Business School Networking: learn three techniques to create strong connections, find mentors and feel ready from day one of your MBA.
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Starting an MBA without an active network of contacts can make the first months more stressful than necessary. Over 60% of post-MBA job opportunities come through professional relationships: waiting until the first day of class means losing ground from the start.
Business School Networking thus becomes a competitive advantage. Preparing in advance reduces anxiety and helps you present yourself with confidence. However, simply joining groups isn't enough: you need a targeted approach that transforms every contact into a potential ally.
In this guide you'll discover three simple but concrete techniques to find the right channels, write messages that get responses and keep relationships active until the day your program starts. Consequently, not only will you arrive already connected, but you'll also have access to collaborations and privileged information.
Start today, even if your MBA is still far away. Every week ahead makes a difference.
Technique 1: Identify networking channels
The first step to leverage Business School Networking is knowing where to make your first contacts. Right after admission, attention in online groups is very high: participating at this stage increases the likelihood of responses and facilitates inclusion. However, many candidates hesitate and lose the most fertile moment to get involved.
Start with the Business School's official LinkedIn groups and those created by students from previous years. Join communities on Slack or WhatsApp, often more active and immediate. Check if an alumni directory exists: it helps you select figures to contact. Attend at least one webinar for admitted students: you'll see faces and gather ideas for your first messages.
Note the channels found in a document, classifying them by priority: classmates, alumni, faculty. This order reduces dispersal and frustration. Consequently, when you move on to writing messages, you'll know exactly where to invest your time. Find and join at least one group today: it's the action that marks the beginning of your networking and lowers the feeling of starting from scratch.
Technique 2: Write messages that generate responses
After finding the right channels, comes the time to introduce yourself properly. Many messages go unanswered because they're too long or impersonal, and this discourages beginners. However, a few targeted sentences can open valuable conversations and build trust.
Structure the message in three parts: start with a greeting and a reference to a shared interest, continue with a sentence explaining why you're writing and end with a question that stimulates response. This approach reduces your counterpart's effort and communicates that you've done minimal research. Avoid common mistakes like asking for immediate favors, sending the same text to multiple contacts or using overly formal tones that create distance.
Write your first message today itself: even two lines can break the ice. Consequently, you start positioning yourself as a proactive person and creating authentic relationships. Also prepare a mini follow-up plan: a brief message after a few days keeps the conversation alive. If you get a response, thank them and suggest a next step, like a ten-minute call or a comment on one of their posts, to transform the contact into a relationship.
Technique 3: Keep your network alive and expand it
After the first message and some initial interaction, many candidates stop writing and let contacts fade. It's a common mistake: newly created relationships risk disappearing without continuity. Even if it seems demanding, small and consistent actions are enough to keep the conversation alive and transform an occasional contact into an ally.
Establish a precise follow-up rhythm: a brief message every four to six weeks is enough to stay in people's minds without appearing invasive. You don't need to always have big news: comment on their post, share a useful article or ask how their preparation is going. Add these actions to your calendar, so they become a habit rather than an occasional task.
To add more value, personalize every interaction. Note interests, projects or challenges of your contacts, so you can make messages more relevant. If a classmate said they want to enter consulting, you can send them a link to an interesting case study. This gesture shows attention and strengthens the bond.
In parallel, continuously expand your network. Set yourself the goal of contacting one new alumni each week, alternating sectors and geographic areas for different perspectives. Integrate Business School Networking into your monthly plan: treat it as a strategic activity and not as an extra task to do when time allows.
Finally, monitor your progress. After three months, review your contacts list and verify who you've interacted with most and who has remained inactive. Consequently, you can concentrate your energy on the most promising bonds and realign your approach. Set your first reminder today: on day one of the program you'll have a warm network, ready to welcome you.
FAQ
How much time should I dedicate to pre-MBA networking?
Two hours per week is ideal for building a solid foundation of relationships. This steady pace avoids accumulating backlog and reduces stress. Plan short but recurring sessions, even fifteen minutes, to respond to messages and discover new contacts. Consequently, MBA networking becomes a natural part of your preparation routine.
Better private messages or public posts to get known?
At first, prioritize private messages: they create personal contacts and encourage sincere responses. Once you've built initial relationships, alternate public posts in groups to increase visibility and show valuable contributions. This balanced approach helps you grow without appearing invasive. Save ideas for posts: consequently, you'll show consistency and stimulate conversations.
Contacting alumni before starting: pros and cons?
Writing to alumni offers useful advice and hidden opportunities, but requires tact. Avoid overly long messages and clarify immediately why you're reaching out: a targeted question increases the likelihood of response. Even if you fear bothering them, most appreciate those who prepare in advance. Consequently, you'll get a preview of the challenges you'll face.
How to overcome the embarrassment of the first message?
Prepare an opening sentence that cites a shared interest or recent event. This strategy breaks the ice and makes conversation natural. Even if initial anxiety is strong, every message sent reduces embarrassment and increases confidence. Consequently, the second message will be easier and networking will become spontaneous.
What to do if I don't get a response?
Accept that not everyone will respond: others' priorities may change. Wait a week and send a brief follow-up, perhaps sharing useful content to rekindle interest. If no response comes, move on without insisting. Consequently, you maintain energy for new contacts and protect your long-term motivation.
Transform the wait into an advantage
If you've made it this far, it means you're not just reading out of curiosity but have already decided to take control of your path. The wait is no longer dead time: it becomes fertile ground to prepare and arrive ready. The fear of starting without contacts, of sitting in class on day one feeling like a stranger, is common. However, thanks to the three techniques you've just explored, you can transform this anxiety into a concrete action plan.
Think back to what you've done: you've mapped networking channels, learned to write messages that get responses and created a method to keep your network alive. These aren't just theoretical steps: they're micro-actions that, if repeated consistently, create momentum. Even if they seem small at first, summed week after week they generate a cumulative effect. When you enter the program, you'll already have contacts ready to welcome you, privileged information and even potential collaborations underway.
Taking this advantage means lightening the first months, when adjustment can be demanding. Consequently, you'll have more time to dedicate to studies, projects and social life, without having to rush to build relationships from scratch. This preparation is an investment that pays off immediately and continues to yield fruit throughout your MBA.
Business School Networking thus becomes your accelerator. There's no need to revolutionize your schedule: just start with a small step today. Save this guide, share it with a friend about to start the same journey and choose at least one of the suggested actions in the next 24 hours. Even a single message sent today can change the quality of your MBA experience and help you arrive more confident, motivated and connected.
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