Speak with anybody about the benefits of an MBA program, of time spent at a business school or of simply being an MBA student, and one of the first points they’ll bring up is the powerful professional networking opportunity.
An MBA brings together current and future business leaders and influencers in one place. As a story in The Guardian said, “You’re buying into an incredibly smart group of people”.
Many are at similar stages of their career paths, so they are beginning or are already on parallel journeys. Along the way, they will face similar challenges and will seek solutions to the same types of problems.
It’s at those moments that the importance of networking reveals itself.
It’s not just about seeking advice and solutions, however. While a large part of professional networking is about having a sounding board, a group of trusted advisors you have come to know personally outside the walls, there’s a lot more to a network.
First, there are the career opportunities offered.
A national and often international network of high-performing and high-achieving businesspeople draws from each other for assistance. This could be in the form of job offers, internships, consulting opportunities or directorships.
Then, there’s the opportunity to meet senior people within organisations, those with greater experience and knowledge. These managers and business leaders are typically keen to keep track of promising MBA graduates, and can often be called upon to assist with advice regarding assignments, and also with ongoing mentoring.
And, of course, there’s the social aspect.
A strong network based on mutual respect means there’s always somebody willing to come together for a coffee chat, a dinner or a day out with the kids. Research has proven that good friendships have a positive effect on health and wellbeing. So, a professional network is worth a lot more than the sum of its parts.
A LinkedIn survey reveals that networking can improve a job seeker’s employment prospects:
The findings are based on a survey conducted among 2,000 job seekers, 2,000 working professionals and more than 1,000 hiring managers across the United States.
Here are additional key facts from the LinkedIn study, which also analysed data from millions of members worldwide:
The clear message is that successful networking in today’s digital business environment relies heavily on online processes, platforms and infrastructure.
Professional relationships, friendships and networks are cultivated and nurtured both offline and online, but the online component is an important ingredient to ensure those relationships remain strong and steady over the long term.
These business partners first came together while studying for their degrees.
In the early days of online MBAs, the popular wisdom was that the major benefit missing from such courses was the ability to network. How could professionals possibly develop meaningful relationships when they rarely or never met face-to-face?
That has since been proven incorrect as many business relationships begin and thrive in online environments such as LinkedIn. Numerous networks have also shifted into an exclusively online environment since the beginning of the pandemic. Teams of employees are realising that the virtual world is just as powerful in terms of relationship building.
While face-to-face interaction is a nice-to-have, in an increasingly globalised business environment, it is simply impossible once a professional network surpasses a small and geographically narrow scale.
How do students network when they’re attending an online MBA or EMBA?
According to Harvard Business School (HBR), building a comprehensive social media profile on professional networking platforms, notably LinkedIn, is important.
Students should update their social profiles regularly to keep recruiters, friends and acquaintances informed regarding their latest educational progress and work experience.
Joining industry-specific online networking communities is beneficial too. This approach enables students to network with people in professional fields they are interested in.
HBR also encourages online learners to actively participate in community discussion boards by sharing updates and posting questions and answers. Students should also engage their peers directly to discuss their studies, career opportunities and industry insights.
Apart from that, there are alumni networking platforms and virtual social events, some of which offer video functionality, where students can network with academics and alumni from the institution.
Before applying for an MBA course, students ought to ask specific questions regarding the program’s networking opportunities:
These include:
The point about networking with alumni is an excellent one. Networking should never be seen as exclusively student-to-student. MBA programs and business schools are populated and surrounded by a wealth of resources (human and otherwise).
An online MBA or EMBA can provide access to a wide network of valuable contacts, including faculty members, guest lecturers, past graduates, local and international companies and your classmates’ colleagues.
You should also seek out career services officers at your chosen institution. They are often the main point of contact for businesses that are interested in reaching out to promising MBA graduates.
It has been suggested that online learning may be even better for networking than face-to-face courses.
There’s the fact that those who are introverted thrive in the online classroom environment due to the fact that it offers all students an equal voice, rather than leaning towards the loudest, most boisterous or most animated.
And in her TED talk called “The Power of Introverts“, Susan Cain suggests that the face-to-face education system tends to cater more to extroverts.
But the benefits of online networking are not just for introverts. Online allows larger global networks to be built more quickly.
One only has to look at the LinkedIn phenomenon to see that in action. The digital environment also allows relationships that might otherwise have fallen by the wayside to be nurtured and kept healthy, despite the lack of physical contact.
Also, all of those uncomfortable first-impression issues – what you’re wearing, how you look, how your handshake feels, your age, race and even gender – are all less important in an online environment.
What is more valuable is what you have to say, how well you listen and what you have to contribute. It gets rid of the awkwardness and cuts straight to the core of what a good relationship is all about.
Then, there’s the fact that virtual networks, just like virtual learning, are easily accessible at any time, from anywhere and on any device.
No matter how you network, experts recommend you start early.
This is not to say you should chase contact details on the very first day, but rather simply be open to getting to know as many people as possible during the first few months of your MBA degree.
If you leave it too late, it may be perceived that you are only developing a relationship because you want something out of it. Great networking is about offering value to each other.
Once connections are made, develop them slowly. As with any human relationship, being overbearing, brash or piling on too much pressure is never going to have a positive result.
Share your interests and seek out like-minded souls but also enjoy healthy conversations with those who might not share your point of view.
Success in an MBA and in the years and decades that follow have a lot to do with the network you build during your studies.
That begins on day one.
Whether you’re ready to enrol, or just have a quick question, simply fill out the enquiry form below to speak directly to the university’s enrolment team. They will be able to guide you through:
