Tag Archives: MBAchic

Happy 2012: Thanks

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Happy New Year!

I hope you enjoyed a great holiday season with loved ones, and that your 2012 has gotten off to a fantastic start.

Looking back, I have to say: 2011 was great. I started writing for MBAchic and had the chance to meet many people who either find themselves, plan to be, or once were in my shoes as an MBA student. It’s been great to connect and share with each other over the past few months, and I’ve learned so much. Through social media channels (Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook), I also found a completely new world, full of bloggers, thought leaders and contributors who discuss technology, women in business, management and more. I’ve had the chance to interview and work with some awesome people, and cannot wait to share more of these interviews and features in 2012.

Some of you offered your thoughts and experiences through a guest blog. Some came by to comment on an article. Some shared MBAchic through tweets, reblogs and Facebook likes. Some are reading MBAchic for the first time, right now. I hope you are enjoying, and I want to say: thank you. Thanks for making 2011 great.

If you are an MBA student: best of luck in your job and internship searches, and I hope you are enjoying some time off before the spring term. If you are applying to business school: good luck! I hope you wind up where you truly belong, and that you have a great experience. If you’ve done all of this before, I hope you will consider sharing some of your experiences with us here.

Thanks again, everyone. Here’s to a great year!

[Guest Blog] Keep It MBAchic: What to Wear to your Holiday Office Party

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It’s that time of year. Holiday e-cards, secret santa gifts, and holiday office parties! These parties are a time to wind down with your colleagues, take a small break from work and celebrate end of the year holidays. For some it can also be a time to break away from the boring business casual and to show your co-workers that you CAN clean up nice!  So MBA ladies, what should you be wearing to the holiday work party?

In choosing the perfect outfit for this occasion, there are a few things to consider:
1) The type of office environment – Do you work in a more corporate and conservative office? Is it more business casual? Or can you pull off more laid-back and casual looks?
2) Venue and type of party – Is the party at a swanky space with the entire office invited? Or are you just celebrating with co-workers at a local bar?

Depending on your work environment and the type of party, you have some flexibility in choosing an outfit that will have your colleagues remembering what you wore well into the new year.

Since holiday work parties vary for many of us, I’ve come up with some stylish options for a few different party scenarios – formal vs. casual and at a few different price ranges.

A Very Formal Corporate Affair

My office every year has a really big, fancy holiday-bash which calls for more formal wear. I chose to cover up a bit by opting for a longer hemline but I like to spice things up with a bright, bold color or with some sparkly fabric.

DVF Clarice Dress
Diane von Furstenberg Clarice Dress
($980 at DvF.com)		 Warehouse Halter Maxi Dress
Warehouse Halter Maxi Dress
($155 at asos.com)
Alice + Olivia Lurex Dotted Cocktail Dress
Alice + Olivia Lurex Dotted Cocktail Dress
($385 at MyTheresa.com)		 Robert Rodriguez Black Label Avril DressRobert Rodriguez Black Label Avril Dress
($125 at RenttheRunway.com)


A Fun B-School Party

You current MBA ladies can opt for a dress that is a bit more fun and flirty, but still professional. Since you can be a bit more daring, I’d even try something chic and unconventional like a well-structured jumpsuit.

 

Reiss Eyelet V-Neck Dress
Reiss Eyelet V-Neck Dress
($137)		 Fringed Metallic Dress
Fringed Metallic Dress
($30 at forever21.com)
Asymmetric Jumpsuit
Asymmetric Jumpsuit
($90 at zara.com)		 Pleat Bust Jumpsuit
Pleat Bust Jumpsuit
($91 at asos.com)

Getting to know your colleagues (or classmates) in various social settings is part of the job so I’d recommend dress styles that suit your tastes and show off your style and individuality. Don’t forget to complete the package by adding accessories and a polished makeup look. Happy holiday partying!

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Ivie Ero of My So-Called Corporate Life is a recent MBA working in management consulting. She blogs about her personal corporate style and workwear inspiration.

[Guest Blog] How to Juggle Work and School

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Two years ago, I made the decision to get my MBA while continuing to work a full time job. Although the past two years have been a whirlwind, I am very happy I made the choice to continue my education. I have found that although I currently have a job I love, I am now performing even better and also finding new opportunities that better match my interests and skills. I have also been fortunate enough to be able to keep my income and not have to worry about finding a job when I graduate.

Before starting grad school I tried to mentally prepare myself for this juggling act. But, the truth is I really had no idea what to expect. Here is what I wish someone would have told me before I made the leap:

1. Learn to Say No. You do not have to attend every networking event. Just go to as many as possible.

2. You will have to work extra hard to maintain your social life and previous friendships. But, the important friendships are worth it to maintain even if you only have an hour of free time every week.

3. Your management will take notice of how hard you are working and the knowledge that you are bringing to your job. I was promoted in my current company after only a year in school.

