Hello, I finished my second year from a US T10 school, I am interested in consulting. I've done some networking, but I am confused with a question. What role does networking play from someone at a target school because everyone I network with say that the companies will be on campus and that college alumni would do resume screening. Thanks.
Question merged
This question is read-only because it has been merged with Networking with Partners.
This question is read-only because it has been merged with Networking with Partners.
Networking from a target school?
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Hi there,
A referral is still useful, even if you are from a target school. The reason is that you can distinguish yourself from other good candidates from your school who don’t have one.
I coach a lot of candidates from target schools (eg INSEAD) and always recommend they look for referrals – exactly because there are still many candidates from target schools they compete with.
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To find a referral, you should follow three main steps:
- Identify the people that can help you
- Write them a customized email
- Have a call and indirectly ask for a referral
As general tips:
- Don’t use LinkedIn for your communication – emails work better. You should target 30% conversion for your messages; if you are not achieving that, there is space for improvement
- When sending emails, your goal should be to organize a call, not to ask questions – you can then use the call for the questions
- You need to close the call with an indirect request for a referral – don’t leave that to chances. There are specific ways to phrase it
You should prepare three main things before the call:
- Your own pitch. 3-4 lines should be enough
- 3-4 questions on the personal experiences of the person. Avoid to ask questions about the company
- A closing question for the referral. It should be an indirect request to avoid being too pushy
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You can find more on how to get referrals here:
Best,
Francesco
Upvotes
Hey there,
You want to differentiate yourself in a pool of candidates with similar backgrounds, successes, grades, work experience, etc.
Most people from your school have a similar profile. To stand out, networking will help you to get your foot in the door more easily. Ian's chart (love it btw - first time I am seeing data on that) brings the point home.
Network with intention!
The outcome of your networking should be one or several referrals, the more senior the better.
All the best!
Cheers,
Florian
Upvotes
Hello!
And indeed they have a great point, so measure your efforts: networking can be one of the most tiring and time consuming things to do.
If you have people coming to campus, I would wait and see how that plays out and what the follow up is, first of all, and take it form there.
Hope it helps!
Cheers,
Clara
Upvotes
Here's research I did while at my FT MBA (all data points are from MBAers at a target school).
Source: NYU Stern (and SpencerTom)
Conclusion: The data speaks for itself. Network. It improves your odds of getting invited to interview.
(edited)
Upvotes
Hi,
Great question! In general yes you do not need to network as hard at a target school because the process is very standardized. However, going to events, showing up at discussions and generally building a relationship with the on campus ambassadors will give you a great shot at being invited to interview. Being at a target school does not guarantee an interview, so you want to show enthusiasm and desire to be at the firm and that will help tremendously with scoring an invite. It will also help with getting many insider tips on how to prepare for the various rounds. In short networking will only help you with the interview process if done right.
Best,
Udayan
Upvotes
Networking from a target school can be an important part of your job search. By meeting people who work at the school, you can learn about their roles and responsibilities, as well as how they approach their jobs, additionally, by using fast buying essay papers, you can improve your writing skills and meet potential employers in person and build connections that could lead to future opportunities. Connecting with people in this way not only provides valuable information; it also shows your interest in working at that particular school. So start networking today!
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