Career Consultant Diary: I don’t use any private email address
Being a Career Consultant for Executives is often misunderstood or romanticized or both. Sandra Bichl, founder of Career Angels and experienced international Career Consultant, decided to bring more transparency to her/our profession by sharing random days of her work in the form of a “diary” – the delay (sometimes of a year) ensures confidentiality. Below a client example who discontinued their private contact details as they became fully enwrapped in their corporate life. Spoiler: don’t do it!
Switching fully to a corporate email & phone number
As Sandra shared on her LinkedIn profile, “I wanted to schedule a catch-up call with a former client (Regional CEO, FMGC) – as a reply, I received an error message. So I contacted that person via WhatsApp asking if they had changed their personal email address. The reply, “Oh… I don’t use any private email address anymore. Please use [corporate address]”. Huh? What if somebody wants to get in touch with them? An Executive Search Consultant? A competitor? Somebody who has the address on file from 4 or 5 years ago? And that person had fully switched to their corporate phone number. Old private number: gone! That’s basically shutting yourself off from the job market. Not a good move. Convenient: maybe. Strategic: NO!
Always operate under the assumption that tomorrow is your last day: do you have access to all relevant contacts? Do you have the necessary backup files? Do you have a working private laptop? What about access to your LinkedIn account via your private email account instead of only the corporate one?”
Tips & recommendations
If one thing the last year has taught us: expect the unexpected. Be ready at all time. Use this checklist to ensure you are ready for any and all kinds of surprises:
• Do you have a private phone number? Have you included it on your CV?
• Do you have a CV? Updated? Are the most recent KPIs and selected success included? (Remember, now is the time you have access to your database, presentations, etc.)
• Do you have access to all relevant contact details? Your address book?
• Have you backed up files you can and should have access to, should you be fired unexpectedly?
• Do you have a working private laptop? Are you “allowed” to use it exclusively? In other words: would you have to share the laptop with loved ones?
• Do you have access to your LinkedIn account via your private email account instead of only the corporate one?
Think of anything else that would make your life harder upon an unexpected and immediate departure from your current employer.
Are you an experienced manager with at least 10 years of experience? Would you like to discuss your professional situation confidentially? Would you like to understand how Career Angels could potentially support you? Contact Bichl.Sandra@CareerAngels.eu who will match you with the most appropriate consultant.
