Robert J. Brown

Here are the updated instructions for joining the PwC Alumni group on LinkedIn as of early 2008.

1. *** IMPORTANT *** If you did not previously work for PwC, PW, or C&L, you are not eligible for the group. This includes all of the recruiters who regularly request group access and are denied. Please don't click the link if you didn't work for the firm.

Assuming you worked at the company, click on this link. You will now be listed in the system as having a pending membership to the group.

2. Make sure your PwC work experience is on your LinkedIn profile and is visible. Some people have elected to keep it private which is fine, but you definitely need to send me an email if I can't see PwC somwhere on your profile.

3. Send me an e-mail to rjb .a.t. robertjbrown .d0t. com. You will have to manually insert the @ and the . in my address - otherwise spammers will find me. Mention that you wish to join the group and also provide the name of the partner you worked with most frequently.

It will take anywhere from a day to a few weeks to approve membership to the group. The volume of requests has grown from a few per week to close to 20 per day. There are over 600 group members as of this post and it is becoming a very valuable resource for reaching out to former colleagues.

Posted by Robert J. Brown at 11:14 PM | Permalink

A: Here are the steps:

1. Join LinkedIn and establish your profile. The profile MUST include your position at PW/CL or PwC in the experience section.

2. Send me a connection request to my email address: rjb AT robertjbrown D0T com. This can be done via the big yellow button in the upper-right corner of the LinkedIn site.

3. When sending the connect request, indicate that you are a PW/CL or PwC Alumni, the years you worked at the firm, your office location during your time with the firm, and the name of the Partner you reported to. Incomplete applications will be denied.

Note: I am the only administrator for the site and it sometimes takes me a few days to get back to you. I do reply to all connection requests and group additions.

Posted by Robert J. Brown at 7:46 PM | Permalink

A: Answer from the LinkedIn web site:

Many professionals advance their business goals by counting on professional groups, alumni groups and workgroups to make vital new business contacts which will enhance their trusted connections. To support this important type of networking, LinkedIn? for Groups enables existing groups to get their members “Linked In” — bringing their members extra features for networking and strengthening interconnections between each other.

Benefits for group members:

-- Accelerate your career through referrals from group members
-- See a list of all your fellow group members
-- Search within your group for vital new contacts
-- Use special contact settings to communicate directly with fellow members

Posted by Robert J. Brown at 7:43 PM | Permalink

A: Answer from the LinkedIn website:

LinkedIn is an online network of more than 5 million experienced professionals from around the world, representing 130 industries. When you join, you create a profile that summarizes your professional accomplishments. Your profile helps you find and be found by former colleagues, clients, and partners. You can add more connections by inviting trusted contacts to join LinkedIn and connect to you.

Your network consists of your connections, your connections’ connections, and the people they know, linking you to thousands of qualified professionals. Through your network you can:

-- Find potential clients, service providers, subject experts, and partners who come recommended
-- Be found for business opportunities
-- Search for great jobs
-- Discover inside connections that can help you land jobs and close deals
-- Post and distribute job listings
-- Find high-quality passive candidates
-- Get introduced to other professionals through the people you know

LinkedIn is free to join. They also offer paid accounts that give you more tools for finding and reaching the right people, whether or not they are in your network.

Posted by Robert J. Brown at 7:39 PM | Permalink