Reza Naderpour: "In my opinion, it’s useful to regularly refresh my understanding of the job market and to reflect on what I want and how I fit in."

You decided that you needed help improving your job application documents and went through a positioning process with the ETH Alumni. Why did you do that?

For years, I had worked in academia. Therefore, it had been a long time since I had applied for a position, let alone one outside academia. Furthermore, I felt that I had done many things; I had been active in many fields. When going through job offers, I struggled to explain why I would make a good candidate. This was my main motivation to reach out: I needed help organising my thoughts and presenting my experiences and accomplishments.

I wanted to know what exactly it was that I wanted. I thought I knew, but what does it actually translate into? I wanted to know what position I was uniquely suited to, my Unique Selling Proposition (USP). I also wanted advice on how I could briefly introduce myself to get the main points across. I was not good at that, so I needed help. To sum up: I wanted to streamline my CV, define my strengths and learn how to present myself.

Has the current coronavirus pandemic influenced your decision / job seeking process?

I knew I needed some professional help before the pandemic. However, because of the crisis, companies have changed their approach to hiring new people. I also wanted to hear from a professional how it’s changed companies’ recruitment processes. I had heard so many different opinions that I didn’t know what to believe. The pandemic therefore wasn’t my main motivation, but it gave the coaching an extra twist.

How did you find the coaching process?

To start with, I received some material and questionnaires. I was also asked to write down my priorities. This helped me to understand where I was and where I wanted to be. For me, it was mainly a question of academia versus a private company.

This process was very useful, as it reminded me that I needed to revisit my previous applications. As I went through this process of self-reflection, I wrote down questions about my specific case. At the first meeting, we went through this and I received suggestions and comments.

The coach also asked me many questions about my preferences and explained the consequences of them. We had a lively discussion and went into my personal case in depth. If I didn’t understand everything, I asked for examples. I felt that the coaching was adapted to my needs and provided helpful information. I was very happy as it was a friendly, yet professional dialogue. After that, I had time to digest all this input.

How did the coaching process meet your expectations?

My motivation letter, CV and LinkedIn profile are now focused and improved. I already have one initial success as a result: I was invited for a job interview as a group leader. This already counts as a success to an early-career scientist. I now feel confident that I am getting my capabilities across. At the interview, I used all the suggestions from the coach. So currently, I am waiting to hear whether I am still in the running.

One major challenge is to be invited for an initial interview where you can present yourself more comprehensively. I am convinced that the coach was of tremendous help, especially as I got useful advice about the Swiss job market.

Would you recommend it to other ETH alumnae and alumni?

For sure. I would recommend it to people who are looking for a change. Actually, I have already talked about it to many of my friends. When you go to job fairs, the information is very good and useful. However, it is different when you get advice that is personalised, adapted to your situation and needs. For me, it was a worthwhile investment.

Is there anything that could be improved in the process in the future?

I am now in a job application process. At a later stage, I may want to discuss some of the issues that come up during this process. It would be nice to talk to someone who already knows me and whom I trust.

Should this need arises, please get in touch and we will see what we can do for you. How do you intend to proceed from here?

The coaching process is finished now and it has given me the confidence I needed. I am now looking for potential companies and job offers and hope that I will soon be successful. Later in my career path, I may very well go through a similar process again. In my opinion, it’s useful to regularly refresh my understanding of the job market and to reflect on what I want and how I fit in.