How To Network On Your MBA With Ease

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How To Network On Your MBA With Ease

• Presentation By Dipika Singh

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Intro

• For many students, networking is one of the main
  reasons they decided to pursue an MBA. Its one
  of the most important aspects of any MBA program
  and in many cases, can facilitate career
  progression and success. For on-campus courses,
  networking is easy. Students spend up to two
  years working and interacting directly with
  classmates, staff and visitors, forging
  friendships along the way.

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• However, for online MBAs, building connections
  requires more effort. An on-campus MBA requires
  students to forgo their salaries, often relocate,
  and pause their careers for one or two years.
  Because many students dont feel they can do
  this, online and distance courses, which enable
  students to study in their free time, are
  becoming more popular.
• This has tied in with an increase in the quality
  of these courses, with many featuring in global
  top-ranked MBA lists such as the QS Distance
  Online MBA Rankings 2017. One of the major
  downsides to an online or distance MBA is that
  the very nature of them makes it much more
  difficult to network, with fellow students spread
  literally over continents and time zones.

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• Its certainly more difficult, but its not
  impossible. Follow our tips for networking to
  make the most of your online MBA
• Make the most of group projects
• Schools which run MBAs understand the importance
  of the networking, teamwork and collaborative
  aspects of the course. For this reason, online
  MBAs will incorporate group projects in the same
  way that on-campus MBAs do. Groups collaborate
  via video calling, telephone calls, email,
  messaging systems and shared documents.
• This isnt as simple as working with fellow
  students in person, which means that a more
  concerted effort is required. Make the most of
  this by suggesting an introductory video call to
  meet and get to know the other members of your
  study group, and regularly converse to develop
  solid relationships. Research different online
  communications platforms and settle on one which
  suits you all, then make sure to schedule time in
  to speak factoring in work schedules and time
  differences. Spend time getting to know the
  people youre working with on a personal level,
  and if possible meet them in person this might
  not always be possible, especially if teams are
  international or spread across a large country.

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• Most of your contacts will be online, so make the
  most of social media and connect with other
  students. Before starting the course, ensure your
  accounts (particularly LinkedIn) are up to date,
  to allow your classmates and others to find you
  with ease. This will also allow future employers
  to understand your work and education history,
  and youll be much more visible to any businesses
  who recruit from your institution.