SITUATION

After completing his PhD in materials engineering at a well-renowned university, a client found himself unemployed despite applying for numerous jobs. His high application activity did not yield results, leaving him feeling desperate. Upon reviewing his approach, it became clear that his applications lacked focus, often targeting roles that didn’t match his qualifications or that he didn’t fully understand. Additionally, he had no hidden job strategy and was unaware of industry hiring trends. Given his financial situation, securing his first industry job quickly became a priority.

STRATEGY + RESULTS

To build trust in the process, we first analyzed why his applications were being rejected. The issue was not his background—his qualifications as a materials engineer were highly attractive—but rather his strategy. The first step was to identify active hiring companies and relevant job positions that matched both his expertise and his current needs. Since he required a job quickly, we focused on finding a strategic first step—not necessarily his dream role but a position that would provide industry experience, teamwork skills, and career progression opportunities.

The turning point came when he shifted his approach from passive applications to active networking. We trained on how to ask the right questions, engage with professionals, and follow up effectively. Through these conversations, he gained valuable industry insights and, ultimately, secured an engineering position. While the job was below his qualifications, it provided a strong foundation for his future career.

Today, five years later, he has successfully progressed and is now a highly accomplished associate consultant, proving that a strategic first step can be the key to long-term career success.