Importance of Networking Before MBA
The most crucial reason MBA applicants and students attend business school are to network. There's a good chance you have a comparative rationale if you're reading this. Furthermore, in light of current conditions, enrolling in business school provides opportunities for placements and meetings with professionals and staff from notable organizations.
To present an excellent application, you must network with other grads, alumni, staff, and the workforce. On the other hand, networking should begin on the first day of class. We'll discuss the importance of networking before applying and some pointers on doing so effectively.
Overall, why network? Let's be honest: you're not going to meet the one person who can guarantee you entrance, and there's no weird handshake. Meeting ground partners (your classmates, workforce, staff, and alums) is essential for the cycle in any circumstance. Speaking with people familiar with the b-school and program will provide the insight you won't find on the campus's website. These experiences will help you stand out in the application, whether in the essays or later in the interview. You'll find yourself "communicating in the school's language" – a fundamental skill. Remember that top business schools receive many applications each year; competitors who provide information about the program and their cultural fit will stand out.
LinkedIn is your BFF
LinkedIn might help you find contacts for your business college venture. However, before sending out a flood of connection requests to occupied alums or current students, use the search function to find nearby student organizations and clubs. Many will have allocated LinkedIn sites, frequently providing contact information for exciting opportunities to interact with classmates or others who are happy to teach you about their experiences locally and in class.
Another reason to pay a visit to the campus
Visiting the campus should be on your "to-do list" for the day, but if it isn't, organizing is another reason to do so. Those educated students/seniors you need are bombarded with messages and the media every day - genuinely visiting the school demonstrates that you are a severe applicant. Although most colleges do not track who visits, your articles and interviews will stand out if you can mention the classes you saw, students and faculty you met, and other insider information.
Who are the people you know?
Make sure you're utilizing your resources. Speak with MBAs you know at work or through other exercises. Regardless of whether they attended the same business school as you, they can provide you with valuable insight into the most prevalent methods for applying to and attending business school and their experiences since graduation. They might know a student, graduate, or other individuals from your chosen business institution and can help you form a friendly relationship.
Remember that your job as an MBA candidate demonstrates that you are a good fit for the program and campus culture. Networking with students, alums, faculty, and staff will reveal details that you wouldn't get from skimming a website. Set aside time and effort to meet them, study local student organizations (clubs), and attend a business school to immerse yourself in their new environment.
Your application is greatly appreciated!
Be cautious, even though each of these techniques is appealing in some ways. Use the 80/20 rule, which suggests that 20% of your efforts will produce 80% of your results. So, rather than striving to perform them all ineffectively, focus on the ones that work best for you.