I see the exact same email land in my inbox at least three times a week.
It usually starts with an overly formal greeting, followed by a sudden, intense interest in my career trajectory. Then comes the pivot: a plea for help, request for advice, support with a job application, an endorsement for a competitive fellowship, or an introduction to a senior leader.
I never fault the sender. I read them all, and I know exactly what drives them: a failed exam, an upcoming interview, a fractured training pathway, and the sudden, terrifying realisation that simply passing exams is no longer enough to progress or secure the job. They are reaching out because they are out of options and a deadline is looming.
The problem is not that they are asking for help. Their problem is the timing.
