Case Study / John
Client Situation
- Employee of a large international bank based in New York City.
- Responsible for project management for internal clients.
- Abrupt and unanticipated termination of client and a couple of colleagues in his department.
- Dual income family; one young child; high living expenses; little severance.
- Never looked for a job; never thought about being unemployed.
Challenges to this Job Search
- Client's strong preference to remain in one of the hardest hit job sectors (financial services) in one of the most competitive locations.
- No network development; no communications plan;
no interviewing skills per se. - No marketing collateral (résumé and personal interviewing techniques).
Campus2Career's Approach
The first step was to have John focus on his experience and skills which would be compelling to the appropriate financial institutions in today's economic climate, and to identify those institutions which would need and appreciate the value he would add. Working as a close team, we analyzed his strengths and weaknesses and communications style, focusing primarily on his assets while neutralizing professional weaknesses.
We then conducted in depth, specific research of the financial institutions market to select those organizations which were most likely to need John's skills and contributions. We developed a targeted road map, and were ruthless in discarding companies which would end up being distractions or time wasters. From this step we developed résumés designed to get John interviews with appropriate decision makers in different types of financial institutions.
We matched John's unique job search strategy with our personal contacts and professional networks as well as John's. Because we have wide ranging experience in business, over the years we have developed our own extensive network of key executives. We analyzed each network in several different categories and planned strategies to get in front of those decision makers who hire or influence significantly the hiring process. Each group of people within the overall network played different yet critical roles in advancing John's job search. Communications strategies, skills and tactics were developed. He learned to get an outcome from every meeting he had.
As meetings progressed to interviews, and opportunities became more clear and specific, we discussed each situation and developed individual strategies for each face-to-face meeting and follow up. And once an offer was made, we discussed the negotiation strategy.
During the whole transition period we dealt with the inevitable frustrations of a job search process. To his credit, John kept focused and upbeat, two critical elements in any successful search. The communications between John and us was systematic: weekly as a matter of course, and often as the occasion warranted it.
Outcome
John has accepted an offer at a salary level commensurate with his previous compensation with an international bank in New York, mostly unaffected by the turmoil in the financial services market. There are full benefits, a bonus program and work stability.
Comment
This case is somewhat atypical for us because the client had been in the workplace for some years. Our usual client is just entering the workplace for the first time or has been in the early stages of a first job and career.
words.
"During our daughter's transition from college grad to first-time employee, she and Frank worked as a team to develop a job search strategy and the
appropriate tactics necessary to land her ideal job. All parties appreciated Frank's perceptive and caring approach during the entire process."
- Mr. Willard Bunn III
Lake Forest, Illinois
"Thank you for helping me focus on my future during these last few months. It's truly appreciated. I feel like I'm finally taking steps to accomplish my goals. You were definitely the main catalyst for this change."
- John M. Sullivan
Charleston, South Carolina
"I have worked with Frank on two initiatives and have found him to be highly professional, knowledgeable and plugged in to the transition and headhunting professions and the business world in general. He meets his commitments."
- Qingfeng Zhang
Shanghai, China
"At the beginning of my transition, Frank's advice, counsel and direct involvement helped immeasurably to put me on the right track for my next career move. Today I have a well thought out plan and am down the road with its implementation."
- Ann Marie Lickteig
Chicago, Illinois