4. Technology makes the juggling act easier. Having access to my school email on my phone while I work allows me to stay connected with my group and make changes to projects at the last minute. With all of my classmates juggling so many responsibilities, it is almost impossible to get us all together in one location. Fortunately, Skype allows us to hold group meetings virtually. Also, don’t worry if you have to travel frequently for your job. Professors are very understanding of work travel and my school even videotapes classes for us so we can watch them online when we return.

5. Schedule time out for a break because the to-do list will never end. Don’t be afraid to take a day off from work or skip a class if you have to. It is impossible to get an A+ at both work and school, just do the best you can. Schedule a vacation, a day with no work or even a night to just enjoy a movie with your family.

6. Grad school consists of way too many group projects. I have learned that other people juggle their responsibilities differently than I do. I try to get work done as early as possible but others in my group wait until an hour before a paper is due to finish. I have learned to respect others juggling habits which has allowed me to be a better manager.

Continue reading →

“Sorry, I can’t… I have to study.”

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How many times do you have to skip out on fun with friends or family gatherings because your MBA homework and studying is out of control?

I turn down invites and disappoint friends and family members more times than I would like, but as I move further along in my MBA coursework, I realize that the academic work does not have to completely control my schedule. It’s more about being smart about how I study and plan for each semester. The point is: you can be strategic in your approach and enjoy your grad school years (and come on, MBAs love strategy):

Manage your courseload.

When course registration time rolls around, you should be thinking about how next semester is going to play out, and how you can make it easier for yourself. I understand that sometimes you don’t have an option to choose what is next in the course sequence, but take advantage of any freedom you have in this department. Think about what kind of courses you can take, and what kind of semester you will have. If you know investment analysis is going to be tough, why not balance that out with marketing or business ethics? Do what makes sense for you. When midterms come around, you [hopefully] won’t be freaking out about what you have on your plate, because you took time to balance out your courseload.

Check that syllabus.

Once you start, check your syllabus. In some programs, I’ve heard of professors working with each other to ensure students do not have multiple exams in one day – how amazing is that? For everyone else: once you get access, take that course calendar and start mapping out your deliverables and exam dates. Taking fifteen minutes to jot down key dates for school will help you figure out what weeks will be hectic, and when you might be able to plan a weekend trip. A lot of the “coursework” posts on MBAchic recommend doing some planning in the beginning, but it does help: in one semester, I had four weddings happening over three consecutive weekends (yes, that means two weddings in one weekend)…. it. was. ridiculous. In order to pass my classes, I had to plan ahead.

Continue reading →

MBA Checkpoint: Are you on track?

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We’re about halfway through the semester, and that means midterms, projects and typical MBA fun. As if business school was not busy enough? Between all the company information sessions, networking mixers, club meetings, parties and career panels, I have to find time to study? Clearly, I am kidding, but the fall seems to be a jam-packed, super busy season for everyone.

Like many of you, I’ve been busy — and I realized how easy it is to get caught up in the rush and let time pass you by. Keep rocking this semester (as per usual), but make sure you take a minute to reflect on what’s going on: call it a checkpoint.

This is a great time to take inventory because it has only been half a semester; you have a chance to make some changes. I needed to manage my time better and thought about why I am in b-school in the first place. I thought about the goals I set for myself and realized that I had to do some re-prioritizing. I had to make a pretty tough decision to leave a student organization on campus because I realized it was no longer tied to my goals. I was very involved with this group but when I looked at everything I had going on, it was overwhelming and I knew it was time to bow out (I literally wrote out a list of everything on a sheet of paper: the list was ridiculous). Continue reading →

[Guest Blog] 10 Questions to Ask Yourself: How To Choose The Right Grad School Program for You and Your Career

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When I began my pursuit of grad school, I did all of the right stuff you’re supposed to do to get into an MBA program. I filled out admissions cards at MBA fairs, talked to admissions reps and alumni grads about their B-school experiences, and toured business schools across the country. I stocked my bookshelf with purple Kaplan guides to study for GMATs, and read books like Richard Montauk’s How to Get Into Top MBA Programs and Robert Miller’s Business School Confidential.

Then I started to question myself. Was an MBA what I really wanted, or was it what others expected of me? Why did I REALLY want the degree?

The truth is, something in my gut kept holding me back. I had networked with and met so many accomplished and amazing MBA graduates and visited beautiful campuses. But I couldn’t relate to their ambitions such as making a lot of money, and didn’t see myself working for top investment banks or climbing the ranks at management consulting firms.

Getting an MBA was the next logical step in my career. It was supposed to teach me about more areas of business, open new doors in the corporate world, and give me better career opportunities.

But for some inexplicable reason, it just didn’t feel right.

Be Honest with Yourself

When I put my MBA pursuit on hold and really thought about what I wanted to do and what I was passionate about, I realized that it actually had nothing to do with getting an MBA. Continue reading →

Keep it MBAchic: What to Wear to the Interview (Marketing, Advertising, PR)

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Welcome to the second installment of Keep It MBAchic! Hope you found the first Keep It MBAchic article helpful – this article is about what you can wear to an interview in marketing, advertising or PR (check out the first piece for some general tips on interview wear).

