Master the Job Search

Earlier this month, Naomi Osaka withdrew from the French Open citing mental health reasons.

The French Open issued her a $15,000 fine and said she would incur harsher penalties if she continued to avoid the press conferences.

Being punished for failing to fulfill a part of her job which results in a mental health difficulty is not something we are really OK with these days.

Over the past year, particularly as a result of the pandemic, there has been a lot of focus on mental health. We are seeing companies take a greater interest and role in promoting the mental health of their employees.

The way a company treats its employees’ mental health is a good indication of what the organisation prioritises, how they think about their employees, and corporate culture as a whole.

You might not think company culture is a make it or break it issue, but it certainly should be a consideration for you in your next job search.

Have you grabbed your copy of the 4 Facts High Achievers Need to Know to Take Control of Their Careers and Obtain a Job They Love? Click here to get your copy: https://masterthejobsearch.com/subscribe/

Visit the episode website for the full show notes: https://masterthejobsearch.com/9

I am working with a lot of clients right now who are looking to pivot their careers. While some are looking to change jobs, others hope to obtain positions in an entirely different industry.

If you want a job in a different industry, how do you sell yourself to employers? It’s hard to claim expertise in a sector you’ve never worked in before.

But you can take your current skills and augment them.

If you're looking to quickly build some expertise in a new field this episode suggests a few ways to do it.

Have you grabbed your copy of the 4 Facts High Achievers Need to Know to Take Control of Their Careers and Obtain a Job They Love? Click here to get your copy: https://masterthejobsearch.com/subscribe/

For full show notes and links to resources mentioned in this episode, please visit: https://masterthejobsearch.com/8

Lots of job seekers are concerned that if they have a string of jobs they only stay in for a short period of time, it’s going to reflect poorly on them when they go to look for a new position.

While there are plenty of people who job hop consistently, there are just as many employees who fail to launch. They stay in position or with a company for too long.

Jobs do have an expiration date. There is a point at which you can remain in a position for too long and risk becoming under-employed.

If you feel like your job is reaching its expiration date, this episode includes several tips to mind as you begin crafting your job application documents and putting in your applications.

Visit the episode website for the full show notes: https://masterthejobsearch.com/7

Do you feel like the years are passing you by without the career progress you'd like to see?

This episode talks about how to write your retirement resume to help you create a career plan.

The Eulogy Exercise, a common activity in MBA programs and Leadership courses, as well as the book Deep Work by Cal Newport are discussed.

Visit the episode website for the full show notes: https://masterthejobsearch.com/6

As Benjamin Franklin said, “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”

Do you have a plan for your career? Or is it more of a blank slate?

When you pursued your degree, did you know what you planned to do with it? Or did you get it because it sounded like a good idea?

And what about your experiences? Have you made a thoughtful and concerted effort to gain experiences you are lacking?

This episode covers the two essential types of experiences you need to have in order to become a well-rounded professional. Several questions are provided to help you determine where to focus your efforts. And suggestions are given to help you bridge those gaps.

 Visit the episode website for the full show notes: https://masterthejobsearch.com/5

Have you ever heard the expression “head down, bum up”? If you are interested in obtaining a promotion this is the worst possible advice you can follow.

Many people believe focusing on their work is the best way to get their next promotion, pay raise, or recognition. Yes, hard work is important. But it will only get you so far.

If you have aspirations of working your way up the career ladder, there are a few important steps you need to follow to position yourself correctly.

Visit the episode website for the full show notes: http://MasterTheJobSearch.com/4

A report issued by the World Economic Forum in 2020 stated that the half-life of a learned skill is about five years. This means that five years from now your current skill set will only be worth half as much as it is today.

For someone who got their MBA 10 years ago does that mean their degree is only worth 25%? Maybe. But then again, someone who earned an MBA 10 years ago has probably learned a lot from working during the last decade.

Nevertheless, this does raise the question of the need for continuing training and upskilling even after obtaining an MBA.

Visit the episode website for the full show notes: http://MasterTheJobSearch.com/3

For some of you the Global Financial Crisis may have greatly impacted your career and life. For others, the GFC may have simply been a blip on your radar because you were in elementary school.

