Tuesday, May 10 12:00 - 1:00 PM Eastern
Know Before You Go—Prepare to Network with Companies at the Forté MBA Women’s Conference
Preparing to network with companies at the MBA Women’s Conference is more than just brushing up your resume. Jodi Glickman, Founder of Great on the Job will discuss all of the aspects related to networking events. You'll walk away with tips and strategies for introducing yourself, breaking into conversations, exiting gracefully, asking good questions, conversation starters and more. Webinar registration is required.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Reserve your hotel today - deadline is Saturday May 7!
Don’t miss out on a great hotel rate by waiting until it’s too late! We encourage everyone to take advantage of wonderful hotel rates and the opportunity to network with other MBA students from Forte Sponsor schools by staying at one of our host hotels. Group rates and details are located on our website.
Monday, April 25, 2011
What’s Your Potential?
Are you unclear about your professional direction after your MBA? Do you sense limitations or uncertainties? Perhaps you are even a bit afraid? Don’t be. You’ve got huge potential. Learn how to maximize it. Join Lynne Morton, award-winning executive coach and management consultant on a learning journey through the FUSIONCoaching for High Potential Women model. The interactive workshop will give you insights and get you started on a solid path forward. Lynne’s workshop is offered on Friday morning, June 10. Click here for more information about Lynne and to review her blog with the latest post on Why Develop High Potential Women Differently Than Men, and Why Now.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Just Announced - Dialogue with Leadership Presenters Confirmed!
Uta Werner, Chief Strategy Officer, Xerox & Kristin Peck, Executive Vice President, Worldwide Business Development and Innovation, Pfizer share insights and dispense advice on how to overcome the challenges of advancing to the top. Moderated by Pattie Sellers, Editor at Large, FORTUNE. Learn more about the Dialogue with Leadership at www.fortefoundation.org/mbaconf
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
How To Ask For Job Search Help
By Caroline Ceniza-Levine, Co-founder of SixFigureStart®,
Caroline is moderating the panel, “It’s Who You Know”, on Saturday at the Forte MBA Women’s Conference.
The typical advice says that you should tell everyone that you are looking. But is that really helpful for management-level jobs or jobs in a very specific industry, say finance? Will people really get leads from their manicurist?
If I could choose between help from my manicurist or the Managing Director of a bulge-bracket investment bank, then of course I would go for the MD. (This assumes you are ready to make your pitch; the MD should not be someone you practice your pitch with.) If access is equal and you are ready to talk intelligently about your search, you should always pick the person who you think is more immediately relevant to your search.
However, the rule of thumb that everyone is a networking target is valid because you don’t know exactly what or whom everybody knows, so reaching out broadly doesn’t hurt and may actually help. Furthermore, you may not have access to the MD of a bank or other decision-maker in the area you are targeting and you have to start with the network you have. Perhaps the manicurist house sits for the MD or was a banker and is working as a manicurist in preparation for opening her own spa. Often, in networking you have to start further away from your end target and work to get closer. A lot of the payoff is in these weaker ties, not in your most immediate circle.
To keep making progress, you need to effectively ask for help. Effective asking means that you have specific companies and functional areas in mind so that you can tell your networking target exactly what you need. Don’t hand out a resume or give a pitch about yourself and leave it to others to guess where you might fit or what info you need. Even if they want to help, they may not know how. Instead, give them a 30-second pitch so they know you’re qualified and serious, but ask with specificity:
Do you know anyone at Companies X, Y or Z? Perhaps someone who used to work there?
Do you know companies who do similar work?
What do you know about financial services? This is helpful for a lead like the manicurist, where you may not know if s/he has any relevance to your search. This is where s/he can say, “Well, I house sit for the MD at Big-Old-Boring Trust…”
Coach them through their mental rolodex:
Someone you used to work with?
Someone you went to school with?
Someone at the church (or other organization where you know this person)?
Assure them that you are at the research stage and looking for information, not a specific job. This ensures that the target knows that all leads are appreciated and takes the pressure off of coming up with job leads. Be ready to answer questions, including what level you are targeting, because your target may need to know how to position you when making an introduction. Above all, be specific. Ask about specific names, specific departments, specific companies. You will only get what you ask for. Ask in a vague manner, get a vague response. Ask with specificity, and it’s easier for the target to act upon your request.
