How to Build a Community in Business School

How to Build a Community in Business School pexels.com There are many ways to find and build a community in business school. One of the most effective ways to build a network of colleagues is to join or create a business-related club. Schools have a plethora of clubs to choose from, and if they dont have one that fits your specific interests, its usually pretty easy to start one yourself. There are a few great things about clubs, one of which is getting a group of like-minded people to collaborate and discuss shared topics. Being a part of a business-related club can be useful even after college as well because, in many cases, the connections you make in college are still relevant after graduation. Another perk to being a part of clubs is that it looks great on your resume, especially if you start the club or hold a position on the clubs leadership board. Join a club and work to hold a position in it this will up your resume and give you access to greater connections. Another way to create a fruitful community in business school is to cultivate relationships through group projects for class. Group projects are notorious for making students moan and groan, but they can be incredibly helpful if done using the right approach and mindset. Instead of viewing group projects as torturous, try and see them as an opportunity to expand your network. Work hard (dont be That Guy in the group who slacks off) to produce the best outcome as possible and try hard to connect with other members in your group. Take the extra step and ask them to meet on an individual basis outside of the normal group meetings to try and establish a professional friendship with them. Dont view other students as your competition; instead, see them as assets and opportunities to gain new perspectives. Additionally, dont write off other students that may not have the exact same interest or vision as you do. Having blinders on can be extremely damaging to your education and growth. Just because another student is interested in art management and youre interested in economics, doesnt mean that you cant have a meaningful professional relationship with them. Its easy to get stuck in a bubble of your own interests, but its important to expose yourself to anything and everything. Business school is the best time to explore all career areas because you truly have the freedom to. Talk to people in introduction classes that may not have the same interests as you, or even take a class in something that you never had thought about before! Even if nothing comes from relationships with people in different career paths, its still beneficial to be exposed to all different points of view and areas of business to establish a well-rounded view of the industry. In addition to other students, your professors are your biggest outlets to the outside world, aka, the job market. Make the effort to cultivate relationships with your professors and, in essence, suck them dry of advice. Put in the effort to learn from your professors outside the classroom by going to office hours and even inviting them out for lunch. Many professors used to or still do work in the business world and are amazing sources of information about the job market that you will be entering. Not only that but if you work hard and really show interest in the subject, your professors have many contacts that they could put you in touch with. This is an amazing way to make contacts who are working in your dream companies and to cultivate a network of mentors. pexels.com Another way to grow your network is to flex your social media muscles. Using social media platforms like LinkedIn or Twitter is an amazing way to establish yourself in an online business community. Social media is not just about pleasure anymore it can be an amazing way to connect with other professionals in your field. Using social media is also a great way to network for possible future jobs. By getting your name out there and established in a group of professionals, the chances of your name popping into the head of someone hiring is much likelier than if you didnt engage in professional social media at all. LinkedIn is an amazing way to grow your professional network, and its incredibly easy to start using. Because LinkedIn is built for professionals, you dont need to navigate all of the personal posts as you do with Twitter or Facebook. Make sure your LinkedIn is updated and, once it is, actually use it! Join groups and comment on posts to establish yourself on the platform as someone who is interested in their area of study. The relationships that you make in business school can, and probably will, last well into your career. Having a well-rounded business network can give you opportunities that you never imagined before, and can provide a huge array of contacts to bring into your projects. Dont cruise through business school take advantage of every opportunity you have to build a strong community! Learn more about Kaplan’s test prep options and start building the confidence you need for Test Day.