The document summarizes an interview with an individual about their career. It discusses how they started their career by joining a small startup instead of a large consulting firm, helped grow the startup to over 120 employees before it was acquired, and considers this their proudest achievement. It also mentions their biggest challenge was a difficult economic period from 2002-2003 that built their resilience and prepared them for a worse situation in 2009.
1. How did you start your career in this industry?
My career began when I joined a student start-up company alongside an existing team
of just 3. I had turned down another good job offer with a top consulting firm in order
to join the start-up which many people told me I was crazy to do. But I had a very strong
gut feeling and a clear idea of where my strengths lay, so I knew I could make a success
of my role and add a great deal of value to the company. It is my proudest achievement
to date that by the end of my time at the start-up I had been instrumental in building it
in to a professional outfit of over 120 employees. To contribute towards something that
a global player like Kelly was interested in buying was a huge achievement to me.
What has been your biggest challenge in your career?
Without a doubt the year of 2002. It was an extremely tough time from an economic
perspective until the end of 2003 and followed 4 years of ‘silent boom’. Difficult as the
period was, it built my resilience, skills and confidence so that in 2009, when we were
met with an even worse situation, I had the knowledge and know-how to manage it
correctly.
What tips can you give other people starting out in their career?
What would you still most like
to achieve in your career?
My ultimate goal is to be regarded by both
my family and colleagues as someone
capable of sharing wisdom and a person
from whom one can learn.
Tell us something unusual about you
I managed a pretty successful heavy rock
band at school!
This is My Story
Get to know
yourself by
identifying your
key motivations
and strengths
Objectively
and honestly assess if
these strengths match
the requirements of the
career path you’d
like to take
Remember that
liking your job is
different to having
fun in your job...
...and that liking
your job comes
naturally when you
are good at what
you do
Be focussed,
consistent and
determined and
success will soon
follow
Jens Ohle,
BPO Practice Lead
Cologne, Germany
What are you passionate
about outside of work?
My main passion in life has got to be
heavy rock guitar music which I have
loved for as long as I can
remember.
Visiting vineyards
in the South of France
is my more
cultured pastime
and I am always
keen to build on
my knowledge
of wine.
How do you stay positive,
even through the difficult times?
Firstly I think it is important to remember it’s
normal to have dips in our energy and
enthusiasm, this is what makes us human.
When I hit a low point I try to work my
frustrations back to their source and work out
why I feel this way. Once I understand why I’m
struggling it is much easier to see the route
I need to take to come out of the other side.
Who inspired you
to be who you are today?
No famous business person
as such, but I’m continually
inspired by anyone who
possesses a talent I don’t have,
for example being able
to master the guitar.
I would love to play well but am
everely lacking in rhythm!