I Bombed My First Big Job - Here's what you can learn from it.
In 2006, I interned at a global investment bank on the M&A desk. It was competitive, prestigious, and exciting—until it wasn’t.
I worked 16-hour days, 6 days a week, but honestly, I didn’t know what was happening half the time. I was soooooo unprepared.
Ten weeks later, I was one of the interns who didn’t get a full-time offer. For someone who had never failed before, it was a shock. I even lied about turning down the offer out of embarrassment.
By the Grace of God, I’ve come a long way since then. I’ve worked for global banks, led significant transactions, managed high-performance teams, served world-class clients, and much more. I am proof that your defeats do not define you!
Over the years, I have reflected on this internship and I had to accept one thing: I wouldn’t have hired me either.
Harsh, but true and here’s why:
1️⃣I didn’t understand my job: I could do Excel modelling and financial analysis, but I didn’t fully grasp what M&A bankers did. So I couldn’t connect my tasks to the bigger picture.
2️⃣I didn’t adapt to workplace etiquette: I listened to music at my desk, arrived late, and broke countless spoken and unspoken rules.
3️⃣I didn’t manage my brand: I was fast-mouthed and confrontational, which made me seem difficult to work with.
4️⃣I didn’t build relationships: I didn’t manage relationships with colleagues, attend events, or get to know my team. As a result, they weren’t interested in me either.
5️⃣I didn’t prepare for productivity: I burned the candle at both ends, showing up to work tired. One day, I even snoozed in a meeting with an MD. Disaster!
So:
Do any of these mistakes sound familiar?
Have you made similar errors in your job?
Want to avoid these pitfalls and fast-track your career?
Then, I invite you to join me in the Newbie to MVP Accelerator™️. This 6-month program is designed for early-stage women in corporate who want to:
💡Achieve greater career clarity
🛣️Overcome obstacles and avoid career-killing blunders
👩🏽💻Pivot from high potential to high performance
🚀Accelerate their advancement to the next level of purpose, progression and pay
You see, the worst part of my experience was not having someone who cared enough to tell me what I needed to know and shape me professionally. That’s why I created this space for women in corporate to get the preparation and support I wish I’d had.
Leveraging a combination of curriculum, coaching and community, will:
✔️Dive deep into the essence of who you are as a professional.
✔️Gain mastery over the complexities of the workplace environment.
✔️Learn to create strategic opportunities that spotlight your invaluable contributions and garner the respect and recognition you deserve.
The deadline to enrol for the Newbie to MVP Accelerator™️ summer cohort is July 1, 2024, at 6 pm UK time. Should I expect your application?
Link to book your no-cost enrolment call: https://lnkd.in/eg34AVpn
That's a great resource for students looking to explore career options. What types of programs do they offer there?