As you search for your dream job or summer internship, it is important to think about your personal brand, and how you are communicating this to potential employers. For a marketing/PR interview, Joe Zee of ELLE Magazine (@mrjoezee) suggested a chic blouse, pencil skirt, and a fitted jacket (thanks again to Joe Zee!).

In these settings, you can be a little less conservative in the styling of your look. You’re an MBA lady. If you’ve made it past a phone interview, or your resume has qualified you for a first visit, they know you are smart, you work hard and you are a professional. Make sure what you’re wearing does not throw anyone off – your packaging should be consistent with your brand.

Using Joe Zee’s advice, I put together a possible look for this kind of interview:

Keep It MBAchic | 11092011 by mbachic featuring low heels

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This navy pencil skirt is classic, the bright top adds some interest and the white blazer keeps it crisp. The accessories are a little expensive (this DVF Harper bag is fantastic, but carries a steep price tag), so the key is to work with what you have. This look is achievable at any price point!

Polyvore is a great tool for planning different looks and collections (so far I’m loving it). I am still poking around the site and finding more great things, but I am having even more fun browsing some other collections. For example, I love this look: Continue reading →

Chatting Up the Dean: James Dean, UNC Kenan-Flagler

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Recently, I had the opportunity to chat with James Dean, Dean of The University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School. In this interview, we discussed UNC Kenan-Flagler, the MBA degree, women in business and more. Dean Dean gave some great life advice that I really think applies to everyone — not just MBA students or applicants, and definitely not just women. Check out our conversation below!

MBAchic: What is the best part of your job?

Dean James Dean: Certainly helping to develop young people. Whether we’re talking about undergraduates or MBA’s: at whatever level or age people come to us, it’s great to see them develop as people and develop as business people. It’s really exciting, and it’s probably why I got into education. It is really interesting helping people to get them where they want to go, and achieve their potential. A single event that typifies what’s best about the job would probably be graduation. Not the ceremony itself—what I really like is seeing the students with their parents and with their families. You see how much it means to their families, that their son or daughter has graduated a program at UNC and has an MBA or undergraduate degree; you realize that you’re really changing people’s lives—it’s extraordinarily gratifying.

Also, when I’m with alumni who’ve graduated five or ten or literally 30 or 50 years ago, they can all tell you about some faculty member who changed their lives. It’s different ones for different people, but they say that the trajectory of their lives were changed and shaped by this individual who’s on our faculty—so just to be part of that, and feel that gratitude that people have, and the affection for the institution and the business school is [the other best part of the job].

MBAchic: UNC Kenan-Flagler is a top-ranked school. What kind of initiatives do you have planned to take the school forward?

Continue reading →

[Guest Blog] Why You Should Start Building Your Network Before You Get to School

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Networking. It’s this bizarre word that describes so much of what we do at business school – socially and professionally, actively or subconsciously – but no one really likes the word, or the connotation that comes with it.

It doesn’t all have to be bad, but business school doesn’t teach you a lot about how to do it. But the truth is, building your network is critical to your success and your happiness as an MBA. And the one thing they certainly don’t tell you at the Career Management Center is that you should start networking the day you find out you’ve been accepted to business school.

Here are some reasons to start networking now:

People will believe that you are serious about their industry. Especially for those students who are looking to transition to a new career, start informational interviews before starting school, or very early on in the first term. It shows commitment to the industry, and it shows that you know what you want.

Also, it’s a way to differentiate yourself – you don’t want to be the twelfth person who asks someone for an informational interview during a heavy recruiting cycle – it will be obvious what you want, and it will be difficult to differentiate yourself from your peers. As they say, to be memorable, you want to be the first interview, or the last one.

You can avoid the networking semi-circle of doom. Continue reading →

Working with Beat The GMAT!

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You might have seen my tweet last week, but I wanted to post a blog explaining what is happening with MBAchic and Beat The GMAT. I’m happy to announce that going forward, MBAchic articles will be syndicated on BeatTheGMAT.com. If you are already a reader of MBAchic (you can subscribe in the sidebar!), not much will change, but this provides an opportunity to reach a larger audience of MBA applicants. As always, your Facebook posts and retweets and shares are much appreciated, All that will happen is that any articles that Beat The GMAT finds relevant will be reposted to the BTG homepage.

On that note, I have been in touch with Eric Bahn, the founder of Beat The GMAT, and he has shared some new things they are putting together. MBA Watch is a new tool developed by the BTG team. I asked him some questions about the new tool:

MBAchic:  What is MBA Watch?

Eric Bahn, founder of Beat The GMAT: MBA Watch (www.mbawatch.com) is a free service that makes researching MBA programs easy.  There are three main features of MBA Watch as of today: Continue reading →