Spotlight: Fast Track Your Career

Alumnus co-leads job search group for fellow grads

Between “what you know” and “who you know,” Bob Leahy ’74, MBA ’90 and Barbara Lipps know which one typically needs the most work. 

As volunteer principals of Bentley’s Fast Track job search group, Leahy and Lipps regularly meet alumni who have spent hours perfecting a résumé, while neglecting what they consider the most critical factor in career advancement: building relationships.

“In the majority of cases,” says Lipps, “job seekers secure new positions with at least some assistance from a personal contact.”  

Fast Track makes those contacts paramount. During weekly meetings on campus, eight to 10 job-seeking alumni — who range from recent grads to former CFOs — review individual progress using a spreadsheet called the “Daily Points Tracker.” The more informational interviews a person has, and the more referrals that result, the more points he or she accumulates. 

The points system creates a little peer pressure, Leahy explains.“If people can’t measure their job search, they can’t manage it, so this is a very effective tool,” he says. “To achieve the target goal of 200 to 250 points per week, they need to be out talking with people.”

The pair also coaches alumni on specific topics, such as crafting a 30-second pitch about themselves. Lipps draws from her experience as a counselor and corporate employee, while Leahy, after 25 years as a COO and CFO in two public companies, approaches mentoring from the perspective of a hiring manager. They say their different but complementary backgrounds allow Fast Track to offer a customized approach unique in career coaching. 

And they see results. Over the last three years, 26 to 27 Fast Track members a year have landed new opportunities — an average of one success story every other week. 

“The model has shown if they can meet with three people per week, within three months, they will have established a pretty broad network,” Leahy explains. “From there, the individual’s level of experience will determine how long it takes to land a job.”

“Each group member has gone through this learning curve with networking,” adds Lipps. “To see them go from beginner to expert in a matter of a few months — it has been very rewarding.”