Revolutionize Recruitment by Turning Ex-Employees Into Brand Ambassadors

In the seemingly neverending struggle to find quality employees in one of the tightest and most competitive labor markets in recent memory, organizations can wield a low-cost and effective — perhaps even surprising — secret weapon: former employees. As counterintuitive as it may seem, increasing numbers of companies are establishing formal programs aimed at retaining relationships with ex-employees. Even though they’re no longer part of the team, keeping in touch with them can help build companies’ brands by creating a band of external ambassadors, says Matthew Call, a professor of management at the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University.These alumni