The Networking Chameleon: Master Your Approach
Networking is a huge part of the MBA, we all know that. For some candidates, this comes very naturally and for others, it takes more preparation, consideration and often deliberation! Given the two upcoming networking opportunities shared in this week's newsletter, we want to encourage you to refine your approach, carefully consider the crowd and steer what you can, to best position yourself at these exclusive events.
Why? Your goals are different in each setting, so this is important!
The main distinction lies in your positioning: at Founders Forum, position yourself as a potential collaborator or fellow innovator and at the Career Fair, position yourself as a high-potential candidate who can add value to the organization. The goal for both is connection and opportunity.
1. At Founders Forums (or any type of entrepreneurial event), you will typically be there to build lasting collaborative relationships that could lead to partnerships, investments, or co-founder opportunities
How to navigate Founders Forums:
- Build collaborative relationships with entrepreneurial focus
- Keep the conversation exploratory with a peer-based tone
- Come armed with ideas, not just questions. Entrepreneurs love curious problem solvers!
- Ask about challenges and innovations, not just job openings
- Prepare a 30-second pitch about your interests and skills. They want to see you at your best!
- Connect with fellow attendees, not just speakers or organizers
- Follow up with specific proposals or thoughts related to conversations
2. Career Fairs run because companies want access to talent, and you are there to advance through recruitment process.
How to excel at Career Fairs:
- Research companies and people (if made known to you) thoroughly beforehand – know who you want to speak with!
- Position yourself as a valuable potential employee by using conversations to share professional achievements
- Bring tailored resumes for different companies
- Demonstrate knowledge about the organization's recent projects and ask targeted questions about specific roles
- Be clear about your career goals and how you align with their needs
- Connect via LinkedIn and send personalized follow-ups within 48 hours
3. Alternative Networking Options: Not everyone thrives in large networking settings, and diversifying your networking portfolio expands your professional reach.
How to network in alternative settings:
- Industry workshops: Participate actively and showcase knowledge through thoughtful questions
- Alumni meetups: Leverage Imperial as your common ground for natural conversations.
- Professional associations: Build recognition and credibility through regular attendance
- Volunteer opportunities: Apply your professional skills while supporting causes you care about
- Informational interviews: Demonstrate genuine interest in the person and their career journey
- Digital networking: Add value through insights, not just self-promotion
- Industry-specific workshops: Participate actively in discussions and showcase your knowledge through thoughtful questions
Remember, great networking isn't about immediate transactions—it's about building relationships. Authenticity works in all settings and builds trust quickly. Not all wins will be immediate.
At times, students will ask me why they should network when they are not actively job seeking at that point in time. I always challenge them to consider what they can give rather than what they can get. How might their current position, knowledge or network assist someone else? Start with generosity of your time and energy and your future self will thank you – and so might someone else!
Chloe Chambers, MBA Careers Consultant
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The Networking Chameleon: Master Your Approach
Networking is a huge part of the MBA, we all know that. For some candidates, this comes very naturally and for others, it takes more preparation, consideration and often deliberation!