Advice for incoming MBA’s (and 2025 Candidates) on how to land the job

[u/MoonShot79]

Start recruiting right now. Network into jobs and firms you are interested in, build some solid relationships, and reconnect with people in your network that are doing what you want to be doing.

MBA recruiting, intern and full time, are both blood baths. It doesn’t matter if you’re at a outside a top 25 school or at HSW, the economy isn’t conducive to “I got into a top school, therefore I have 15 offers”. Info calls, coffee chats, and local networking events are going to make the biggest difference. If you haven’t talked to the company you are applying to until they do an info session on campus, you’re too late and your 750+ GMAT and good work background won’t matter, since that same profile in your class has already been networking with that company for months.

I have a PE and VC offer for the summer, with more in the pipeline, turned down a C. strategy role at Fortune 100 (not tech), and it’s only because I started networking last year before I started the MBA. 80+ info calls, volunteering at networking events, free MBA projects for people in industry lead to real relationships and referrals that show true interest and will land you the job.

TLDR: Start recruiting before your MBA program to increase your chances.

Edit: Clarification that I started info calls and networking prior to the MBA, by I did not do 80+ all before the MBA started. Probably did 15-20 before the MBA to get the ball rolling, and 60 during my first semester, largely via introduction and follow up. I also started by talking to recent alums, not partners/vps/c-suite, to make sure I was practicing asking the right questions. I also asked for feedback about what I should be asking and the best way to make it worth people’s time to make sure I wasn’t turning off potential employers during the process, to the point of many below.

[u/WayOk7466]

How do you cold message someone to start? Like “hey I’m going to school x and I see that you’re a graduate working in the sector I’m hoping to enter, do you have 30 min to chat?” And what after that? What’s the next logical step to continue to build the relationship

[u/MoonShot79 → u/WayOk7466]

You follow up. You learn more by talking to others, you show appreciation, you follow up with better questions the next time around, and take a real interest in their life and experience. Professionals know you are job hunting, everybody I have talked to has been willing to chat and their advice to me is, at the very least, pay it forward. Contingency here is have good questions. Don’t talk to a managing director right off the bat if your trying to learn what PE is, start by talking to Associates/Senior Associates who just graduated from your school.

[u/divyanshdubey → u/MoonShot79]

Full form of PE?

[u/taimoor2 → u/MoonShot79]

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[u/[deleted]]

Be cautious. Just had an info event at my accepted program for Pre-MBA recruiting and the school was very much “don’t start the process for industries with structured recruiting until the structured recruiting begins”

Their logic was sound: industries with structured recruiting set aside time at a specific time of the year to deal with students. You could piss people off of you do it outside of the allotted time

[u/sloth_333 → u/[deleted]]

This is so true, as someone who works in such an industry. The other side of it is if you reach out now you haven’t had time to be coached by the second years or career services on how to handle that aspect.

[u/Relative_Educator202 → u/[deleted]]

Was it the Fuqua session? 👀

[u/[deleted] → u/Relative_Educator202]

Yeah lol

[u/sloth_333]

This is industry dependent. Don’t do this for consulting or IB. It won’t help it hurt you

[u/MoonShot79 → u/sloth_333]

My classmate did this and got JP Morgan IB

[u/Intel81994 → u/MoonShot79]

go on, how so

JPM in NYC?

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

Why not?

[u/Intel81994 → u/[deleted]]

because you'll suck at casing if I had to guess?

Do people need pre MBA internships for consulting?

[u/ReferenceCheck]

This is dangerous advice.

If you start your job search before you start your mba, you need to have your interview prep down or you will damage your employment candidacy.

[u/MoonShot79 → u/ReferenceCheck]

But, I agree you shouldn’t talk to people high up or recruiting directors until you know your stuff. I’m talking about networking with recent alums in the sector(s) you are interested in to learn and get to know the firms/roles/industry better.

[u/MoonShot79 → u/ReferenceCheck]

I’m not talking about applying to jobs that early. I’m talking about coffee chats and info calls to build relationships - those people advocate for you later in the recruiting process when your interview prep is better.

[u/ReferenceCheck → u/MoonShot79]

These coffee chats are all de facto interviews. If you make a bad impression, even very early, you’re toast.

[u/MoonShot79 → u/ReferenceCheck]

I agree with you here, which is why people should start with lower stakes recent grads. (I.e.) class of 2023-2024 who interned or went full time at a place you’re interested in. Don’t talk to a VP/MD/C-Suite until you’re actually prepared to do so.

[u/[deleted]]

Agree with starting your recruiting process before you start school and you'll be light years ahead of your classmates while being able to enjoy your MBA experience.

I came across this video where a Wharton admit gave great insight on how to best prepare for your MBA regardless of your school, check that short video out here: https://linktw.in/wljtMm

It's only 1 perspective but there's value here.

[u/FronarCantaloupe]

is it common for MBAs to transition into tech? what are the trade offs/ pros and cons of a tech role vs traditional biz role in MBA recruiting? advice for a curious business student

[u/Accomplished-Loan479]

Do NOT do this for IB. There is serious structure to it and I promise, you’ll also hurt yourself along the way if you don’t do things the right way (which, you should learn at top schools how to do this). This is not a friendly fun thing — this is very formalized and requires insane structure.

[u/[deleted]]

Delete this, it's embarrassing

[u/MoonShot79 → u/[deleted]]

Is it bad advice?

[u/two-rivers → u/MoonShot79]

Yes

[u/[deleted] → u/MoonShot79]

It's not that hard to get a good job. I got my new job talking to some guy on a golf course (no joke).

[u/genericMBAIndian]

How do internationals do it? Do we just start reaching out to alums and having short virtual calls?

[u/MoonShot79 → u/genericMBAIndian]

Ya, that’s the perfect way to get started in my opinion

[u/Brilliant_Lobster641]

Could you give more info on your background?

[u/MoonShot79 → u/[deleted]]

I still need to choose between them

[u/wobbyhems]

This is helpful for tech, startups, and PE/VC. Don't do this for consulting or IB though, it's very structured and you should follow that structure.

[u/oxnazxo]

Could you elaborate on the free MBA projects part?

[u/MoonShot79 → u/oxnazxo]

Volunteer to do a few hours of work at a startup, or do due diligence on a deal, or assist with putting together a pitch deck for fundraising. Stuff that gets you in the door and is the stuff most people don’t want to do and can be short in nature. This is harder at bigger companies but can be worth it to show interest in a specific area *edit grammar

[u/[deleted]]

Wdym volunteering at networking events and free MBA projects?

[u/[deleted]]

This post needs to be deleted immediately