Business schools have modified their master program to help their students get a leg up on their competition in finding their dream job post-business school. Some have added MBA career support services, helping make direct links between students and employers. Other schools have added career development classes as part of their program, along with fostering internships with companies so a student can prove their worth in a learning environment. Still, a student must bring their A-game if they intend anything to come from such opportunities. Modern employment opportunities for MBAs are more reliant on networking and proactive meetings then the fabled ‘big job interview.’ Employers want to know what a student brings to the table even before they walk in the door.
One of the big terms in these master program revisions is ‘personal brand.’ Students need to learn how to develop and communicate their own, unique brand and how to use social media to market it in a job market. LinkedIn and other networking services are key components for getting in touch with potential employers and finding out what a prospective boss is all about. Students need to do their homework before they are graduates if they have any chance at landing that dream job. This personal brand development starts day one of a master program and continues well into employment. A student needs to realize this and take ownership of their education and, inevitably, employment journey by taking advantage of in-class and extracurricular opportunities. Internships and clubs all have the opportunity to promote one’s own personal brand while networking.
Beyond traditional social media platforms, students are also encouraged to take ownership of their Internet identity. Whatever someone posts on the Internet is there forever. Students should remember to be smart when using social media, in both pejorative and positive terms. Some schools have started insisting their students develop “e-portfolios” that consist of blogs and videos for prospective employers to view. But it’s not enough just to set all these up; a student must not only make them engaging, but also actively promote their online presence of their own personal brand.
A master program is only a catchall term for time for personal development. While the obvious end goal is for that dream job, the effort to attain that opportunity begins on the first day of a master program. While these programs are evolving to accommodate the increasing competitiveness of the job market, it really does begin at home. Students should remember that networking begins in the classroom and out, and that solidifying these newly minted connections with the tangibility of social media will only enrich them. Above all, even beyond such nouveau terms of “e-portfolios”, students should remain steadfast in monitoring their online presence. Whatever is posted online now can follow someone all the way into their first interview for that big job interview.