Winning the Career Race

Insights from the UK Job Market & Alumni Support Groups

The EDHEC Alumni UK Board’s Career, Diversity & Inclusion Team organised a very insightful event on 28^th November at the EDHEC London campus bringing together alumni and expert speakers to discuss trends in the UK job market and provide an overview of the wide range of EDHEC Alumni resources and new UK initiatives designed to support you in your career journey.

A big thank you to our fantastic team of volunteer ambassadors: Marileen Koppenberg, Bruno Vinel, Ronojit Dasgupta, and Aisha Bah, for their hard work and engagement.

We can't give you a taste of the mince pies we enjoyed, but we can share a taste of the discussions we had. 😊 Enjoy!

State of the UK Job Market

Myriam Vacher, Partner at Riviera Partners (EDHEC Alumna 2002), and Laetitia Jerabek, Consultant at Russell Reynolds Associates, shared valuable insights on the tech and finance sectors.

• In Tech, 2021 was a recruitment boom year driven by post-pandemic recovery. However, 2022-2023 saw a sharp downturn. Optimism for 2024 is on the rise, with predictions of increased recruitment activity in the next six months.
• In Finance, Private Equity stands out with significant activity since April, driven by consolidation, regulatory changes like Consumer Duty, and robust demand.
• Despite Brexit, there hasn’t been a major outflow of talent or shift to continental Europe. The outlook for the UK economy remains positive.
• Global outlooks are more varied: the U.S. market is looking strong after the latest elections, while markets in Asia and Latin America are also performing well. Continental Europe is a bit behind.
  
  

Navigating Career Transitions

The speakers offered practical advice for managing career transitions:

1. Start within your current company: Explore internal opportunities before seeking external roles.
2. Change strategically: If you’re transitioning sectors, keep your role consistent. Avoid changing sector, role, and location all at once.
3. Expect a step back: Career transitions often involve a temporary setback, but they can lead to long-term progress.
4. Find advocates: Having someone vouch for you can make all the difference in securing new opportunities.
5. Executive search companies: For senior roles, building relationships with executive search firms (e.g. SHREK: Spencer Stuart, Heidrick & Struggles, Russell Reynolds Associates, Egon Zehnder and Korn Ferry) can be crucial. Boutique firms like Myriam’s also play an important role.

Networking remains key to uncovering hidden opportunities. “Even if a connection doesn’t have a role for you, they may know someone who does!” insisted Bruno. 

Advice in Recruitment

• Employers are becoming more risk-averse, prioritizing candidates with an exact-match profile. To stand out, it’s crucial to network, connect with hiring managers on LinkedIn, and find ways to differentiate yourself.
• AI, such as ChatGPT, is playing an increasing role in recruitment. Make sure your CV is tailored to the role by asking AI for insights on what to highlight for a specific position. Recruiters are doing so!
  
  

Essential Resources for Career Development

1. Books recommended by Myriam:
   • The Career Playbook – Timeless advice for navigating career challenges.
   • Working Identity – A guide to reinventing yourself professionally.
     
     
2. EDHEC Alumni Resources:
   
   
   • All EDHEC Alumni are entitled to one complimentary coaching session per year with Marileen Koppenberg (EDHEC Alumna 1997), the official coach for EDHEC Alumni in the UK. Don’t hesitate to book your session! More details here.
   • EDHEC has launched a coaching programme with a pool of coaches available at a discounted rate. Please feel free to reach out.
   • Explore the Alumni webpage to find job offers on the UK market and share opportunities.
   • Refine your CV, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile with free access to a revolutionary platform. More details here.
   • Join our NEW UK Career Development Support Group and sign up for our new Buddy Scheme. The first online session for career development support starts on January 28th.

The job market for 2024 is showing positive signs, but navigating today’s competitive landscape requires strategy, resilience, and a strong network. By leveraging EDHEC’s Alumni resources and staying proactive, you’ll be well-positioned to win the career race.

Join our new Career Development Support Group, and let’s keep supporting one another in achieving our professional goals!