Globe-trotting professor counsels students

By Saurabh Muzumdar

John Toppel has a severe case of the travel bug.

A professor in the business school, Toppel has traveled the world in both professional and personal capacities. Today, he enjoys coaching students in their interview skills and working as a career counselor.

Toppel's ache to "get out of this world," which in his case was South Bend, Ind., brought him to California in 1973. He subsequently joined Hewlett-Packard, then an up-and-coming company, where he worked for 31 years.

Though he initially joined HP's systems department, Toppel found his true calling in sales. He became a manager in Silicon Valley before international assignments came knocking at his door. In 1979, Toppel helped set up HP's base in Hong Kong before moving back to the U.S. in 1982. Then, he was appointed sales manager for Australia and New Zealand from 1986 to 1989.

Toppel's next job opportunity was in Mexico in 1989, where he ran the PC factory in Guadalajara. In Switzerland, he was the sales manager of the computer business in Africa and the Middle East from 1991 to 1992. He then became HP's general manager in Korea, a post he held for three years before moving back to the Bay Area in 1996, where he continued working for another eight years.

Toppel ran the company's call centers for a while before spending his last four years running the Global Go-To-Market Relationship team with Deloitte Consulting for HP.

After spending more than three decades at HP, Toppel went on to get his master's degree in counseling from San Jose State University, a goal he always had in mind. He taught at Villanova University for a year before coming to Santa Clara.

Toppel now teaches Business 70, Management 80, is an informal career counselor, advisor and is now responsible for the international programs in the business school.

In addition to traveling around the world and teaching, Toppel helps students prepare for interviews. While the Career Center is still the best place to look if you need some job-hunting and interview tips, Toppel has real-world experience and a unique way of dissecting students' interviewing skills.

Students practice interviewing in front of a video camera that is hooked up to a small television in Toppel's office. The process involves about 10 minutes of practice questions followed by 15 to 20 minutes of reviewing tape that helps the interviewee see which methods are working and which are not.

It is a one-on-one session where students can learn about the important styles, body language and other intricate details of interviewing from a knowledgeable source.

It is no secret that we find ourselves amidst one of the worst economic crises the world has seen in a long time. With fewer jobs on the market, competition has undoubtedly increased.

"Students are worried, but they aren't coming in," said Toppel, adding that no matter what the economic environment is, students should still spend their four years of college trying to find and working toward achieving that passion. "A lot of students just look at getting a job, making money, but it's important to find out what you like doing," said Toppel.

While many people have gotten jobs without practicing their interview skills, with this increasing competition, in a head-to-head battle between two candidates with similar qualifications, the one with more polished and refined interview skills is likely to get the job, he said.

It is important to understand the significance of the interview and emphasize the small things that could help you stand out while searching for a job.

For instance, Toppel believes that the interviewee should direct the interview and know their resume. He said it is also important to know "when to be aggressive and assertive."

In the end, Toppel pointed out that even though the economy is in bad shape, there is always room for optimism and opportunities for entry-level positions in the job market.

Contact Saurabh Muzumdar at sumuzmdar@scu.edu.