Smells like shipbuilding

The new Mannheim Business School rooms in N2 still smell a bit after paint. This is a smell I am very familiar with, having spent months inspecting paint jobs in the building of the Messidor bulk carrier (picture)in Nantong, China. This smell actually reminds me of a very interesting phase of my life.
The other smells that evokes similar memories is the smell of steel grinding and welding. But I don't expect to find these smells in the business school

The new MBS Education Center Dalbergplatz

Here are some pictures of the inside of the premises at Mannheim Business School. These pictures were taken in the third floor, but the fourth floor is set up similarly. Some things still have to be finished, like the wifi, the printing room. But it is good to have air conditioning.

From 080526 New pr...

Trip to Speyer

Yesterday we went to Speyer, about 20 min by train from Mannheim, where our colleague Marc (who was with be in Canada and lived in the room next to mine) lives.

080524 Speyer

First we walked around the city and Marc showed us the nicest places. Then we spent some hours in a very nice and German restaurant before heading back to Mannheim, arriving after midnight.

Another beer reference

I myself don't drink beer, but it is always interesting to get such a message from the course coordination:

Due to the size the class will be divided into two groups on Tuesday and Wednesday. While group 1 will have the PC Exercise on Tuesday and the Beer Game on Wednesday, group 2 will have the Beer Game on Tuesday and the PC Exercise on Wednesday.

Mannheim Business School's new Education Center preview

Starting tomorrow, we will have classes in the new MBS premisses. I went there to check the address today and took these pictures. If the building seems to be distorted, it is, I stitched pictures together.

Note the Biergarten in the lower part of the building. Convenience?

The bad side of the job search

1. It is a lot of work. Each application I send out takes up to one hour to be ready. It consists of e-mail, cover letter, CV and additional documents. All bundled up in a pretty PDF document. I try to tailor the applications to each firm, as the fit varies from company to company. Templates work only in a limited sense.
2. The wait. You have to keep up with the applications you sent out, give follow up calls or send follow up e-mails. Keep track of what worked and what didn't. Find the balance between showing interest and being annoying.
3. Being turned down. You know you want to work for the company in the position you applied for, or in a similar position. You are sure you can adapt and learn quick to cover for the fields where you could improve to be a better fit for the company. But you cannot always get that across with a set of documents and you get rejected.

At least some companies are polite enough to send you an e-mail giving you their final decision in clear words, like the example below. Others just don't bother. Others, like McKinsey, go the the extra step and give you a personalized feedback, provided you ask for it.
But, in the end, you have to get used to receiving e-mails like the following:

Dear Mr. Bresslau,

Thank you for your letter of application of 14th May.

We are pleased that you are interested in working with us. Your excellent background would certainly benefit many employers.

Although your credentials are definitely impressive, they do not specifically meet our current needs.

We will however keep your CV for future reference.

Thank you once again for your interest and we wish you the best of luck in your employment search.

With best regards,

The good side of the job search

So far, job search has been going well. I am primarily interested in two areas:

• Venture Capital and growth Private Equity
• Strategic management consulting, technology and innovation oriented

I have had two interviews so far. One in each area, one in Frankfurt and another over the phone. So far, so good. I am invited for a follow up interview for one of them and am waiting for a decision by the second company. I am also scheduled for another interview with a third company in June.

This is all exciting an I am looking very positively into the future. I am sure that I will get multiple offers and that I hope to have the peace of mind to choose the company which is a better fit in a long term perspective for me.