[1Y Programs] October Updates from the CDO

Upcoming in October & November

Keep an eye out for these upcoming events:

Registration opening in CMS soon:
- Mid October – early November | Behavioral Mock Interviews with External Consultants
Open for registration in CMS now:
- October – Cover letter & Interview Strategy Sessions
- October 25 | Quest Inside: Exploring Values & Career Foundations (Design Thinking Series)
- November 14 | Quest Inside: Gaining Clarity & Getting Unstuck (Design Thinking Series)

Networking Resources
- Expand Your Network page
- Search Stories from 2Y MBAs and recent grads
- Making the Most of Your Coffee Chat video
- Your Networking and Informational Interviews Guide
- Your Target List video
- Using AI in Your Job Search video
- LinkedIn Guys – Land the Perfect Job with LinkedIn self-directed course
  - Includes information on using AI in the job search
Interview Prep Resources
- Rocketblocks – skill-building and prep for consulting, PM, PMM, and behavioral interviews and more
- Wall Street Prep – skill-building and prep for finance-related interviews and roles
- Exponent – skill-building and prep for tech-related interviews and roles
- Vmock: Elevator Pitch – AI-powered interview prep
- Prepare for Your Interview page
- Virtual Behavioral Mocks with External Consultants (mid October to early November)
  - Registration will open in CMS soon
Offer Evaluation Resources

Recruiting at the b school-level (and beyond) in the US is a highly network-driven process. Recommendations from people outside of recruiters and hiring managers matters. This means:
- Having advocates who know you well enough to vouch for your interest, skills, and likeability either within their own organization or to another close contact who’s hiring.
- Having long-term contacts who will think of you when a job opens in their organization or friend’s organization.
So, how do you network? Check out information on Expanding Your Network on the CDO website and/or make a coaching appointment in CMS to learn more.

When we get this question, the first thing we ask back is: How long ago did you reach out? In this busy world, it can often taken days to hear back, even if your contact is genuinely interested in connecting. If it’s been less than a week, the general recommendation is to wait to follow up unless there is a strict timeline. After that, follow up once, and then, if you still don’t hear back, let it go and see if you can connect with someone else.
The second question to ask is: Do you have the right contact and did you send the right information? Double check with a reliable source to make sure that you’re reaching out to the right person for the right request. If you write an email about connecting with an alum to learn more about working as a product manager to a product marketing manager, they may feel that you’ve reached out by mistake.
Still not sure? Drop by Open Hours with quick questions or make an appointment with a coach in CMS.

There are a couple key places where you can start your research to develop a target list:
- Employers and Research Tools sections in CMS
- Second, Yale University Library Career Resources, including Existing Company Lists and Custom List resources. See this Your Target List session recording to hear the Yale Librarians give a walk-through of these options.
Note: there is no one list for all students. Yale SOM students vary widely in their interests and goals, and we aim to provide tools to help you find the target companies that work best for your goals. For more information or help getting started, make an appointment with a coach in CMS.

Check the employer notes and upcoming employer events in CMS. Whether events fill up quickly or aren’t targeted towards your program, there may be information in CMS to help guide you in next steps.
If these are employers in Consulting / Tech / IB, check out the Details Application Overviews by Industry spreadsheets in the CMS Resource Library.
Individual networking may be your way in! Check out the Alumni section in the Yale School of Management LinkedIn page, the Alumni Directory in SOMConnect, and the Who Went Where Documents in the CMS Resource Library. Unsure of how to do this kind of outreach? Check out this Your Outreach video or make a coaching appointment in CMS.

The short answer is yes and no.
Before reaching out, make sure you have your materials prepared (resume, story, LinkedIn) and you know what specifically you’re looking to achieve before reaching out.
If you’re not really sure how networking works in this context, check out the Expand Your Network page and career videos. 2Y MBA’s and coaching appointments can also be a good resource to learn more.

Start by asking your self what success means. Getting an interview? Receiving an offer? Making a connection that may pay off in 6 months? Sometimes we’re doing everything right and timing is more of the issue. We never know when the connections and conversations we have now will pay off. Be patient and keep focus.
As predictable as it may sound, if you’re feeling lost or frustrated, this is a good time to take a breather, make a coaching appointment and refresh your search. If what you’re doing right now isn’t working for you, it’s not too late to change your approach, and it’s not too soon to start thinking about alternatives.
2Y MBAs or recent graduates with a similar background and/or similar pursuits can also be great resources at this point. They’ve just been where you are and know what it’s like!

Your pace may not be as intense as your peers who are in the middle of recruiting, but now is the time to make sure you’ve done the research and have the networks you’ll need for future success. Having accepted an offer is not enough to ensure that you’ll achieve your goals.
We recommend that you:
- Build out your network, both in the company you’ll be working for and industry more broadly.
- Build out your network here at Yale to make connections that will last into future career steps.
- Do research ahead of time on your industry, role, and specific company, so that you can show your value.
- Build skills to prepare for the role, so you can hit the ground running with your peers.
- Think strategically about what you want to gain from this role and how it relates to long-term goals.