MBAs Get Career Path Direction at Orientation Week

MBA students got a dose of career guidance at their introduction to Smith’s Office of Career Services (OCS) on Wednesday and Thursday of Full-Time MBA Orientation Week. The OCS is rallying students behind its mission to help them develop as leaders for the organizations where they will ultimately land at the conclusion of their two-year MBA program and the orientation content reflected that goal.

On Wednesday, Aug. 24, the morning kicked off with a panel conversation with corporate recruiters. Students heard from the panelists on what today’s organizations are looking for in leaders – along with some great “war stories” from the recruiting trail. (Hint: If you want to impress recruiters, DON’T arrive at an interview late, rumpled and smelling like last night’s greasy dinner.)

Later that morning, Cynthia Stevens, associate professor of management and organization, gave student the keys to networking success. She had them discussing what networking is and why people network, and she pushed them to think positively about building networks during the next two years. Some of the takeaways? Cultivate (don’t build) your networks over time with good communication, playing up your strengths. Don’t let relationships become one-sided – reciprocate information and favors from your contacts. And above all, Stevens said you can’t expect to change your personality to network – if you’re an introvert, embrace that about yourself and find ways to successful meet new people in settings where you feel comfortable, perhaps on the golf course, on the Internet, or through a volunteer opportunity.

The new MBAs had a chance to put their new-found networking info into action with an evening cocktail reception and etiquette dinner with Smith alumni later that evening and the following evening.

The OCS’s Phyllis Thibodeau, associate director of MBA Career and Professional Development Programs, opened Thursday’s orientation day with a session to help student map out their career strategy. She encouraged students to create a personal mission statement and think about the jobs in their career paths as stepping stones toward that mission. Thibodeau gave students tools to help them discover what they like to do and what they do well to help hone in on their strengths.

Thibodeau’s focus on creating a personal mission tied in well with an afternoon session on “Building your Personal Brand” from Ken White, executive director of Marketing Communications. White got students excited about the brands they are building for themselves while at Smith, as well as the school’s larger mission and brand.