MBA IRISH ECHOES – Page 10 – Life Inside Notre Dame's MBA Program

Unwinding on Thirsty Thursdays: A Notre Dame MBA tradition

By: Dara Chesnutt

(Editor’s Note: The Round 2 admissions deadline is coming up! In honor of the occasion, enjoy this bonus post from MBA IRISH ECHOES, and be sure to check back over the next few days for more content.)

Fun fact: Of the top 25 MBA programs in the U.S., Notre Dame has the highest percentage of students from the Mushroom Kingdom. (Photo courtesy Dara Chesnutt)

Once a week, the Notre Dame MBA program coordinates “Thirsty Thursday” – when we meet at different bars! It’s a great opportunity for students to take a break from classes, clubs, and career recruitment. Most classes are held Monday-Thursday, so Thursday evenings are generally a good time to unwind. Sometimes we meet at 5 p.m. for a quick beer after class, and sometimes we meet later to explore the South Bend nightlife.

As one of the social chairs in the program, I have the privilege of coordinating these events. It’s a great excuse to see friends with whom I don’t have class, and to catch up on the week. Things happen quickly here, so Thirsty Thursday is often the time to celebrate recent internship offers, intramural wins, and surviving another accounting exam! Continue reading “Unwinding on Thirsty Thursdays: A Notre Dame MBA tradition”

5 tips from an ND MBA on how to get a job at a career fair

By: Nitesh Srivastava

The job expo at the 2016 National Black MBA Association Conference in New Orleans. It can be intimidating if you don’t have a game plan. (Photo courtesy Nitesh Srivastava)

Before I joined the Notre Dame MBA program, the resumes I handed out at career fairs tended to fall into a black hole. Since then, I’ve picked up a lot of tips from our Career Services team and my classmates, which have helped me to turn career fair interactions into bona fide job offers. It’s possible! Here are some of those tips:

1. If you’re interested in visiting the Company X booth at a career fair, apply for the job you want at Company X before you even show up at the career fair. Your goal when you visit the Company X booth isn’t to learn basic facts. Your goal is to complete your first-round interview at the career fair itself. Continue reading “5 tips from an ND MBA on how to get a job at a career fair”

Why I’m glad I waited (for B-school)

By: Bill Brunner

dome_sunrise_website-1 — (Photo courtesy University of Notre Dame)

It is funny looking back at my first year out of undergrad, because I had a comically unrealistic expectation about the impact I would make. It was a rude awakening to spend what felt like an eternity (six months) as a glorified proofer. I remember saying to myself multiple times, “Did I really go to school for four years to do this?” I also remember thinking I was going to put in one year in the professional world and then go to business school. My flaw here (among many) was that I thought business school was only going to teach me how to apply theories and to learn from previous case examples, similar to college. I hadn’t thought about invaluable learning tool that is the symbiotic sharing of past work experiences among classmates. Continue reading “Why I’m glad I waited (for B-school)”

How to survive a Notre Dame winter

By: Stacy Srivastava

Notre Dame's campus in winter is a snow globe come to life (Image used with permission. Photo credit: Jessica Cepele Photography) — Notre Dame’s campus in winter looks like a snow globe come to life. (Image used with permission. Photo credit: Jessica Cepele Photography)

If you’re from a warmer climate, you may wonder how we in the Notre Dame MBA program manage the wintry chill and deep snow on campus. Have no fear. As a lifelong Midwesterner, I’m here to offer my expert advice on surviving a South Bend winter:

1. Dress for success. To equip yourself before the cold hits, you need:

* A coat: warmth is key. Nobody will judge you if you spend the season looking like you’re wearing an ankle-length sleeping bag. Seriously.

* Boots: warm and waterproof, with good traction for slippery sidewalks. I personally swear by my fleece-lined Hunter boots, but there are many other options if Hunters aren’t your style. Continue reading “How to survive a Notre Dame winter”

From the business world to B-school

By: Jessica Villella

Prior to business school, I held a management position leading several teams for an international company. After being in the workforce for nearly 10 years, what would it be like to transition back to school? Would it be worth it?

After months of indecisiveness, I took the plunge and decided to go for it. Getting back to studying was a shock to the system. Flashcards were my new best friend. While my coworkers finished work and went home to relax, I went home to take practice GMAT exams and work on application essays. Turns out I was a little rusty at standardized tests! My husband was a huge support, helping me push through the tough times. Continue reading “From the business world to B-school”