The start of a new year is when many MBA students and graduates reflect on their careers and consider fresh opportunities.
As you think about what is next for you—and how to most effectively get there—check out the following articles about managing one’s career and conducting a job search that caught the attention of mbaMission’s Career Coaches in 2024. (As you will see, the Harvard Business Review has a lot of great content. Consider following the publication on LinkedIn or subscribing to its newsletter to keep abreast of workplace, leadership, and job search advice.)
- “5 Strategies to Escape Career Quicksand in 2025”: The author describes career quicksand as “the state of not only feeling stuck in your career, but also a realization that your current job and/or career trajectory no longer has any real meaning, purpose and significance.” Getting unstuck is never easy, but following the strategies outlined in this article will direct you toward ways of finding more job satisfaction.
- “How to Answer ‘Why Should We Hire You?’ in an Interview”: Interviewing feels tricky to many candidates, and often, people get off on the wrong foot with their answer to one of the first questions asked. This Harvard Business Review article outlines strategies for explaining to the interviewer that you are the best candidate for their position.
- “Executive Presence: The Low-Hanging Fruit”: Author and communications expert Jodi Glickman reminds us that executive presence does not reflect our actual abilities, but it does create an impression of those abilities. This article offers four quick tips on improving one aspect of your executive presence: the use of filler words in your communications.
- “The 4 Types of Mentors and the Best Kind of Mentoring Relationships”: While we all know about the merits of mentorship, researcher Ruth Gotian found that only 37% of employees actually go through the process of becoming a mentee. Learn about different types of mentors, and gain the courage to find yourself a mentor in 2025.
- “Women in the Workplace 2024: The 10th-Anniversary Report”: McKinsey’s tenth-anniversary report, in collaboration with LeanIn.org, analyzes data from more than 15,000 employees on women’s representation and experiences in the workplace. Understand more about the work experience for women and how companies can make progress toward improving it.
- “When Your Boss Suddenly Reduces Your Scope”: Unfortunately, losing responsibilities in the workplace is not uncommon, but how you handle it can affect your longevity in your role, your satisfaction at work, and your reputation among your coworkers. This Harvard Business Review article presents strategies for handling this situation and moving yourself forward.
- “Don’t Make This Common Networking Mistake”: Networking is a key part of one’s job search, but many candidates make easy-to-avoid missteps when doing so, including not following up with people they have met and sought advice from along the way. This article provides an effective three-step follow-up plan.
