Since last Sunday, I had altogether 12 interviews with 9 organizations (focusing on Marketing or Strategy function) and it was only the first week of our On Campus Recruiting. Before that, I actually had an informal interview with an Executive Board Member of a leading industrial company based in Switzerland. It was not only informal, but also unusual. The setting was an bench at the meadow where we had outdoor lunch buffet at IMD, the weather was sunny, and the timing was after lunch. The interview was centered around my motivation & interest, or rather how have I aligned both, one of the trickiest question and the dynamics was not leading to enough "chemistry".
After the interview, I immediately contacted my career coach, an alumna graduated 10 years ago and now a seasoned Executive Coach (of course, she's assigned by our fabulous Career Service Team). She quickly responded and arranged a debriefing session with me, analyzing the interactions of the interview, giving feedback, pushing for preparations, and of course, I was under-prepared. My coach extended the session for an additional 30 mins to help me practice. I was really grateful for that and felt ready for the coming interviews.
Some companies already notified us about the results of 1st round interviews, both good & bad news. One of the rejection letter I received saying that I was a bit "over-prepared", in context of the particular company / headquarter country culture.
The lesson learned, preparation is always necessary & good, but execution has to be adapted according to the context. Look forward to the week II interviews!
Showing posts with label Career. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Career. Show all posts
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Sunday, January 13, 2008
What are you selling?
What's so unique about IMD (http://www.imd.ch/)? After the orientation programme early last week, I confirm that the slogan "Real World, Real Learning" is what being practiced here.
Career Service team shared with us their mission & passion to establish the platform between us (the 90 MBA students) and potential employers (67 companies conducted on campus recruiting events in 2007 plus many posting job offers online). Class 2oo7 has done a great job, within 1 month of graduation, 96% has at least 1 job offers (preliminary results).
An interesting question was posed to us, "since the participants have an average of 7-year working experience which means a quality network around the globe, should we focus more on selling the school or selling ourselves during networking?" Of course, marketing for IMD is mainly the MBA office (career / marketing / admission)'s responsibility. However, to let others understand what kind of training we've been through here at IMD definitely helps. So my answer would be: selling myself as an IMD 2008 MBA!
Catch up in week 2...Bonne nuit:-)
Career Service team shared with us their mission & passion to establish the platform between us (the 90 MBA students) and potential employers (67 companies conducted on campus recruiting events in 2007 plus many posting job offers online). Class 2oo7 has done a great job, within 1 month of graduation, 96% has at least 1 job offers (preliminary results).
An interesting question was posed to us, "since the participants have an average of 7-year working experience which means a quality network around the globe, should we focus more on selling the school or selling ourselves during networking?" Of course, marketing for IMD is mainly the MBA office (career / marketing / admission)'s responsibility. However, to let others understand what kind of training we've been through here at IMD definitely helps. So my answer would be: selling myself as an IMD 2008 MBA!
Catch up in week 2...Bonne nuit:-)
Thursday, August 30, 2007
MBA Global Career Forum
Nov 19-30, 2007, Feb 18-29, 2008
Organizer: http://mba-exchange.com/
Schools: Chicago /Columbia /HBS /IMD /INSEAD /Kellogg /LBS /MIT /Stanford /Wharton
Timeline: see the diagram on top
Organizer: http://mba-exchange.com/
Schools: Chicago /Columbia /HBS /IMD /INSEAD /Kellogg /LBS /MIT /Stanford /Wharton
Timeline: see the diagram on top
Early Birds - What 2 Expect?
As I'm counting down my last month before going back to China for a not too long break, provided the Swiss visa being issued soon after 8 weeks processing, more & more interactions with future clasmates thanks to the internet and stuffs like Skype, MSN, facebook, etc. Of course, the best is still face-to-face in a nice place for a meal & a drink. That's what i'm looking forward to - meeting up with John & Sanjay, plus our guest of honor, Glenn from the 2004 class tonight at an interesting Mexican restaurant.
Talking to Emeka this morning (very early in Nigeria:-), we've exchanged some thoughts about the career. It's now the recruiting season (2 weeks) for class 2007 in Lausanne and with a record year in 2006, we'd like to see what'll happen to the current class and of course, to us in 2008!
When the MBA class of 2006 graduated on November 30, a record 91% had already received or signed a job offer. Many of them relied on the recruiting activities organized by the Career Services team. Some 60 companies came on campus and generated 60% of the 180 offers that have been received so far.
