The Power Game of Networking
The art of networking is an intense power game. Master this art and choose your dream job. Fail to learn the ropes and you will have squandered your education and find the going quite difficult.
At IESE Business School in Barcelona, Maria Puig who heads the Alumni Division states: ?More than 60 percent of our MBA graduates land jobs through networking. In a tough job market, it can make the difference between a great position and a mediocre one?.
?It is also essential for entrepreneurs seeking new business contact or leads ?, says Vin Hammersley, a director at Warwick Business School.
?Both MBA candidates and current MBA students need to better understand the rules of the networking game?, claims Edwina Sanderson, head of the Whitefield Consulting Alumni Network Worldwide.
?We offer seminars and coaching to all past and new clients at WCW. Without this knowledge, students run the risk of failing to network effectively. Networking can vary according to culture and business environments. I am pleased to state that our Alumni not only continue to help each other across cultures but also continue to fund our non-profit activities such as the WCW Scholarship for disadvantaged MBA candidates.?
Janet Shaner, The Director of Marketing at IMD in Lausanne adds:
?In a dynamic business environment such as the United Kingdom or the USA, meeting lots of people and being assertive is effective networking. In contrast, Latin America or Eastern Europe has other parameters. Effective networking means building close relationships with a small group of trusted contacts.?
?Do your homework. Know the school or company to which you want to apply. Ask intelligent questions, be transparent and open. Develop the art of listening. Do not demand favours, rather seek expertise and focus on relationship building. The subtle approach is preferred to a hard sell. If you do so," says Edwina Sanderson, "you will be triumphant in your quest."
Kathleen Dolan, the MBA Career Service Director at IESE cautions against:
?Spreading your self too thin. Do not mass e-mail you?re Curriculum Vitae. Network with focus. The essence of Networking is communications. It is and will always be about talking to and building genuine relationships with people.?
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I often heard about MBA programmes during my stint at IBM. Many of my professional buddies were doing them, but for me the time never seemed right. The prospective to return to school was daunting and I have a family with two teenage sons. I was enjoying my position as Head of Sequence Design and living abroad in Paris. In 2003, however it became clear to me that if I was to advance further in my career and set up my own entrepreneurial ventures that I would require further training. The EMBA called me as it might have Odysseus. Before I made t...
