How to Impress MBA Recruiters from Home

How to Impress MBA Recruiters from Home main image

The coronavirus pandemic has undeniably changed the b-school admissions process.

As the outbreak escalates, institutions are forced to take rapid measures to retain students, such as implementing e-teaching across courses and offering widespread deferment to the upcoming fall intake, while also encouraging candidates to apply to the 2020 and 2021 cohorts.

This is why many b-schools are choosing to participate in digital MBA events.

With career fairs, discussion panels and one-on-one meetings, digital MBA events are a great way for recruiters to promote their programs and attract potential students.

On the flipside from a student perspective, candidates can utilize them as a means to find out more about the different MBAs available in their area of interest and narrow down their options.

Nevertheless, you might find the prospect of interacting through a computer daunting, especially if you’re new to this format.

This is why here at TopMBA we’ve put together a simple guide on how to impress b-school recruiters at digital events.

Here’s our top tips.

Amp up your game

Now, more than ever, it’s important that your curriculum reflects your determination to go to business school.

Before you sign up to an event, think about the different skills MBA recruiters will look for in your application, such as leadership, communication and teamwork, and find ways to develop them in your own time.

There are plenty of things that you can do online that’ll give you a much-needed boost and attract a recruiter’s attention. Here’s our list.

Do your research

It’s very likely that the digital event you’ll attend will feature many different schools, so it’s important that you have a clear idea of who you want to speak to beforehand.

It’s also likely that you already have your eye on certain programs, which is great, but don’t narrow your selection too much and try to keep an open mind – you don’t want to miss out on great opportunities.

You can do research on the schools’ websites or use matching tools to find new courses where you could be a good fit.

Once you have finalized your list of schools, we recommend pre-booking digital one-on-one sessions with recruiters and Q&A panels where you’ll be able to get in-depth insight on the courses you’re interested in.

Dress smart

As with any professional meeting, you want to make sure you look presentable and have dressed for the occasion. We recommend business and business casual attires.

Prepare an elevator pitch

The key to making a good impression with a recruiter is being prepared.

It’s important that you describe your career plan, your goals and ambitions for the upcoming years, but you should also demonstrate knowledge of specific schools and programs.

Before tuning into the event, make sure you ask yourself the right questions: why do I want an MBA from these schools? What can I bring to these programs? How do my skills and experience fit into the schools’ values?

Once you feel comfortable answering them, prepare a short elevator pitch that incorporates all the information recruiters will need to understand who you are as a person and what makes you a great candidate. You’ll feel more confident during your one-on-one sessions.

Ask the right questions

Much like a good elevator pitch, asking intelligent questions is a great way to stand out.

Not only it’ll show recruiters you’ve done your research, it’ll also help you guide the conversation and get the answers you need from them.

Make sure you avoid asking basic questions for answers you could easily find online. These include inquiries on application requirements, class credits, length of study, and tuition fees.

Instead, think of thoughtful questions that relate to your personal MBA journey. For example, you could ask about research and networking opportunities, student community outreach initiatives and different career paths you could pursue post-graduation.