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Not Just A Job--The Right Job
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- Lee Hecht Harrison
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(L to R) Richard, Haines, Willis, Rasmussen |
To ensure that students understand the career choices before them, the Graduate Career Management Office at the Moore School offers them career exploration activities like the Lunch and Learn sessions that are part of the PPG—Career Exploration Series. The Series, made possible through a grant from PPG Industries, Inc., also supports the Business Etiquette Luncheon and the Mock Corporate Networking Reception that develop job-search skills.
During Lunch and Learns sessions, graduate students have the opportunity to ask a panel of corporate representatives questions about jobs and industries. The knowledge the professionals impart helps students more clearly define their career objectives so that when they enter the job market they know what they want and can pursue it with confidence and determination. Each Lunch and Learn session begins with a panel discussion between three or four corporate representatives as the students dine on the sponsor-provided boxed lunches. The panel discussion is followed by a lively question and answer session.
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2007 Lunch and Learn Sessions
Supply Chain/Logistics and Operations
Finance
Marketing
Leadership Rotational Programs
Auditing/Consulting
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So far, Haines, Rasmussen, and Richard are very pleased with their leadership development program experiences. During the panel discussion they shared the differences between the programs and what future candidates should consider during the interview process.
Each decided to go into a rotational program because they were not exactly sure what they wanted to do. The rotational programs were appealing because they presented the opportunity to work in multiple functions. The process would expose them to many options as well as people at a higher management level than if they were hired into a specific position.
To prepare for interviewing, Haines and Richard said students should be prepared to work a case study. “Be able to think on your feet—they want to see your thought process and problem-solving skills,” said Richard. “Be honest with people and be decisive.” After taking a small standardized test, Haines was given a case to work with a team of other candidates. “Each person had to prepare a five-minute presentation and then persuade others in group to choose your idea,” explained Haines.
The program differences are due in part to how established and structured each program is. The Home Depot program is well established and also more tightly structured. Rasmussen and Richard started during the inaugural years of their respective programs, so the have experienced a bit more flexibility and less structure than has Haines.
The Home Depot has a two-year program made up of four six-month rotations. “My first 6 months I was in operations in an area called Customers First and worked to develop an escalation process to handle customer complaints in the call center,” stated Haines. “During the second six months in Consumer Insights, I did market research examining who the most profitable customers are and how the company can grow that segment.” Now in her third rotation, Haines works as an assistant store manager in Florida.
At Bank of America, which has several leadership development programs, Craig Rasmussen is in the Technology MBA Program. Over three years, he will experience between two-to-four rotations. “You can move across lines of business and across technology roles,” said Rasmussen. “My first rotation I spent as a program manager for a strategic initiative on a $50 million project. In my second role, I now support five lines of business trying to help them with their strategy and I solve problems.”
David Richard is in his first of four, six-month rotations at Resurgent Capital Services, the largest purchaser of distressed consumer debt. “Resurgent just started a new line of business to make auto loans and I am responsible for the quality assurance function. I develop software that effectively manages the process,” said Richard.
The panelists agreed that the Moore School Graduate Career Management Office prepared them very well for the job search and interview process. The career exploration activities, like Lunch and Learn sessions, really helped them clarify their goals and the soft-skill development activities really gave them a professional edge that made them stand out from other candidates. The Career Management Office offers these programs because they know the importance of preparation so graduates get the right job “fit.” After all, these students aren’t earning an MBA just to get a job. They are making the investment because they want the right job--that will be the start of a rewarding career.
January 2008