Regardless of your situation 12+ years ago, there were a number of lessons learned during that time that are relevant to what's going on today.

In late 2008, Time magazine published an article titled “Why MBA means More Bitterness Ahead.”  That title always stuck with me. I can see from some of the MBA clients I'm currently working with that this alternate abbreviation is applicable to some job seekers today.

How does this relate to today's situation? In 2020, we all probably heard the word “pivot” more times than ever before.

Companies pivoted. Governments pivoted. The tourism industry pivoted. Employees were pivoting, sometimes into new sectors, sometimes they were pivoting to new entrepreneurial opportunities.

In short, it seemed like everyone was pivoting in 2020 and that this trend is continuing on into 2021.

Something similar happened in 2008. Even though the word pivot was not really used, many MBAs did exactly that. 

Prior to the GFC, MBAs traditionally went directly into finance upon graduation. But, as its name indicates, the Global Financial Crisis meant there weren’t jobs available in financial firms.

This forced MBA grads to get creative. They started looking for opportunities in other sectors, such as health care and energy.

How can current MBA grads who are on the job hunt avoid the possibility of more bitterness ahead?

Visit the episode website for the full show notes: MasterTheJobSearch.com/2

There are a lot of people who are fans of the MBA and tout its merits. However, there are also plenty of critics who don't really appreciate it.

One of the most vocal opponents of the MBA has been Elon Musk. You may have heard some of the comments he's made. He never shies away from sharing his opinion and has made it known he has a less than favourable one about MBAs.

In the past Musk has said things like MBA graduates “may be good at powerpoint presentations but they don't know how things work.”

In late 2020, Musk spoke at the Wall Street Journal's CEO Council Annual Summit. One of the comments he made was that MBAs were polluting companies’ ability to think creatively and give customers what they really want.

This commentary came as no surprise to me because it is in line with what Musk has said for years.

At the summit Musk went on to say, “I think there are too many MBAs running companies. There's the MBA-ization of America… There should be more focus on the product or service itself, less time on board meetings, and less time on financials.”

Elon Musk is not the only big name CEO who has taken to demeaning the MBA. 

Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos, has also been rather critical of MBAs. However, he acknowledges that he does hire them. 

Of course, so does Elon Musk. But Elon Musk likes to say, “I hire people in spite of an MBA, not because of one.”

Peter Thiel is a venture capitalist who started PayPal with Musk. Thiel is known for saying, “never hire an MBA; they will ruin your company.”

As somebody who's taught in Master’s and MBA programmes for over a decade and works with MBAs who are on the job hunt, I struggle hearing this kind of criticism. There is a lot to be said for the MBA degree and I think that if it's used properly it absolutely can help somebody with furthering their career.

Whether you already have an MBA or are thinking of getting one, here are a few things to remember:

1. There will always be critics.
2. You don’t have to attend a top ranked program to be successful. There are benefits to attending Stanford or Harvard Business School. But alumni status from one of these institutions is not a golden ticket without additional work.
3. It’s imperative you take your MBA degree and make it your own.

Are you an MBA graduate who pursued your degree in an effort to enhance your skills and advance your career?

Have you seen a return on your MBA investment? Or do you feel a bit stuck in your career?

If you’d like to harness your MBA to take your career to the next level, this show is for you.

This podcast will provide you with tips related to all aspects of the job search process. It will provide insight on how to:

●     evaluate job postings,

●     appropriately tailor applications to each job opening,

●     write winning resumes and cover letters,

●     stand out in job interviews, and

●     successfully transition to a new role or organization.

Episodes will address professional development topics including:

●     how to determine the best direction for your career,

●     build your professional brand and reputation, and

●     create a long-term strategic plan for success.

Some episodes will be interviews with industry experts or MBA graduate job seekers. These guests will share their struggles, successes, and pay it forward by offering words of wisdom.

The Master the Job Search podcast is hosted by Kelly Phelan, a former Business School professor and MBA Career Strategist. Kelly helps motivated MBA graduates confidently take control of their careers and design meaningful futures.

Learn more about Kelly and how you can work with her by visiting Masterthejobsearch.com.