Research Your Way to Career Success: Practical Tips by Julieta Timane
Timane Shares How Students Can Use Research Methods to Navigate Career Transitions
https://www.wittenborg.eu/research-your-way-career-success-practical-tips-julieta-timane.htm
On 3 October, Wittenborg MBA students in Amsterdam attended a guest lecture titled 'Using Research Methods to Accelerate Career Progression', led by Julieta Timane.
Timane is a Senior Lecturer in International Business at Rotterdam Business School, a Certified Career Coach, and the creator and host of the videocast Authentic Career Transitions. Drawing on more than 20 years of international HR experience, she shared practical strategies to use research skills, including critical thinking, problem-solving, data analysis, and synthesis of information, to navigate career growth beyond academia.
Reflecting on her own career journey, Timane explained that she has lived in various continents, and made her own transitions: “During my mid-career period as a Corporate HR Professional I had a six-year career gap living in Asia – two years in Malaysia and four in Singapore. During that time, I became a CIPD HR Development Associate and an ICF-certified coach. I’ve started working remotely for IMPACT Group LLC coaching employees and partners based in Asia and that really triggered my interest in career transitions.”
Since 2018, she has worked with expatriates and mid-career professionals to help them pivot successfully into new roles and industries. She also acknowledged the challenges many experience during career shifts: “Mid-career transitions can be very challenging because you have a lot of skills, a lot of expertise, a lot of knowledge, but you often just see the gaps in transition.”
Timane encouraged students to begin by analysing themselves through a personal audit of strengths, values, and skills, using tools like VIA, StrengthsFinder, DISC, or journaling to clarify priorities. “What insight have you discovered about yourself, and how might it shape your career direction?” she asked. This reflection helps define a clear target profile, a career “hypothesis” to guide the next steps.
She then explained the importance of researching the market like a literature review. Students were advised to track trends, map sectors and roles, analyse job postings, and tailor CVs, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles to match evidence. Sharing research projects, data visualisations, or summaries publicly can also strengthen professional visibility.
“If a recruiter skimmed your CV for 30 seconds, what’s the one thing you’d want them to remember?” she asked, emphasising clarity and impact. Networking was also highlighted as a key skill: “Build relationships, build bridges, connect with people, network. That’s critical. We should not only try to get, but also proactively give, you never know how you might help others. It’s a win-win.”
Once in a new role, students were encouraged to approach the first 90 days as field research. Observing organisational culture, mapping stakeholders, identifying quick wins, and iterating continuously can help professionals adapt quickly. Research methods such as participant observation, qualitative data gathering, thematic analysis, and data interpretation can also guide negotiation and demonstrate impact.
Timane framed career transitions as a research cycle: hypothesis, data gathering, experimentation, analysis, and adjustment, highlighting that evidence-informed approaches create a competitive advantage. She stressed the universal value of her advice: “For anybody that works, these principles can be applied... no matter the sector or level.”
Timane also shared practical resources for career transitions. These included Switchers: How Smart Professionals Change Careers and Seize Success by Dawn Graham, Leaving Academia: A Practical Guide by Christopher L. Caterine and The 2-Hour Job Search by Steve Dalton. These books provide guidance on pivoting, reframing academic or professional experience, networking, job search strategies, and negotiation skills.
Throughout the lecture, she emphasised three key principles for career advancement: growth-mindset, continuous learning, and a strategic approach. “Think strategically how you want to feel,” she advised, reminding students to take ownership of their career development.
Nikita Pahwa, Associate Professor of Applied Sciences, said: “The aim of the lecture was to spark a discussion on the importance and application of research in career transitions. Julieta shared practical tips, from self-reflection exercises before applying for a job to strategies for handling common interview questions. Key concepts – including critical thinking, researching a role thoroughly, crafting customised cover letters, and negotiation – were all part of this interactive session.”
WUP 12/12/2025
by Erene Roux
©WUAS Press
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