Everyone has changed at least one factor of their career: whether it be function, industry or geography, and over 30% have managed to change all three! With industry still typically offering the higher salaries, the year at IMD has changed the goals of many of our graduates, who found themselves accepting jobs in sometimes unexpected areas…
Tina Revsbech, Danish / Maxim Kuzyuk, Russian / Kim Nguyen, Swiss/Vietnamese, read their full stories here: http://www.imd.ch/news/Record-year-for-IMD-MBA-Recruiting.cfm
Advice to Future Participants:Tina, Maxim and Kim are unanimous: start the search early and do your research! So all early birds, there're something to expect:-)
Talking to Emeka this morning (very early in Nigeria:-), we've exchanged some thoughts about the career. It's now the recruiting season (2 weeks) for class 2007 in Lausanne and with a record year in 2006, we'd like to see what'll happen to the current class and of course, to us in 2008!
Record Year for IMD MBA Recruiting
When the MBA class of 2006 graduated on November 30, a record 91% had already received or signed a job offer. Many of them relied on the recruiting activities organized by the Career Services team. Some 60 companies came on campus and generated 60% of the 180 offers that have been received so far.
Everyone has changed at least one factor of their career: whether it be function, industry or geography, and over 30% have managed to change all three! With industry still typically offering the higher salaries, the year at IMD has changed the goals of many of our graduates, who found themselves accepting jobs in sometimes unexpected areas…
Tina Revsbech, Danish / Maxim Kuzyuk, Russian / Kim Nguyen, Swiss/Vietnamese, read their full stories here: http://www.imd.ch/news/Record-year-for-IMD-MBA-Recruiting.cfm
Advice to Future Participants:Tina, Maxim and Kim are unanimous: start the search early and do your research! So all early birds, there're something to expect:-)
Monday, July 02, 2007
1997 - 2007: Tales of 2 Alumni
Talking about 1997 to 2007, what can you think of?
Ten years ago, I started my college in that hot summer day near the beautiful West Lake in Hangzhou, China and am now busy preparing for my new study at the shore of charming Lac Léman, Switzerland soon.
At the same year, Mr. Tony Blair walked into 10 Downing Street & reigned for a decade. But long before he was there, his pre-predecessor Mdm. Margaret Thatcher had already negotiated a deal with Beijing for the big day to come on that summer. I remember watching the ceremony of Hong Kong's transfer a few days before taking national entrance exam for university. After I got the results, Princess Diana passed away dramatically.
10 years on, Mr. Blair left for the Middle East envoy, Hong Kong is growing fast under "One Country, Two Systems" and people still remember England's Rose. What has all this to do with me, time will tell. For now, I want to introduce two IMD MBA alumni (though one of them still has 5 more months to go until graduation) who are featured on the website. They have a gap of exactly 10 years.
MBA 1997 Alumnus - Soren Skou, focusing on HR & value-added leadership at Maersk：
"It had been 10 years since Danishman Soren Skou was last on campus – he graduated from the IMD MBA in 1997. Then in June this year he returned for his 10 year Class Reunion...
While Soren hadn’t physically returned to campus since his graduation, he has still played an active role, by sponsoring two of his executives for the EMBA program and a couple of MBA ICP projects, “I wanted to support the school if I possibly could, and in doing so the company has also been able to benefit.”
From a personal point of view, Soren believes that the three most important things he got out of his MBA were: an updated tool box, a sharpened analytical ability and improved communications skills. “It was marketed as a tough program, and it was. But it was also an inspiring year and I had the time of my life.”
MBA Class of 2007 - Serena Shamash: a long-term dream：
...“I came to IMD for the leadership focus and the practical and global approach of the program. What I didn’t realize was how much I would enjoy being part of a smaller business school. I now understand the benefits of belonging to a tight-knit community where I can get personalized feedback and training. Additionally, the relationships and networks I’m developing are much deeper than I ever expected.”
...Following IMD, Serena plans to continue building her management skills in an international environment, working towards her long-term dream of consulting for start-ups in developing countries. “Entrepreneurship is like painting – you start with a blank piece of paper and create something out of a vision and a passion. With an enhanced self-awareness and refined leadership skills, I hope to be able to guide and inspire potential entrepreneurs in the future.”
Ten years ago, I started my college in that hot summer day near the beautiful West Lake in Hangzhou, China and am now busy preparing for my new study at the shore of charming Lac Léman, Switzerland soon.
