Walking through the revolving door of the open job market!

Having my MBA sponsored by one of the supermajors had made me think I could sit back comfortably on the job front and enabled me to focus on the MBA coursework, family, and property investment. One might even say I became complacent and ignored to think about other outcomes besides a full-time job! Trust me, I did think about this in passing but, as I had so many things on my mind, I decided to enjoy my MBA first and worry about not being offered a full-time placement later. And, I always knew that if I performed well in my MBA, the said supermajor could not ask for the sponsorship money back. Above that, supermajors don’t often go through such bad times that they have to lay off so many employees. I just hit the internal job market at a very bad time and this is reality – business can be good one day and poor the next day if you don't keep up in a highly competitive and dynamic environment. So, can I now say that I may have been lucky to be spotted and selected for an MBA sponsorship but not lucky enough to find a job? It does make one wonder if this were a worthwhile experience...I would think so. I got an MBA, travelled business to new parts of the world, invested the money I would have otherwise spent funding my MBA, and got to experience and learn from two solid, and very different, internship projects (this was possible only because of HEC’s flexible MBA course structure) which have given my CV a good boost. So much so that in the last few weeks that I have been slowly exploring for roles externally, I have had a few interviews/discussions with other supermajors and that industrial giant that I analysed a long time ago. And, I am also in discussions to become a consultant in a boutique energy consultancy firm in London. It is as if I am walking through a revolving door from one job discussion to another. Agree they have not all revolved smoothly but I am really pleased to know I am still sellable! Having said all these, I still don’t have a job so let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. It is just that there seems to be light at the end of my tunnel!

However, this was never my intention. I wanted to take a break for a few months and spend as much quality time as possible with my family. It is an amazing feeling to be under no pressure to wake up at a certain time, no pressure to go somewhere at a certain time, and no pressure to have an assignment or two to hand in. 17 months after I started my MBA journey – during which time I was away from family for eight months - I am finally getting some time to relax and re-vitalise...and it really is a great feeling.

La Defense; could this be where I will end up?

I am with you Rangers...

Just as Zenit St Petersburg were wrapping up the match and drawing the final curtains on Rangers and its fans last night, I got a call from California. It excited me but not for too long...I didn't make it! Very disappointed! Turns out the other candidates had educational profiles comme moi avec more relevant experience. Now, that I couldn't beat as there is only one way to gain experience. So, I am comforted by the fact that I was a strong candidate, that I took part in a very challenging process and learnt a lot of things and that I got to see San Francisco...the icing on the cake just never happened! I am with you Rangers...I can feel what you feel!

Anyway, now it is time to wrap up my project here in the UK, return to France tomorrow and be with my family. I am going to take a break for the next month or two and slowly start looking for positions. As always, good things come to those who wait! And, in my world, the glass is always half full! :-)

"Oro en Paz, Fierro en Guerra" or "Gold in Peace, Iron in War"

The short trip to San Francisco went much better than I expected. Though flying 10 hours each way only to spend 24 hours in the beautiful city meant I didn't get much sleep or rest, apart from the consolation that Virgin Atlantic's upper class seatbed was reasonably comfortable, I am almost happy with the flying visit. 'Almost' because I don't know the outcome yet even if the interview went well. And then, not all interviews that go well come out with the expected results! The group I interviewed for is a Technology Venture start-up group within a very large corporation so the spirit there is very entrepreneurial with strong teamwork and a lot of opportunities to learn new things and grow in the role. And, SFO is full of biotech and pharma companies that my wife should be able to land a job pretty easily. Ah well, no point dreaming too much until I can be sure.

On the first day, I was able to catch up for dinner with a couple of Haas students who came on an exchange programme to HEC. This turned out to be a good opportunity to learn about SFO, living costs, lifestyle, etc. And, the next day, after my interview and a quick tour of the job site, I was free to roam around SFO until my car picked me up to go to the airport so shown below are some pictures I took. And, please keep your fingers crossed for me - this MBA & PhD fella really needs a job now; Merci! :-)

Whirlwind Trips Continue...

It has been a while but I have been extremely busy trying to finish my project, be home in Paris every weekend to be with my wife who's now heavily pregnant, and spend some quality time with my son. In the midst of all these, I have also started exploring for opportunities externally after my sponsoring company 'declared' that they are not going to be able to place me in a suitable role; the company is undergoing major restructuring and laying off a lot of staff so I guess I am a small, inexpensive, fish right now. Sad that it started so well and I had plans for a long-term career in the company and it is going down like this. Nonetheless, there is one last opportunity. After many rounds of informal and formal discussions for a job I am really interested in, I am being flown out tomorrow for a face-to-face interview. Only one challenge; the job is in the San Francisco office and I have to compete with local candidates and prove that I am super duper good to be accepted for a job and green card sponsorship! Well, let's wait and see but I am also getting to a stage where I am happy to take my free MBA, stay at home for a few months with my family and hit the job market at my own pace during the summer. I have balanced family, MBA, internships, apartment renovation, and all the travels - Eurostar has even given me a Carte Blanche because of all my trips even if the tickets are the really cheap ones and I have accummulated tens of thousands of air miles - for the last 16 months that I just want to stay at home and have a nice break! Seriously! For now, I better go pack...

I was looking for pictures of the Golden Gate bridge and the one below caught my sight...perhaps the sunset has connotations with my own time in the company that I am leaving soon...