Hey there,

Your brand doesn’t end when your employee steps out. Rather, it grows beyond the confined walls.

• At a new company.

• At a conference.

• In casual “So, how was it working there?” conversations.

And that’s when the truth about your culture shows up. Not in exit interviews, not in glossy LinkedIn posts - but in those unguarded moments.

Work on it right, and your alumni can become your loudest and, more importantly, authentic brand ambassadors. But if handled wrong, they can quietly - or not so quietly - undo years of employer branding. It’s tricky, but it’s so worth it.

🎤 Why Alumni is a Secret Brand Power

Nothing beats the voice of someone who’s “been there, done that.” -
When alumni - people who’ve left your company and owe you nothing - still have good things to say, that’s real. It’s a brand endorsement you can’t buy.

1. Alumni move across industries, roles, and networks - Their word-of-mouth can expand your reach to talent pools and business circles you’d otherwise never touch.

2. They might, in fact, come back - Boomerang employees are the ultimate testimonial. When someone chooses to return, it’s proof your culture offered something they didn’t find elsewhere.

3. They’re convertible - Today’s alumni could be tomorrow’s client, referral, or even boomerang hire.

🚀 How to Turn Alumni Into Advocates

1. Exit with Grace - Make goodbyes warm, not transactional. A heartfelt farewell, recognition, and genuine gratitude leave a lasting impression.

2. Keep in Touch - Build alumni groups, share new updates, and celebrate their wins. Staying connected shows you value relationships beyond contracts, and creates a network that keeps giving back.

3. Spotlight Their Journeys - An ex-employee’s success story is your culture’s success story too. Showcasing alumni achievements reflects positively on your organization and highlights that your company helped them grow.

4. Leave Doors Open - A culture that welcomes ex-employee returns demonstrates your organization’s confidence and the flexibility to let them grow.

Kartik Mandaville, CEO, Springworks believes that you can get the onboarding right, throw welcome kits and townhalls - BUT if the exit is messy, that’s the only story people will remember. And human nature amplifies those last impressions.

He flip the script, you can do too -

• Shorter notice periods - Goodbyes should never be stretched. Let people move on with dignity and trust and things become lighter.

• F&F in 48 hours - No chasing dues. We settle fast, so the last memory is gratitude, not frustration.

• Heartfelt farewells - Every exit deserves a thank you. Just a thank you message is enough to make people remember how you made them feel when they left.

Pairing a good experience with a seamless exit turns an ex-employee into a brand ambassador. 

If someone chooses to come back, even better. But even if they don’t, the story they tell about us is the real employer brand.

Advertisement 

HR is lonely. It doesn’t have to be.

The best HR advice comes from people who’ve been in the trenches.

That’s what this newsletter delivers.

I Hate it Here is your insider’s guide to surviving and thriving in HR, from someone who’s been there. It’s not about theory or buzzwords — it’s about practical, real-world advice for navigating everything from tricky managers to messy policies.

Every newsletter is written by Hebba Youssef — a Chief People Officer who’s seen it all and is here to share what actually works (and what doesn’t). We’re talking real talk, real strategies, and real support — all with a side of humor to keep you sane.

Because HR shouldn’t feel like a thankless job. And you shouldn’t feel alone in it.

Sign Up Free

🤔Is Your Performance Review Still Stuck in 2015?

What if performance reviews weren’t surprise exams with no syllabus… but ongoing conversations that actually build people?

That’s exactly what over 130 HR leaders explored in TSOW’s latest field research - captured in our brand-new Q2 eBook: 

“Research Insights & TSOW HR Think Tank: Performance Management”

Inside, you'll find:
✅ Experiments from real HR teams across India
✅ Dashboards that track feedback, not just delivery
✅ Story-based reviews, gamified goals, and AI nudges
✅ What CHROs really think about ratings, OKRs, and the future of feedback

🔥 HRs, if your calendar only has room for one virtual event this quarter - make it this one.

HR Playbook 4.0
 📅 Sep 24 |  12–6 PM | 💻 Virtual | Certificate included

No corporate fluff. No “synergy” slides. Just the real stuff:

• Career ladders? We’re serving portfolio paths.

• Dashboards? Only if they actually drive decisions.

• Global teams? Let’s talk systems, not slogans.

Register here. Our last edition had 5,000+ registrations and over 2,500 live attendees. Ridiculously good chat energy. This one has a bigger table and is going deeper.

See you on Sep 24!

🤖 AI in Recruiting: Better Matches, Less Guesswork

Screening résumés manually? That’s yesterday’s problem. AI can scan, score, and match candidates in minutes — giving you:

• 🚀 Speed — shortlist in a fraction of the time

• 🎯 Accuracy — skills matched to the role, not gut instinct

• 🙌 Freedom — HR focuses on people, not piles of CVs

💡 TSOW Tip: The goal isn’t replacing human judgment — it’s amplifying it with better, faster insights.

✨ Big ideas, real connections, zero fluff

From going global with ease to building stronger local HR circles, September is packed with opportunities you don’t want to miss.

🚀 Going global, minus the chaos. Learn how smart companies scale across borders step-by-step — from first hire to full teams — with Rippling’s EOR & Global Payroll making compliance a breeze. 🌍Register here to save your spot!

✅TSOW HR Meetup in Pune, Saturday, September 13

Meet professionals who share your passion, discover new ways of thinking, and leave with fresh strategies—and a digital badge to show for it. Spots are limited—grab yours now!

✅TSOW HR Meetup in Jaipur, Saturday, September 20

Join us for an insightful evening focused on the future of HR. Connect with like-minded professionals, gain valuable perspectives, and walk away with new ideas. Seats are limited. Register today!

That’s a wrap for this edition! 👋 

Remember, alumni don’t just leave jobs — they leave stories.

Make sure the ones they tell about you are worth sharing.

Until next time, keep building cultures people never stop talking about (in the best way). ✨

— Team TSOW