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How to Network with McCombs
MBA Alumni
By John
Daly
Consider this: You are part of an alumni network comprised of more than 15,000 ambitious and intelligent people. Though you don’t personally know each individual in the network, many fellow McCombs MBA graduates are happy to help you reach your goals. Whether you want to find a job or, perhaps, you already have a position but want a better one, it is essential that you approach alumni in a manner that will put yourself in the best position for success.
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While we all know networking is important, many of us also feel like
there is something sketchy about the way some people go about it.
Everyone has seen people who go overboard. They can’t attend a social
event without checking out who is there. They ruin every meeting trying
to schmooze “important” people. Nobody wants to be like them. So what do
you do to network with grace and finesse?
Network in appropriate settings.
We have all seen people violate this rule. Someone runs around shaking
everyone’s hand and distributing business cards. You host a visiting
speaker and someone monopolizes the speaker’s attention. On a plane,
someone relentlessly talks with another passenger who clearly wants to
read quietly. There are times and places to network and times when you
just shouldn’t worry about meeting folks. Remember, acting desperate to
meet people hurts your credibility.
Network with preparation.
Poor net workers aimlessly chat people up without any real purpose. They
would be struck dumb if they were asked anything specific. Smart
net workers are prepared net workers—they’ve done their homework. Use the
McCombs alumni database to connect with alumni in an area or company of
interest to you. Schedule informational interviews to gain more
knowledge and stock your tool kit with important information.
Be interested.
No one likes conversational narcissists—people who only talk about
themselves. Instead, we appreciate people who are interested in us. So,
focus on the other person, not yourself. Get people to talk about
themselves and pay attention. To get a conversation started, ask what
McCombs was like when they were students; inquire about how they decided
to join their company or industry.
Seek advice.
Rather than asking questions, ask for advice. Which sounds better, “I
have a question” or “I need your advice”? Everyone likes to be a
consultant. No one wants to be interrogated. You are generally going to
be as successful as others want you to be, so you need to be “adopted.”
Getting someone’s advice is a step in the adoption process.
Create opportunities for others to ask you questions.
Don’t monopolize conversations. As with a good “elevator speech,” your
goal in networking conversations is to make others interested in you.
Give them “iceberg” statements that hint at something they can ask you.
Find ways to describe your career experiences, your hobbies or talents,
or your family in interesting ways. Share something exciting that
happened to you while you were at McCombs. Think of experiences you had
with faculty, staff and fellow students.
Constantly expand your network.
Seek opportunities to encounter new people and learn fresh ideas. Attend
McCombs MBA conferences and events. This provides you with a great
opportunity to meet and get to know people you don’t know as well. The
more people you know and the more ideas you encounter, the more
interesting you become.
These are just a few of many moves good net workers make when they want
to build positive relationships with others. You have a tremendous
network at your fingertips. Approach this network with grace and you
will see great things come to you. Good luck!
