If not, maybe you should be. Maybe that’s what is getting in the way of your job search.
In my travels to NYC this week a major global consulting firm stated “client ready” as their key recruiting competency. Dean Bob Bruner (my traveling companion) and I looked at each other. This global recruiter had just labeled what Bob and I see as a critical Darden difference. Darden students are, in general, client ready.
Darden’s teaching style, case method, forces students to prepare thoroughly for class. The night before the class the students meet with his learning teams – five diverse classmates, attempting to argue their points and while listening to others’ ideas and analyses.
These daily events, combined with Darden’s selective admissions, process and the many extracurricular leadership opportunities help make Darden students client ready. (So there is my pitch – come to Darden if you are sitting on your Darden offer.)
What did this recruiter mean? Client ready means literally what it says – this new hire is ready to sit in front of a client. Some firms use the term, deployable. Can this employee be deployed right away to a client site? Some adjectives inherent in client ready:
- Poised
- Mature
- Good listener
- Articulate
- Presentable
- Good first impression
- Thinks on his/her feet
- Willing to work
- Good quick analysis
In today’s market place I might argue that there is no better trait for you to possess in today’s job search than client ready. Companies need new employees to make a contribution right away. Employers want to get you out with customers, suppliers, clients, employees as soon as possible. Time is money.
Need an answer to what differentiates you?
Try client ready.