By deciding to pursue an MBA, you're taking the first step toward advancing your career. But what you learn in the classroom is only part of a complete MBA experience.

Networking, i.e., “it’s not just what you know, it’s who you know,” is as much of a skill as developing a marketing plan or analyzing a spreadsheet. Top business schools should offer networking guidance and support early in your MBA journey. How to take advantage of those ways is up to you.

You think you don't need to network? Our experts' tips will convince you otherwise, regardless of your career goals or MBA format (online, in-person, full-time, part-time). These tips are practiced by students in the top-ranked MBA programs in the Thomasson Graduate School at the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. 

1. Remember, networking isn’t just about finding your next job

Some hear the word “networking” and imagine a career fair or otherwise meeting people solely for the purpose of laying the groundwork for a future gig. But networking doesn’t always have to be transactional. It can improve and advance your work with your current employer.

“Networking isn't just about landing your next role,” said Courtney Daily, associate director of enrollment management for Kelley Direct Programs and the #1-ranked online MBA. “It is critical to how you break down internal divisions, build team buy-in, and gain the visibility needed for internal advancement. When you build genuine relationships across departments, you can connect with leaders and peers who will advocate for you.”

In other words, don’t think of the exercise as finding your next team, but rather as building your own.

2. Tap into your MBA alumni network

The nation’s leading business schools have vast alumni networks, and those graduates are often delighted to share their expertise and connections with students.

Tapping into this resource can begin with seeking out your school’s alumni office, whose staff will know exactly who to match you with based on your interests.

“Interactions aren’t just transactional, but an openness to a conversation and ongoing connection,” said Beth Moellers, director of alumni engagement at Kelley. “When you complete an MBA, you not only become part of the alumni network, but you also gain a tight network of peers in your program.” 

The Kelley School of Business has 141,000 living alumni, the largest business school alumni network in the world, and MBA students connect with them in numerous ways, ranging from formal recruiting events and classroom activities to messaging on LinkedIn. 

“Fellow alumni might be a guest on a podcast, offer a place to crash during the Rose Bowl, or welcome you to a new company,” Moellers said.

3. Lean on MBA mentors and coaches

Networking can look different depending on your career goals. Whether your MBA program is full-time, part-time, online or in person, a career coach can help you determine how to make it work for your career path. 

For example, some students in Kelley’s part-time Evening MBA Program want advanced roles with their current employer.  By working with a career coach, they learn how to structure an internal networking strategy to increase their visibility within targeted departments or executive circles.

Coaching can take a more literal track as well, helping students practice conversation flow to allow them to approach interactions with professionalism and confidence. 

4. Take advantage of experiential learning opportunities

MBA programs are increasingly introducing experiential learning to curriculum, where companies partner with the schools to provide real-world experience. In other words, students may create a marketing plan for an actual brand within a company, not a fictitious unit hatched from a textbook.

And that certainly opens networking opportunities with those very companies.

“I define networking as any activity which expands access to careers of interest for our students,” said John Hill, clinical professor and faculty chair of Kelley’s Full-Time +Flex MBA Program. “Specific activities that support networking for our students include industry sponsored class projects in the integrated core curriculum, where connections with future leaders will enable them to build relationships which can result in business opportunities post-MBA.”

5. Find an MBA community even while fully online

You may think a fully online MBA program won’t lend itself to networking opportunities, but just the opposite can be true.

Kelley Direct Online MBA students receive career services support before classes even begin, and this includes encouragement to join virtual chapters of student organizations, professional clubs, or identity-based professional networks to meet peers across different cohorts.

Many national or regional industry associations, such as the American Marketing Association and the Association for Financial Professionals, offer discounted student memberships that unlock access to online webinars, virtual summits, and member directories.

Don’t put it off

An MBA can unlock valuable networking opportunities that clarify, support, and boost your career plans. Consider these tips as you embark on your MBA journey and look to make connections in a way that works best for you and your career goals.