offered through the Office of Engagement are available to all. No matter where you are or what your next career goal is, we encourage you to take advantage of our full range of services designed specifically for ’Canes. Explore your next step today at alumni.miami.edu.
