New year - new job search :)

[NickK]

2022 new year job search is now going into full effect. With a rethink and remit of the LinkedIn and CV.

last 7 months has been applying to a few roles, including a couple of interviews just the last week before Xmas with a varied response:
* Chief product officer - 15 seconds it was clear we have different approaches. Role - senior product manager. I’m expecting to own the whole thing including the budget. Nope..
* COO - good conversation, less interview more “if you give us 6 months we could use a person like you”.

It’s bad when you scare people with the breadth and depth. So I’m resolute in targeting my first full CTO/CIO role although a head of software is an option.

Anyone else starting 2022 with a job hunt?

 

[NickK]

Sounds like you like similar things to me, although I prefer the product / business, over tech! I interviewed for a head of product role before Christmas and a Head of Product Operations. I basically do the prod operations role now, so wouldn't be a jump, but company is interesting. What sort of companies are you looking at? I'll definitely keep my eye out linkedin wise. What locations also?

Yep, I’ve been P&L product, love the hustle for investment. The last role was technical pre sales for quantum cryptography - role underutilisation traded for experience in the quantum/startup market. The folks I had prior introductions with leading/driving the quantum initiative prior to the 50,000+ layoff. Now looking for something meaty to get my teeth into however I’m expecting that I may need to opt for a formal certification for programme management to be taken seriously however there’s no explicit CIO certifications atm (and comparing CIO to COO programme management is doing it a disservice).

I’m UK based, hence the market is a little on tender hooks with 2022 with brexit. Especially startups in funding rounds.

 

[NickK]

I looked at MBAs before - about 2009. A fellow leaver about the same time and funded his own attendance at Henley Business School - he was more driven sales/business development and ended up being drafted by his old boss into McLaren applied technologies. I've not seen him make much out of it in terms of return to be honest - then it was a good £30K IIRC.

The CEO of my old employer is heavily embedded in in the faculty of Judge business school - the fact the company was spun out of an accelerator and maintained significant ties to the top three was not only a way to get the required level of research staff but also was one of the negative traits of the company where those without Oxford/Cambridge qualifications/faculty membership or a respected family name were third class citizens. Moving swiftly on.

Yes the price of Judge/Said/LBS is about £70K minimum before any of the 'frivolities' required to really make use and build the network which is the main value in most of the high end MBAs. If you're funding that yourself it's unlikely (unless you focus only on board level) that you'll make that back financially.

However I get the impression that part-time MBA/innovation/PMP courses etc are seen as a commitment to 'perfecting' yourself and a commitment to a work ethic on the CV. From experience I've not really noted a difference between an MBA/PMP and an experienced non-qualified individual for the most part given most companies have typically paid a consultancy to adopt a specific framework with adaptions - be it ITIL, SAFE, Pragmatic Marketing etc. However I suspect I'm starting to see that tip of the iceberg that needs a rubber stamp to say you've had the training at C-level.
An additional observation is around the thought leadership which tends to be a key unwritten point on most board level positions - I have some but I suspect I need to develop those skill/visability more.