At the same year, Mr. Tony Blair walked into 10 Downing Street & reigned for a decade. But long before he was there, his pre-predecessor Mdm. Margaret Thatcher had already negotiated a deal with Beijing for the big day to come on that summer. I remember watching the ceremony of Hong Kong's transfer a few days before taking national entrance exam for university. After I got the results, Princess Diana passed away dramatically.
10 years on, Mr. Blair left for the Middle East envoy, Hong Kong is growing fast under "One Country, Two Systems" and people still remember England's Rose. What has all this to do with me, time will tell. For now, I want to introduce two IMD MBA alumni (though one of them still has 5 more months to go until graduation) who are featured on the website. They have a gap of exactly 10 years.
MBA 1997 Alumnus - Soren Skou, focusing on HR & value-added leadership at Maersk：
"It had been 10 years since Danishman Soren Skou was last on campus – he graduated from the IMD MBA in 1997. Then in June this year he returned for his 10 year Class Reunion...
While Soren hadn’t physically returned to campus since his graduation, he has still played an active role, by sponsoring two of his executives for the EMBA program and a couple of MBA ICP projects, “I wanted to support the school if I possibly could, and in doing so the company has also been able to benefit.”
From a personal point of view, Soren believes that the three most important things he got out of his MBA were: an updated tool box, a sharpened analytical ability and improved communications skills. “It was marketed as a tough program, and it was. But it was also an inspiring year and I had the time of my life.”
MBA Class of 2007 - Serena Shamash: a long-term dream：
...“I came to IMD for the leadership focus and the practical and global approach of the program. What I didn’t realize was how much I would enjoy being part of a smaller business school. I now understand the benefits of belonging to a tight-knit community where I can get personalized feedback and training. Additionally, the relationships and networks I’m developing are much deeper than I ever expected.”
...Following IMD, Serena plans to continue building her management skills in an international environment, working towards her long-term dream of consulting for start-ups in developing countries. “Entrepreneurship is like painting – you start with a blank piece of paper and create something out of a vision and a passion. With an enhanced self-awareness and refined leadership skills, I hope to be able to guide and inspire potential entrepreneurs in the future.”
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Corporate recruiters go back to school
By Della Bradshaw - Financial Times
Published: June 4 2007 03:00 Last updated: June 4 2007 03:00
Industrial companies have traditionally favoured hiring "second-hand" MBAs - those who have cut their teeth in banking or management consultancy and want to move on. Now, this is changing.
In spite of recent concerns in the business school world that MBA degrees do not teach students skills that companies need, recruiters are increasingly giving the professional services firms a run for their money when it comes to recruiting newly minted MBAs directly from business school. These days companies such as BP, BT, Google, Pepsico, Samsung and Shell are names as familiar on the business school campus as investment banks and management consultancies.
The change came with the classes that graduated in 2002 and 2003. Following the terrorist attacks in the US and subsequent economic uncertainty, management consultancies and bankers slashed staff numbers and stayed away from business schools. Industrial companies saw their chance.
... BT is not the only company recently to commence an MBA recruitment programme. In the past two years, Ericsson and Nike have introduced MBA recruitment programmes in Europe, says Katty Ooms, director of MBA admissions and career services at IMD, where 70 per cent of the graduates enter the corporate world...
To read the full article please refer to: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/7749d366-1238-11dc-b963-000b5df10621.html
Published: June 4 2007 03:00 Last updated: June 4 2007 03:00
Industrial companies have traditionally favoured hiring "second-hand" MBAs - those who have cut their teeth in banking or management consultancy and want to move on. Now, this is changing.
In spite of recent concerns in the business school world that MBA degrees do not teach students skills that companies need, recruiters are increasingly giving the professional services firms a run for their money when it comes to recruiting newly minted MBAs directly from business school. These days companies such as BP, BT, Google, Pepsico, Samsung and Shell are names as familiar on the business school campus as investment banks and management consultancies.
The change came with the classes that graduated in 2002 and 2003. Following the terrorist attacks in the US and subsequent economic uncertainty, management consultancies and bankers slashed staff numbers and stayed away from business schools. Industrial companies saw their chance.
... BT is not the only company recently to commence an MBA recruitment programme. In the past two years, Ericsson and Nike have introduced MBA recruitment programmes in Europe, says Katty Ooms, director of MBA admissions and career services at IMD, where 70 per cent of the graduates enter the corporate world...
To read the full article please refer to: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/7749d366-1238-11dc-b963-000b5df10621.html
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