MBA Switchers: Managing Career Expectations and Mapping the Way Forward
✓ Strategies for helping MBAs overcome common career switch challenges. Takeaways ✓ The 5 steps for MBAs to make a successful switch in today’s job market. ✓ Psychological principles underlying the job search and how MBAs can use these to their advantage. D AW N G R A H A M | S W I T C H E R S
Market Trends • 52% • 64% • 98% D AW N G R A H A M | S W I T C H E R S
CAREERS TODAY: - Constant Reinvention - Creating Ambassadors - Career Stories A “Traditional” career: - represents our expertise, profession, and ultimately IDENTITY. - builds over time INCREMENTALLY and endures. - gives us financial and psychological REWARDS. D AW N G R A H A M | S W I T C H E R S
Drivers of Long-Term Career Success D AW N G R A H A M | S W I T C H E R S
MBA Career Switch killers Limited training or experience Hazy or dual job Desire for quick conducting a job search target. results post-MBA. search in the current market. Believing a hirer cares about passion, Underestimating the Resistance to an MBA, or need to rebrand. networking. coursework. D AW N G R A H A M | S W I T C H E R S
I DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY N D 1. F U N C T I O N A L S K I L L S U S Choose T 2. Moderately 1. Least Challenging Challenging R Your Traditional Switch Y Single Switcher (Industry) Key Strategies: Job Board, Switch Headhunters, Networking E Key Strategies: Job Board, Networking X P E 3. Very Challenging R 4. Most Challenging Single Switcher I Double Switch (Function (Function) & Industry) E N Key Strategies: Internal Key Strategies: company move, C Networking Networking, E D AW N G R A H A M | S W I T C H E R S
The Double- Switch D AW N G R A H A M | S W I T C H E R S
2. Clarify Your Plan A Plan A D AW N G R A H A M | S W I T C H E R S
3. Craft Your Brand Value Proposition D AW N G R A H A M | S W I T C H E R S
Who Am I? KEY KEY KEY TITLES ACCOMPLISHMENTS EXPERTISE/TRAINING • Licensed Psychologist • Wrote/edited 1000s of • MS in Org Development resumes; Cover letters • Recruiter/HRM • PhD in Psychology • Facilitated 100s of career, • National Radio Host • Ex-pat in Europe (twice)/ HR & leadership • Published Author • Website development/ seminars HTML; newsletters • Senior Consultant • Built a global talent • SPHR (Senior • Global Talent Director mgmt function & team Professional of HR • Career Coach (across 4 continents) certification) • Certified Personal • Managed largest client of • Extensive training design Trainer firm ($14B earning $3M and facilitation • Forbes Columnist annually) • Hired, trained and • Entrepreneur • Youngest leader at firm managed global/virtual • Board Member x 2 • Recognized as “One to teams; Recruiting; • Adjunct Professor Watch”; Denver • Deep assessment skills Magazine • Victim Advocate for • Defined, built and Denver Police Dept. • Exceeded Annual BD implemented global goals within 6 mos of • Operations Manager infrastructures joining a new firm • Market Researcher • Program/Project • Created a Career Mgmt • Drug & Alcohol Management Tool for the Big 6; rolled Counselor • Career/Interview out nationally • Writer/Blogger Coaching • Published original • Black Jack Dealer • Deep industry expertise in psychology research talent mgmt/HR • EAP Counselor • Pitched and launched a • Editing/publishing a book • Volunteer Sirius XM show • Podcasting expertise • Podcaster • Started two businesses
Your CAREER STORY must: 1. Demonstrate COMMITMENT to the target 2. Sound LOGICAL to your audience 3. Be GENUINE (but not TMI) 4. Communicate VALUE (e.g., align your strengths with solving your target’s pain points) 5. Incorporate your USP (unique selling point) 13 D AW N G R A H A M | S W I T C H E R S
EXAMPLE: BRANDED Career Switch Story (Transition from Lawyer to HR Director) “After partnering with clients to help them to mitigate risk, remain compliant and develop retention strategies for 10 years, I was ready to broaden my client base. I decided to return to school to earn my EMBA with a specialty in organizational management, while simultaneously accepting the role of overseeing employment policy and compliance in my company. Over the last two years, I’ve successfully implemented two new organization-wide programs, a performance review plan that contributed to decreased attrition rates by 22%, as well as the creation of contracts and related policies that allowed eligible employees the flexibility to work from home without legal risk. Now, I’m ready to bring these skills to an emerging tech company like yours where mitigating risks to save costs and creating a worker-friendly employment model are core values. 14 D AW N G R A H A M | S W I T C H E R S
4. Create Ambassadors D AW N G R A H A M | S W I T C H E R S
The Psychology of the Job Search D AW N G R A H A M | S W I T C H E R S
5. Keep the Ball in your court D AW N G R A H A M | S W I T C H E R S
THANK YOU ! To learn more: • Purchase Switchers on Amazon or from other great booksellers. • Follow me on social media: DrDawnGraham • Check out “Career Talk ” on SiriusXM radio (Channel 132) or catch podcast replays on Player.fm or iTunes. D AW N G R A H A M | S W I T C H E R S
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