When I trained to be a communication coach, I attended a number of training the trainer courses in London. Those events have been the backbone of my company ever since. I can attribute my curiosity to their teachings. Learn more with the College of Public Speaking.
Some years ago, I helped a Spanish student prepare for an interview with a large pharmaceutical company. Her specialism was running double-blind trials on new drugs. Double-blind is where neither the participant nor researcher knows whether the participant received a placebo or the actual drug itself (until after the study), eliminating the possibility of bias. This role is a six-figure position.
Carmen (not her real name) had run these trials for some years in small companies in Eastern Europe. Divorced and with an eight-year-old daughter, she had previously studied for Master’s Degrees in Madrid and Paris. We established a great rapport throughout the session, but I suspect we were both feeling tired after three hours of intensive role-playing. As you would imagine, Carmen was brilliant, multilingual, articulate, and spoke cogently throughout.
We discussed the new job role and her previous experience. Then, we moved on to the motivation and timing for this career move which involved considerable personal and professional upheaval for herself and her daughter. Finally, we strengthened some stories to make her ambitions bigger, more rounded, and more compelling.
I was surprised when my final question foxed her, though I repeat, we were both tired now. So the question was: What professional studies would you like to undertake in the future?
At this point, she put her hands on her ears and pretended to scream. Of course, I didn’t expect that response.
“I have a Batchelor’s degree and two Master’s degrees. I’m a single parent, I work sixty hours per week, and I never want to see a classroom again. I’m exhausted.”
I poured her a glass of water and said, “Time out.”
When we returned, she apologized, although it wasn't necessary.
“Ok, I understand that this is a huge undertaking, so could I make a suggestion?”
“Please, because my brain froze when you asked me that question.”
“Remember that this is an interview. You have a phenomenal CV full of personal success and professional achievements. You will be their new senior problem-solver, so here’s how I would approach it.
“Yes, it’s been a few years since my last Master’s Degree, and I miss academia enormously. However, my field of study is widening, and I’m keeping my finger on the pulse of developments. I’m currently exploring the possibility of an MBA, but it needs to be the right MBA. It’ll take time to research, but it needs to be a good fit because of my family and professional commitments. As we’ve discussed, I have solid organizational skills, so I’ll make this dovetail in time.”
“That’s clever,” she said. “I’m not committing to anything other than some research. It’s a credible story.”
Over the next month, they called Carmen in for three interviews, and they offered her the position. She kindly informed me of her fantastic news and took me to dinner to celebrate. Although they didn’t ask her the question, many other planned questions/answers came up. She felt happy that she had rehearsed many credible answers. Once she had accepted the job and settled in, she decided to study for her MBA.
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