Carpe Diem
Forgive the brevity of this entry and the lack of colorful graphics. We are leaving for the U.K. soon, and there are about 100 other things I should be doing. That said, I just took an exam and earned my Executive Coaching Certification today (hooray!), so this is my way of winding down. Work will just have to wait.
Some of you may already be aware that I was passively networking for opportunities with a coaching, leadership development, and/or training focus. I had zero intention of leaving a job I like that I happen to be good at (according to feedback I have received) until after graduation, however, as this blog entry states, sometimes when opportunity knocks, you have to answer the door. I will begin employment as a Talent Development Manager at a global technology firm starting December 5th. This role combines everything I am learning in school, both in my MBA coursework and also in my coaching certificate program. I am really excited about this new opportunity to transition from coaching students and clients on managing a successful job search to coaching professionals to be more successful on the job.
If I may brag on myself for a moment...I was eager to share with my readers and students I coach, that I really did do everything I advise them to do as it relates to the job search process. I branded myself for the type of roles I was looking for based on feedback I received from friends, faculty, and my mentors. I researched the organization (extensively, so much so that they were surprised I knew many of their acronyms already). Perhaps, most importantly, I used every tool in my tool kit, i.e. I conducted information interviews with anyone who would talk to me about the organization and this type of role, requested mock interviews and coaching from my professors and friends in HR, and I appropriately thanked every one of them in a timely manner. Mind you, all of this started in the midst of a module where I was taking three courses during our busiest time of the year in my day job. Needless to say, making this interview process a priority was no easy task. Fortunately, it all worked out - at least until I start and have to establish credibility all over again!
If I had to briefly summarize the three steps I took that I believe most strongly correlated to my success in this process they would be:
Share Your Story: Prepare a powerful elevator pitch (or several) so that you are ready to tell anyone and everyone who will listen about who you are, where you've come from, and where you're going - being sure to articulate your transferable skills. I shared my story with a woman I now call my "Career Management Fair Godmother" who put the wheels in motion for me to meet my future boss after the ten days I spent with her in Israel this summer. It was a fortuitous friendship that formed, but it was how we leveraged it that mattered.
Do Your Homework: I did quite a bit of reading and informational interviewing before I interviewed with my future employer. To be more specific, I read the Hoovers, Annual, and third quarter earnings reports. I had conversations with three classmates and a friend who work for the organization. I spoke with five of my professors to seek their advice, two of whom conducted mock interviews with me. My Career Management Fairy Godmother also conducted a Skype mock interview with me. Only one of these people offered up said services on their own volition. I asked for assistance from the rest, and they were all eager to help. The point is - don't be afraid to ask for help!
Reward Your Network: At a minimum, I believe it is critical to call or thank anyone who assisted you in the pursuit of employment, regardless of the outcome. If possible, I try to send some sort of thoughtful gift or gesture, i.e. a mug and bag of Starbucks beans for a professor who mentored me, an afternoon at the spa for my Career Management Fairy Godmother, a six-pack of Belgian beer for our department chair who hails from that part of the world...you get the idea. If I don't have enough intel to send a 3D thank you gift, I will at least attempt to get a card in the mail within 24-hours or at the very least an email thank you when time is of the essence. Altruism may have been enough to motivate my network to help me, but I guarantee they will be more likely to help me again down the road or pay it forward to help someone else because I took the time to express my genuine appreciation.
One final note on branding...one of my coaching certification classmates has a blog to share her own stories. We talked about doing a blog swap and a supremely dorky management book club, so feel free to check it out: Echo's World. I met some amazing people in these classes and I look forward to staying in touch with them as we continue to use the skills we learned in the classroom out in the real world.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!