Caroline Ceniza-Levine helps people find fulfilling jobs and careers, as the co-founder of SixFigureStart®, career coaching by former Fortune 500 recruiters. Caroline has recruited for leading companies in financial services, consulting, media, pharmaceutical/ healthcare, and technology. She is the co-author (along with Donald Trump, Jack Canfield and others) of the best-selling “How the Fierce Handle Fear: Secrets to Succeeding in Challenging Times” 2010; Two Harbors Press.
Caroline is moderating the panel, “It’s Who You Know”, on Saturday at the Forte MBA Women’s Conference.
The typical advice says that you should tell everyone that you are looking. But is that really helpful for management-level jobs or jobs in a very specific industry, say finance? Will people really get leads from their manicurist?
If I could choose between help from my manicurist or the Managing Director of a bulge-bracket investment bank, then of course I would go for the MD. (This assumes you are ready to make your pitch; the MD should not be someone you practice your pitch with.) If access is equal and you are ready to talk intelligently about your search, you should always pick the person who you think is more immediately relevant to your search.
However, the rule of thumb that everyone is a networking target is valid because you don’t know exactly what or whom everybody knows, so reaching out broadly doesn’t hurt and may actually help. Furthermore, you may not have access to the MD of a bank or other decision-maker in the area you are targeting and you have to start with the network you have. Perhaps the manicurist house sits for the MD or was a banker and is working as a manicurist in preparation for opening her own spa. Often, in networking you have to start further away from your end target and work to get closer. A lot of the payoff is in these weaker ties, not in your most immediate circle.
To keep making progress, you need to effectively ask for help. Effective asking means that you have specific companies and functional areas in mind so that you can tell your networking target exactly what you need. Don’t hand out a resume or give a pitch about yourself and leave it to others to guess where you might fit or what info you need. Even if they want to help, they may not know how. Instead, give them a 30-second pitch so they know you’re qualified and serious, but ask with specificity:
Do you know anyone at Companies X, Y or Z? Perhaps someone who used to work there?
Do you know companies who do similar work?
What do you know about financial services? This is helpful for a lead like the manicurist, where you may not know if s/he has any relevance to your search. This is where s/he can say, “Well, I house sit for the MD at Big-Old-Boring Trust…”
Coach them through their mental rolodex:
Someone you used to work with?
Someone you went to school with?
Someone at the church (or other organization where you know this person)?
Assure them that you are at the research stage and looking for information, not a specific job. This ensures that the target knows that all leads are appreciated and takes the pressure off of coming up with job leads. Be ready to answer questions, including what level you are targeting, because your target may need to know how to position you when making an introduction. Above all, be specific. Ask about specific names, specific departments, specific companies. You will only get what you ask for. Ask in a vague manner, get a vague response. Ask with specificity, and it’s easier for the target to act upon your request.
Caroline Ceniza-Levine helps people find fulfilling jobs and careers, as the co-founder of SixFigureStart®, career coaching by former Fortune 500 recruiters. Caroline has recruited for leading companies in financial services, consulting, media, pharmaceutical/ healthcare, and technology. She is the co-author (along with Donald Trump, Jack Canfield and others) of the best-selling “How the Fierce Handle Fear: Secrets to Succeeding in Challenging Times” 2010; Two Harbors Press.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
*Forté Foundation Playlist Contest*
We’re in the process of building a Forté playlist! Tell us your favorite songs (up to 3) and you could win a free, 1 year premium membership to Forté. We want to know what music inspires and motivates you from the past or present day.
Here are a few simple parameters to follow: All artists must be WOMEN, it should be PG rated and it should motivate you! The deadline to submit songs is Tuesday, April 19 at 11:59pm CST. Once we receive all submissions, we will create a playlist on iTunes in the weeks following.
To particpate, you may respond to this blog post or the Forté Foundation Facebook page at: http://on.fb.me/gkui27
Here are a few simple parameters to follow: All artists must be WOMEN, it should be PG rated and it should motivate you! The deadline to submit songs is Tuesday, April 19 at 11:59pm CST. Once we receive all submissions, we will create a playlist on iTunes in the weeks following.
To particpate, you may respond to this blog post or the Forté Foundation Facebook page at: http://on.fb.me/gkui27
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)