As the state of the world’s economy and job market continue to waiver, now more than ever, MBA’s are fine tuning their networking skills as this becomes a new and essential component to the job search.  In all honesty, networking has always been part of the job search strategy, however, now more than ever before, MBA’s are finding that networking may offer the best chance for employment.

Before the tragic incidents of September 11, 2001 the economy was struggling to stay afloat.  Post-incidents, the business world has seen many of its key industries forced to tighten the belt and they have started with workforce reductions.  Still all is not lost.  While several industries have been hit especially hard, many companies are still hiring and actively looking to recruit MBA’s.

The National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) hosted it’s 23^rd Annual conference in Orlando, FL, this September.  The conference provides a time for members and non-members of the organization to come together to reward scholarship recipients and outstanding universities.  Because of the great opportunities and especially the career fair which attracts recruiters from a diverse cross-section of industries, many MBA students from across the country come to this event in search of a job, and equally important, a chance to build their networks.

The conference was attended by students from many business schools across the country including Howard, Kelley, Washington, Kellogg, Clark Atlanta, Haas, Sloan, Simon, Tuck, and of course the University of Michigan.

Approximately thirty University of Michigan Business School students traveled to Orlando to see for themselves just what the job market has to offer.  What they found was that while companies are hiring, these firms have become increasingly selective.  For University of Michigan students, selectivity has not proved problematic but more beneficial as there is a smaller candidate pool against which we must compete.  Still, even Michigan students have felt the crunch of the economy and the need to network.

So, whom are we leveraging?  Not only are students reconnecting with old classmates, but professors, alumni, and peers all contribute to this web.  And what are the keys to successful networking?  The first step is just to get started.  It is amazing how once you get started talking to old friends or new strangers, just how small the world actually is.  The NBMBAA conference provided an excellent forum for students to meet other students with whom they had several shared experiences and more often than not, some sort of link.

So what tools will you need?  Most MBA’s have found that business cards are an invaluable tool.  They are convenient to carry and easy to give out and much easier than entering info into you PDA (especially if you haven’t mastered graffiti).

Once you get started, you will see your network continue to grow almost without nurturing.  However, maintaining the networks are just as important as establishing them.  The occasional e-mail or phone call to share opportunities or keep your name fresh on the minds of recruiters is the only way the network will work.