Don't shoot the messenger: Candid observations for job seekers

---- MBA employment trends ----

HBS official: "Going to Harvard is not going to be a differentiator. You have to have the skills."

"Landing a professional job in the U.S. has become so tough that even Harvard Business School says its M.B.A.s can’t solely rely on the university’s name to open doors anymore."
"Twenty-three percent of job-seeking Harvard M.B.A.s who graduated last spring were still looking for work three months after leaving campus. That share is up from 20% the prior year, during a cooling white-collar labor market; the figure was 10% in 2022, according to the school."

“'We’re not immune to the difficulties of the job market,' said Kristen Fitzpatrick, who oversees career development and alumni relations for HBS. 'Going to Harvard is not going to be a differentiator. You have to have the skills.'"

WSJ

---- A map for job seekers? ----

We've interacted with about 5k people looking to improve their standing in the job market. They tend to fall into the following categories.

"My career isn't where I want it to be because..."

1. I just need to more effectively signal to the market that I'm great. (signalers)

2. I just need to meet the right person who will give me an opportunity because I'm great. (networkers)

3. I just need to invest in myself and develop skills, and then opportunities will come to me. (investors)

Hiring manager feedback on...

Signalers: "I can't believe how entitled he was. He had the highest comp expectations without much experience and had done the least preparation for our interview."

Networkers: "She may have gotten a job here a few years ago, but there's nowhere to hide around here right now. Just because your dad is a big client doesn't mean you get the job anymore."

Investors: "Where did you find [name]? He's incredible."

Do people fall perfectly into one of the three groups above? No.

Does hiring manager feedback extend to everyone? No.

Have we seen enough of this to notice clear patterns? Absolutely.

---- Conflicting observations ----

1. The job market is very difficult at all levels.

2. We've seen a sharp increase in analyst/associate job openings in recent weeks. e.g., 9 openings have come in over the last week.

3. There is a wide delta between skilled and unskilled junior talent.

4. Unskilled talent often seems to be the least aware of the delta and the least willing to skill up.

---- Questions for managers ----

Do our observations reconcile with what you see?

Has it always been this way?

Are people less open to feedback now vs. the past?

How much of this has to do with 10+ years of a strong job market?