Business Fraternities and Networking
BusinessWeek’s review of Business Fraternities
BusinessWeek is a leading online tabloid providing information to students and other researchers interested in careers and new in business related fields. One of the main hit tabs is “Business Schools”, in which students majoring in similar fields, or even students who might be interested in business in the future, look to seek advice and read columns and blogs related to their academic interests. BusinessWeek in itself is related to the Info 2040 course due to its extreme favoring of networks as a way to promote individual ideas and company growth and recruitment.
A recent post to BusinessWeek is related to the common yet touchy topic of fraternities and sororities (in this case, specifically Business fraternities) in which students are not only given insight to the social life of fraternities but an actual academic edge from the business side. Again, networking is relevant through virtually all colleges and university societies: as explained “Many undergraduates say they make connections and learn about the corporate world through other professional organizations, social fraternities and sororities, campus career centers, and targeted recruiting efforts”.
However, as explained through this BusinessWeek article, business societies may offer a slightly better and more professional experience if one seeks to expand networking horizons. According to the author, “Opportunities to network and learn about job related skills are enhanced in business fraternities because members are surrounded by like minded students and alumni who work in related fields”. Examples listed in the article explain students linked with alumni for job interviews, alumni currently heading hedge funds providing opportunities for internship, as well as actual job listings specifically for these fraternities. Accordingly, many students argue that these abilities are often granted to students at normal fraternities, which also offer a much stronger social aspect. The main emphasis at the end of the featured article explained one key point: “socializing IS networking”.
The part I found most interesting was the fact that business fraternities are now co-educational. Women and Men together are joining business fraternities, which just goes to show how the system is evolving over time to accommodate everyone and equally advance educational opportunities. I find this article directly relates to the networks class because it shows a direct link and connection between two nodes (business fraternities and jobs) with the edge being the link between alumni of the fraternities.
http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2006-05-23/should-you-join-a-fraternity
– Frank