Five Years to B-School: The Second Year

The path from college to B-school typically takes five years. By Year Two, would-be MBAs should have leadership experience, a growing network, and high-level math skills

By Francesca Di Meglio

To help you, BusinessWeek.com is launching a new series: a five-year planner for business school. The five-part series—this is the second—will provide a year-by-year guide to what you should be doing and thinking about in building the sort of résumé and skill set that will be attractive to MBA admissions committees.

If Year One is about getting your feet wet, then Year Two in the five years leading to business school is about coming into your own. Now is the time you will start to take more initiative and create a more definitive career path. You will likely be better acquainted with your adult self and your job. Your personal life might be flourishing as well, which will give you more insight into the future you'd like to create. This is the year that you will put the wheels in motion for your application.

The five years leading up to entering an MBA program will fly by, so let's not wait. Here is what you should be working on in Year Two:

Take on More Responsibility at Work

In Year One, you found a job and learned how to do it well. With a bit more experience under your belt, you are now beginning to take on more responsibility and finding ways to have an impact beyond your everyday tasks, says Judith S. Hodara, senior associate director in the Office of Administration and Financial Aid at the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School. Your comfort level and confidence, says Hodara, should be rising. Use this to take initiative. Make suggestions for projects that you think would benefit the company and offer to take a leading role in executing them.

Of course, you should also take advantage of any opportunities for promotions or leadership roles that come your way. "Don't just wait for the yearend review," says Hodara. Step up and volunteer to do additional work. Take on responsibilities outside your job description. Go above and beyond to prove yourself, stand out, and demonstrate a solid work ethic.

At this point, you should be showing evidence of progression in your career—even if it's in practice and not in title, says Graham Richmond, co-founder and CEO of the admissions consulting firm Clear Admit, which is based in Philadelphia. Although you should try to stick it out for one more year at the same company, you can start thinking about what you'd like your next move to be and what you need to do to arrive at that point. Planning ahead is the key to fulfilling your MBA destiny.

For those aiming for the top 20 business schools, finding international experience should also be a priority. "Even if it's just meeting with a client in London or doing a project abroad, you should do it," says Richmond, who adds that there is more competition than ever from international applicants who have a slew of experience in different parts of the world. Showing you're prepared to take on the challenges of a global economy will give you an edge.

Build and Strengthen Your Network

Finding at least one mentor who could help guide you through the initial stage of your career was near the top of your to-do list in Year One. By now, you should be developing those relationships by scheduling lunch two to three times per year with your mentor.

For these meetings, you should prepare questions and follow up on goals you previously set with your mentor. If he or she suggested you read a particular book or contact a particular person, you should have completed the task and be able to discuss it. The point is to show your mentor that what he or she says matters to you and that it is making a difference. Be sure to keep in touch, says Hodara, even when you don't need anything from your mentor. Taking advantage of people's kindness and not making good on your promises will never get you anywhere.

In Year Two, you will start to build a professional network in addition to your mentors.