From lockdowns to layoffs, the COVID-19 crisis has deeply impacted the professional lives of many alumni around the world. Here are five simple proactive steps to succeed – whether that’s securing well-paid, stable employment or your dream job.
1. Define clear objectives based on your motivations, aptitudes and qualifications
You should take time to reflect on past experiences, your current situation and where you see yourself in the future. To ensure the realization of your objectives, make them transparent and be sure to take the viewpoint of potential decision makers into account. Learn about the dynamics in the hidden job market, the rules in the world of executive search and what triggers a successful change, then develop a coherent overall concept that is tailored to meet your objectives.
2. Pursue these clearly defined objectives
Keeping your objectives at the forefront of pursuit of a new job is vital. The key to success is having proper, clear and visible positioning in the job market, so you’ll need a convincing presentation of yourself, an effective story to tell, a clear USP and knowledge about your relevant target industry.
3. Develop your professional network
It is important to stay in close contact with your professional network and to enlarge it systematically. You will need sustainable contact with multipliers and decision-makers. Multipliers are leaders who attract and optimize talent, and often include executive search professionals, while decision-makers are those people who can make you a job offer.
4. Prepare yourself thoroughly for interviews
Do your homework and research the company and position in detail well before your interview. Will whomever interviewing you really understand what you are trying to say? Are you convincing? Develop a good sense of self-awareness, the situation and your discussion partners. By doing so, you’re decrease the likelihood of being taken by surprise by a question.
5. Ask for help if you need it
No one has all the answers, so it’s understandable you might not either. Consider reaching out to IMD Career Services – we offer assistance given by experienced fellow MBA alumni and can provide tailored help in your job search.
Tobias Tafel (MBA 1983), Managing Partner, KONITZER & TAFEL Managementberatung, Düsseldorf, Germanyis an IMD MBA Career Mentor who has been instrumental in defining the career coaching program and is its driving force.
