Managing Your Career: How to sell yourself and attain your career goals

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How many Students who are looking for their first job ?

How many Freshman/Freshwoman in the job market ? (less than a couple of years)

How many think they now have the dream job ?

What obstacles are you faced with finding a job ?

How many are thinking of making a career move within the next 2 years ? (internal or external)


Knowing what you really want.

Knowing how to get it

Differentiating yourself from 1000’s of “similar” candidates

Having realistic expectations

Getting people to help you

Job Search Obstacles


Different types of Search Firms and how they work ?

Robert Half and Associates

•  Contingent

•  Retained

•  Staffing


Boyden

Who Boyden is?

How retained search works?

  Step by Step description of the search process   Who pays?   How can I get my foot in the door?  It’s all about relationships.


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  Intro to professional search services

  How to sell yourself

  Science and Business: the challenges

  The importance of Networking

  Survey from the trenches


CONSULTING FIRMS

INVESTMENT BANKS

DUE DILIGENCE

MANGEMENT

STRATEGY

FINANCIAL

NETWORK POWER

TRANS - ACTIONAL

STAY PUT JOB SEARCH

STABILITY

INTERNAL PROMOTION

FEAR ?

FINANCIAL

INTELLECTUAL

CONFLICT ?

COMFORT ZONE

AMBITIONS AND DREAMS

INFORMED APPROACH

The Career Dilemma should I stay or should I go?


Managing Your Career: A Four Step Process

Define your product (i.e.: YOU!)

•  What value can I add to my future employer or company •  What value can my employment bring me?

Determine your market Take a long, HARD look at yourself and be realistic

•  The first job is rarely the ideal job •  Your qualifications might not be a perfect fit but don’t let that stop you •  Break the “lack of experience” vicious cycle •  Do your due diligence


•  Define your goals •  Define your target audience •  Efficiently communicate the value of your product (e.g.: The Elevator Pitch) •  Become visible to your audience (Networking)

Managing Your Career: A Four Step Process

Create your own “marketing plan”

GET OUT THERE AND NETWORK

•  Industry organizations and contacts •  Business acquaintances •  Recruiters •  Volunteering

  When you introduce yourself   When you’re speaking on the phone   When you leave a voice mail   In an interview - obviously   On any marketing collateral

•  Who I am •  What I do and what I want to do •  Why I am so great, my experience •  (Subtle) name dropping •  End with a specific question


Elevator Pitch Not just for the elevator


In Summary

Take home message:

  Clarify career objectives   Keep your CV tweaked   Maintain industry knowledge   Network, network, network   Feel good about your accomplishments









Top 5 most frustrating responses

You don’t have any experience You don’t have any knowledge on that subject No replies to phone messages and emails Canned responses (e.g.: We’re not hiring, do an MBA, etc….)

Who are you ?

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How to address these responses

Volunteer, be passionate, find “transferable skills” Display that learning is not only easy, but very enjoyable Be “politely persistent”, 3 follow-ups and then let go Get to that person via one of your network Do your homework properly, this one is your fault!

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"More business decisions occur over lunch and dinner than at any other time, yet no MBA courses are given on the subject."

-Peter Drucker, Business Management Guru

"You can use your business card to get the other person's business card. As far as I'm concerned, this is the one truly legitimate benefit of business cards."

-Bob Burg, Author/Motivational Speaker

“The currency of real networking is not greed but generosity.” -Keith Ferrazzi, Author Never Eat Alone


Leve

l on

Con

nect

ion

Degree of Comfort

Home Run Contacts

Mentors Champions!

“C-level” Social

Networking (LinkedIn)

Mentors Friends


Do’s Don’ts

Use your contacts. "So-and-so suggested I call you.”

Ask for referrals to others who might give you advice. This helps to develop your network.

Learn to cold call. "I'm from X university and I understand you graduated from there.”

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Don't wait for someone to call you.

Avoid sounding like a telemarketer.

Don't let rejections stop you.

Don't ask for a job—it frightens people.

Avoid talking about yourself too much. It’s not all about you, it’s about the relationship.

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Source: Dynamite Networking for Dynamite Jobs Dr. Ronald L. Krannich,


Ask for three things: 1.  Information 2.  Advice 3.  Referrals

Use a low-key approach and 70% to 80% of those you contact are likely to help.

Develop electronic networking skills.

Perfect telephone skills. Don’t take more than 10 to 15 minutes. Then follow with a thank-you letter.

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Never abuse the process. If you sincerely ask for information, advice and referrals, the conversation is usually rewarding.

Try your best to talking in person, but email and phone is better than nothing.

Don't stop networking when you get a job. The job you have today may disappear overnight.

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Source: Dynamite Networking for Dynamite Jobs Dr. Ronald L. Krannich

Do’s Don’ts


1996 First Science Mentor

2002 Grad School

2005 MaRS Ent101

2006-2007 Networking Volunteering Seminar Extracurricular course

2007 First Job Part-time

2004 First Bus. Mentor

2008 Headhunters 3 Jobs offers Competitive Scenario


In Summary Bridging the gap between Science and Business   Learn, learn, learn   Get a mentor   Don’t be afraid of what you don’t know   Be passionate, and communicate that passion, go the extra mile   Okay to be unsure   Don’t aim for the perfect job   Aim for the job where you can learn the most

Networking efficiently   Be genuine, be honest and never burn bridges   Don’t bend over backwards for anybody   Be mature, reputation is much easier to loose than to gain   Think outside the box









Factors for Success

12 -- Drive and Passion

7 -- Leadership

6 -- Networking

4 -- Intellect

4 -- Luck and Timing

2 -- Taking Risks

2 -- Effective Planning

4 -- Integrity and Fairness

# of Respondents


Factors Inhibiting Success

12 -- Lack of Belief in Self

8 -- Fear of Risk

5 -- Poor Communication

4 -- Greed and Ego

4 -- Lack of Passion

3 -- Taking Focus

1 -- Dishonestly

5 -- Procrastination

# of Respondents


“[in order to get the job] I termed this “forensic research”, and played off the readily transferable “research skills” that I had performing scientific research…”

”To this day, the key for me has always been to find ways to migrate and then differentiate myself from others with similar backgrounds…using education and work experience.”

-Executive Director, Corporate Development

”Although I was struggling with the fact that I was typecast as a scientist, I demonstrated that the problem solving skills and thoroughness acquired during my graduate studies could be applied in solving complex business issues.

-Head of Strategic Planning and Bus. Dev.

“I quickly realized that I acquired numerous transferable skills, although I struggled with the time pressure of the business world, I was very fortunate to have great mentors to help me along the way.”

-Vice-President, Life Sciences Investment Firm

