Packing

Trevor Fetter gives advice to the graduating ECs. After so much unpacking, it’s time to pack. What will you bring? What will you leave behind? If you’re completing your first year, we’re basically talking, in travel terms, about an extended weekend. I hope the weather is good, that you like the destination, you get a good room at the hotel, the exchange rate is favorable, and you want to go back for a longer visit. It’s a summer job, not a long-term commitment, and that should be an opportunity to learn, to see if the fit is good, and to build a network that could help you turn this into something more permanent. The stakes are higher for our friends in the EC. If you haven’t yet found that right job, don’t worry; you’ll likely have something firmed up very soon. It’s just a matter of time, a bit of luck, and making sure you’ve opened the aperture of your job lens wide enough. Remember that companies don’t operate on the academic calendar; they’re hiring as needs and opportunities arise, and they’re bringing new people on throughout the year. So, whether you’ve made a commitment to a job or have yet to do so, let’s talk about what to pack in your HBS suitcase and what to leave behind. First, you’ll be packing a credential that will lead your new colleagues to make a lot of assumptions about you. You’ll want to live up to some of these expectations and not others, and the environment you’re entering will drive many of these assumptions. For example, if you’re going to a company that is loaded with MBAs, the expectations will be close to reality, because your new colleagues’ experience is so similar to yours. Where this gets tricky is in operating companies, especially those where you’re the only MBA. It’s safe to generalize by saying their expectations will be high in two categories: your analytical and problem-solving skills and your leadership potential. Terrific! What could be better than being presumed to be competent and prepared to lead? This is truly an advantage. Don’t blow it by mishandling your new surroundings and colleagues. Be humble, open to new and different people, and be eager to learn about the company and about your co-workers. Bring with you those skills you honed for getting to know and appreciate the differences and perspectives of dozens of strangers in the early days of your experience here. The 5 Ps (Preparation, Presence, Participation, Professionalism, and Punctuality) should be high on your packing list. During your MBA education, our classrooms have simulated business environments like management meetings, team meetings, and board meetings. Every organization has its own culture around the 5 Ps, and demonstrating high standards in the work environment will set you apart. Through the case method, you’ve practiced quickly digesting lots of information, discerning what’s important and what’s irrelevant, and using fact-based analysis to reach conclusions you can defend. You’ve done it hundreds of times. And while the real-life version is deeper and more consequential, it’s very similar. Bring those skills to the real world.