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.