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FEBRUARY 2003 MBA JOURNAL: YEAR TWO George Mathew: Academics, the Placement Process, and More "During this term, I've come to the conclusion that the word 'job search' should be synonymous with that raspy choking sound people make when they clear the phlegm from their throats." I'm going to warn you that when you read this, you'll think I have some type of split personality disorder. I'd like to believe that this is the same back-and-forth that many MBA students are going through these days, and perhaps you can relate as well. The first part was written prior to Christmas, when I'd just come off of quite a few interviews. I was pretty ticked off, and had just gotten off of a pretty difficult interview schedule. The second part was written after spending Christmas and New Year's Eve with my parents, and having some very good friends sit me down and "brain" me on different occasions. I had a very fortuitous change of heart, and I owe it to my loved ones for getting me back on track. You've been warned... G.M. December 23rd, 2002 I'm in a REALLY bad mood. I've got CCR's "Bad Moon Rising" playing in my head, and I'm in West Virginia, midway between Michigan and North Carolina. During this term, I've come to the conclusion that the word "job search" should be synonymous with that raspy choking sound people make when they clear the phlegm from their throats. As in that cheerful endeavor, the frustration comes from not quite accomplishing your goals, as well as the unpleasant taste in your mouth that accompanies it. I've been pounding the trail, hoping that companies would find some benefit from my combined background, but to no avail. Instead, I feel like I've been getting more rejections than a prom date. Many comments straddle the border of good taste and rudeness. It sometimes seems like recruiters, irked by the behavior of students during the Internet boom days, have turned the tables, and take much relish in grilling candidates. Some of the quotable quotes I've heard in the last few months paraphrased below: "I don't see how your background would fit in with our company." (Note this was a healthcare company.) [Answering a question about a class-action lawsuit against the company]: "I'm sorry; I don't know anything about that; I'm in HR!" "Why did you leave medicine again? No, I don't really buy that." [When asking for feedback on the interview] "Please think about what you said during the interview. I'm sure you'll be able to figure out what you did wrong." "You did really well during the [second-round] interview. Unfortunately, we thought about it again and realized that we didn't see how your background would really fit in with the department." One company actually sent out a group rejection .jpeg to all of its first round interviewees, so that all of the candidates could actually see who was rejected. I've looked for comfort from my friends, and to a degree have found it. Some with clinical backgrounds have chalked it up to companies not wanting to take a chance, or just plain jealousy. A fellow medical professional in our class related this story to me about one of his interviews for the summer internship: "I was getting interviewed by this girl just two years out of undergrad for a position with a pharma company. During the interview, she kept asking me really general questions, and based on her reactions, I knew she felt uncomfortable talking to me, but I didn't know what to do next. In the end, the company went with another candidate, who happened to be in the same sorority." Another of my classmates talked to me on the road, and gave me the talk about "growing up." This was all part of the normal job search process that many people had gone through in the past, and some of us had never really had to deal with rejection until now. Truth hurts, and to be honest, my friend hit home with more than one of her arguments. Still, I just wasn't in the mood to be shown the error of my ways, not just yet anyway. I know, I know, I'm kvetching. I don't know how my fellow classmates feel, but I'm finding the whole process more than a little demeaning. I've played with the idea of going back to practice, but it feels almost like I'm giving up on the change I've tried to make. Plus, especially when the questions come about why I left medicine, I'm stuck on what I should say... No, scratch that: that's one sacred cow I'm not going to talk about anymore. I've done it enough. If my getting into business school isn't enough proof, or the work I've been doing since, then forget it. I just don't have the patience anymore to try to explain it to people who are too immature or superficial to understand. I've got more hours left to drive to Michigan, so I'm going to crash for the night, and catch a few hours sleep. Maybe I can shake this mood of mine... January 13th, 2003 I'm heading back to Durham from Washington D.C. I've had one of the best weeks in my entire life, visiting lawmakers in the Beltway as part of one of our Health Sector Management courses. I've had the opportunity to have some good conversations with a few companies in D.C., and am waiting to hear from a few more about interviews and/or offers. Most of all, I got the chance to catch up with a good friend, and how well his life is going in D.C.
Many have left business school and started their own businesses. Who's to say that I can't do the same, if need be? Perhaps I can pick up some free healthcare consulting experience working with a company, or go through the typical channels that everyone goes through during the job search. I have to remember that my back up isn't really the worst option in the world: Dust off the license and practice medicine. True, it's still not my first choice, but I won't go starving if I need to rely on it. I'm sure that many of my classmates without definite job offers are facing similar choices, many without the safety net that I have in place. Yet from those I've talked to, they're all up to the challenge, finding new and creative ways to get that ideal job, and make the most of their remaining time here at Duke. One friend recently told me that it's better to spend a few months unemployed to find the right job, than to take the first job offered and be stuck in a job you hate. Old fears aside, I'd have to agree with him. Having the time to review all of my options has made me realize how powerful the tools are that I've acquired before, as well as during my time at Fuqua. Why the about-face in my attitude? I can't really explain it well. I just know I'll need my positive attitude with me during the next several months. I know I have enough going for me that I will find the job that I'll do best in. Let's just see what's out there.  Get BusinessWeek directly on your desktop with our RSS feeds.  Add BusinessWeek news to your Web site with our headline feed. Click to buy an e-print or reprint of a BusinessWeek or BusinessWeek Online story or video. To subscribe online to BusinessWeek magazine, please click here. Learn more, go to the BusinessWeekOnline home page  | | FEBRUARY Learn about your online education options |
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