As Joan described, the IMD campus is a vortex of recruitment activity these 2 weeks and the sense of tension in the air is understandably, quite palpable. I guess the macroeconomic situation is not helping things; like generations of MBA students before us, many of us came with big dreams of changing function, geography or sector (or even all three!) but time and again, we are being told to revise our expectations.
At this point in the process, there are some of us who are facing a lot of uncertainty about our entire future. Not knowing where in the world we might call home in 3 months’ time, having made job applications to cities that are literally scattered across the globe. Some who envisaged specific careers in specific industries after graduation, only to find that positions are few and far between, and that rejections from a few key companies could make or break our entire hopes and dreams of our post-MBA career paths.
For me, the whole recruitment exercise is a delicate act in keeping my dreams alive while also maintaining a foot solidly on the ground. I am thankful that the MBA course has opened up the doors to some opportunities that I otherwise would not have had. And even if I do not know exactly where I will end up working next year, I am grateful that the doors that are still open for me right now are the ones that I really do want to walk through, if only I get the chance. There have been some sobering moments and quite a bit of learning, but at least it has given me some perspective about how to link my past experience with my present capabilities and then with my future opportunities.
This period of suspense is likely to last us for quite a while, and with realities like families to support, loans to pay and work permits and visas to obtain, it’s a tough time for the majority of the class. Wishing everybody all the best for your interviews this week, and hope that we will all get through this hurdle soon!
Yours,
Hwei-Yi