Ask the headhunter

M.McD. asks:

Following my master’s degree in aerospace engineering and an MBA, I embarked on a 12-year journey as a business development manager. For the first decade, I worked at a company with a diverse range of industrial products. Subsequently, I spent two years at an organization developing high-performance equipment for innovative technologies in electronics, semiconductors and nanotechnology.

A former colleague, who had recently become regional director at a large American company, then invited me to join their new European organization in Rotterdam. As a product manager, I was tasked with starting up a product group from scratch – a challenge I embraced wholeheartedly. Unfortunately, the company chose not to invest in bringing the products to market and closed the European branch a few months after my departure there.

In my next role as manager of R&D, I led a small team focused on customer-specific solutions in electromechanical switchgear. After several years, I transitioned to the position of engineering manager, where I oversaw a larger team of specialists in mechanics, electromagnetics, electronics, software, processes and testing. I fostered a culture of innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement, which boosted productivity and team morale.

I worked there for over a decade, initially with great enthusiasm. However, after a new director took office two years ago, the work environment changed, and innovation dwindled. Despite numerous discussions and improvement proposals, it became clear that it was time for me to move on.

After a period of relaxation, I began my job search last fall. So far, I’ve only found one interesting position. I wonder if I’m looking in the wrong places or overlooking opportunities. Currently, I’m primarily searching through Linkedin.

The headhunter answers:

It was brave of you to end your employment like that, hopefully with good arrangements. With your experience and skills, it shouldn’t be difficult to find a new job within 3-4 months.

I would advise you to engage your contacts more and invest time in structured networking. A few months ago, for example, there was the Precision Fair – you definitely should have been there. There are also regular networking meetings at the High Tech Campus and other relevant hotspots around the country. When you attend these events, be proactive: chat with exhibitors and other visitors and get involved in lectures by asking questions.

Linkedin is certainly a useful tool. Find out where your former colleagues now work and get in touch with those you might want to work with again. As the jobs that interest you are usually on Linkedin, there’s no need to look elsewhere. You can also use the platform to identify companies of interest and connect with people who work there. Publish your own content and participate in discussions to make sure you stand out positively.

The number of seasoned candidates for an R&D manager position in mechatronics is small. You can be confident that there will always be a company looking for someone with your spirit, skills, experience and ambition.