The document provides information and tips for attending an MBA Veterans Conference. It outlines the agenda, which includes an overview of the conference, how to make the most of it through preparation and networking, and a Q&A with past attendees. Details are given on the companies represented, student to recruiter ratio, and job offer percentage. The preparation section emphasizes researching target companies, having resumes, business cards and an elevator pitch ready, and proper attire. Tips are offered on working the career fair, entering and exiting conversations, and following up after the event. The goal is to provide guidance to help attendees get the most networking and recruiting opportunities out of the conference.
2. Agenda
§ MBA
Veterans
Conference
overview
§ Making
the
most
out
of
the
conference
• PreparaBon
• Conference
eBqueDe
§ Q&A
with
previous
conference
aDendees
3. Orienta1on/Situa1on
§ 31
Fortune
500
companies
represented
for
2012
§ 1:9
student-‐to-‐recruiter
raBo
§ 40%
job
offer
percentage
§ One
of
the
best
opportuniBes
to
get
face-‐Bme
networking
with
a
supporBve
veteran
recruiBng
community
8. Prepara1on
Dress
for
Success
ü
Appropriate
Business
a^re
Men:
• Suit
(charcoal,
dark
blue,
dark
gray)
• Tie
• Light-‐colored
or
white
dress
shirt
• Dark-‐colored
socks
Women:
• Suit
–
pants
suit
okay
• Minimal
jewelry
• Closed-‐toe,
closed-‐heel
shoes
9. Prepara1on
Elevator
Pitch
(30
secs.)
ü
Who
are
you?
I
am
an
MBA
student
…
What
are
your
experBse/talents?
…
with
4
years
experience
helping
companies
who
need
new
financial
strategies
and
working
on
transacBons
valued
at
$100
million
or
more
…
What
do
you
want?
I
am
looking
for
a
posiBon
in
finance
within
your
XX
division
…
I
am
hoping
to
learn
more
about
…
I
am
looking
to
transfer
my
skills
to
a
______
role
in
name
of
this
company
10. Prepara1on
üReview
list
of
companies
and
iden1fy
at
least
5-‐10
as
“primary
targets.”
• Apply
on-‐line
to
posiBons
you
are
interested
in.
• Look
into
MBA
Leadership/RotaBonal
programs
with
companies
that
offer
them
• Know
everything
about
the
companies
on
your
“A”
List
• Be
prepared
for
the
crowds.
• Look
at
the
program
agenda
and
aDend
workshops
and
other
presentaBons
of
interest
• Plan
to
aDend
the
company
social
events
if
invited
(some
are
invitaBon
only,
others
are
open
to
all
aDendees)
Research
Companies
and
Schedule
your
Time
11. Prepara1on
üReview
list
of
companies
and
iden1fy
5-‐10
as
“
primary
targets.”
General
Knowledge:
• What
is
the
company’s
the
business
strategy?
• What
is
the
company’s
history?
• Is
there
any
news
about
the
company
and
how
is
it
important
(as
of
the
date
of
the
Spring
Forum)
• Where
are
the
operaBons
located?
Products
and
Services:
• What
products/services
does
the
company
provide?
• What
is
the
company’s
compeBBve
advantage?
• What
markets
(locaBons)
does
the
company
compete
in?
Structure
and
Environment
• Who
are
the
top
execuBves?
• What
is
the
company’s
culture?
Financials
• What
products/services
are
most
and
least
profitable?
• What
are
the
company’s
market
cap,
stock
price,
P/E
raBo
(as
of
date
of
the
Conference)?
Research
Companies
12. At
a
Na1onal
Conference
ü• Come
early
—study
the
map
provided
with
your
registraBon
materials
to
map
out
a
strategy
for
“navigaBng”
the
career
fair
porBon
of
the
conference
• Most
booths
will
have
lines
to
speak
to
a
company
rep—others
may
talk
to
students
in
groups.
• Making
a
good
first
impression
is
important:
– Look
them
in
the
eye
– Approach
with
confidence
and
a
firm
hand
shake
– Be
curious
about
people,
their
career,
and
their
experiences
– Have
an
opinion
–
on
what
you
want
to
do,
what
you’re
passionate
about,
current
news
in
the
industry,
etc.
Working
the
Conference
13. At
a
Na1onal
Conference
ü
• When
entering
a
group,
avoid
offering
an
immediate
comment
•
Prepare
4-‐5
items
of
general
interest
-‐
Use
these
items
to
introduce
conversaBon,
fill
gaps
in
discussion
and
to
allow
others
to
get
to
know
you
• Include
newcomers:
Turn
toward
them
and
introduce
them
to
the
group
(“This
is
Jane
Doe.
Jane,
please
join
us
in
talking
about
…”)
Working
the
Conference
14. At
a
Na1onal
Conference
ü
• 3-‐5
minute
conversaBon,
then
move
on
• Prepare
“exit
line”
to
conBnue
mingling:
– IniBate
the
introducBon
of
a
colleague
or
friend
to
the
group
from
whom
you
are
deparBng
– “In
the
spirit
of
working
the
conference,
I
need
to
connect
with
a
couple
of
other
people
before
the
event
concludes.
I
enjoyed
talking
with
you
and
would
like
to
meet
in
the
future
to
conBnue
our
discussion
of
…”
– “Excuse
me,
but
I
want
to
make
sure
you
have
an
opportunity
to
talk
with
others
who
are
waiBng.
It
was
nice
to
meet
you
…”
Working
the
conference
15. At
a
Na1onal
Conference
ü
• Show
that
you
have
been
looking
into
their
company.
• Carry
a
printed
copy
of
the
posiBon
you
are
interested
in
if
you
have
found
posiBons
on-‐line.
• Offer
your
business
card
and
resume
(don’t
be
surprised
if
some
companies
do
not
take
your
resume
and
ask
you
to
submit
something
online).
• Try
to
get
business
cards
of
company
representaBves
and
quickly
jot
down
topics
discussed
on
the
back
of
the
business
card.
(Use
your
program/
computer/
Ipad
etc.
since
many
will
not
give
out
cards)
it
will
serve
as
a
useful
reference
for
follow-‐up
.
Working
the
Conference
16. The
Followup
ü
• HandwriDen
thank
you
notes
are
always
a
differenBator,
but
email
is
fast
and
common.
• Thank
you
notes
should
express
graBtude
for
their
Bme,
informaBon,
and/or
advice.
Thank
You
Notes!
17. The
Followup
ü
• If
you
indicated
that
you
would
contact
the
company
representaBve
for
addiBonal
informaBon
ater
the
Conference,
send
an
email
within
a
week
• If
you
want
to
request
an
informaBonal
interview
with
someone
you
met
at
the
Conference,
again,
do
this
in
a
Bmely
way;
(This
is
ideal,
but
not
necessarily
realisBc
given
the
size
of
the
conference)
Requests
for
Interviews,
Advice,
Etc.
