While my current company still undecided whether to
retain my position for me after my MBA, I have started contemplating my post
MBA career. I just couldn’t be patient for the slow decision making process in
the Japanese Organization. It reminds me of why recently the Japanese industries are
lagging behind the Korean’s. While the Korean is already sprinting far
away by doing the thinking along the way run, the Japanese is still
pondering whether it is safe to move the first step...sigh...
Yesterday I joined a Career Design Seminar dedicated for future MBA
holders organized by Axiom, a head hunting company in Japan. Just to see what
are the opportunities available for me after my MBA. To my surprise, the post-MBA local job market is quite large (considering relatively small number of self-funded Japanese MBA holders) according to the presenter. Of course, whether an MBA holder can secure his dream job is depends on individual pre-MBA experience and competency.
The key messages of the seminar can be summarized in
below 3 points:
1)
Most of the executive positions (CEO, CFO, COO
etc.) are not advertised publicly in the recruiting market. Those positions are
available only through the head hunting companies which they call the Scout
Market. To be aware of those positions, you have to make use of those head hunting
companies. (Kind of advertising of its own importance in the executive job market)
2)
Upto 35 years old, you are free to choose any
companies/any jobs to work for, but after 35years old, you have to know exactly
what you want to do, what you can do, and what you want to be. Means that if
you still couldn't finalize your career vision by 35, you will doomed to be the
mediocrity. (Sounds true as after 35, our mind and stamina will start deteriorating,
and the family and financial pressure will drive us more conservative and less
risk-taking.)
3)
The best post-MBA job (or simply a Job) would be the one that you
want to do（やりたい）,
you can do （やれる）and
you are pledged to do, or in another word you are paid to do（やってくれ）. Quite
the same with the 3 Circles of Hedgehog Concept proposed by Jim Collins in his “Good
to Great” book. What a company (or individual) choose to do or choose not to do
depends on these 3 circles: (1) What you deeply passionate about, (2) What you can
be best in the world at, (3) What drives your economic engine.
For myself, I am still in the way looking for what I
passionate about. I have so far aggregated a career as a Professional Engineer, but in future instead of continuing working in the
technical filed, my interest is more towards the management. So, considering what
I want to do, what I can do, and what would drive my economic engine, I have a seemingly clear yet uncertain (sorry for this paradox) goal as the "CXX" of an Engineering
Company.
Well, I still have time upto 35. It means there is no rush to finalize my career goal at this moment. The essential thing is to first equip myself with the
necessary business skills and sense during the MBA. And I believe, when someone
is well-equipped, the opportunity will follow.
