Q. What do you enjoy most about your job?
A. Everyday there is something different and knowing I work in an industry that aims to help people encourages me to make the best decision for the end customer. It’s important to feel fulfilled with what you do and if you believe in the companies core values and decisions you will have a better sense of satisfaction when you wake up in the morning and leave at the end of the day. Also, people are everything.
Q. What does a typical day for you, consist of?
A. Depending on the day, running reports, supply constraints, planning system updates, meeting with production, manufacturing, quality, warehouse and purchasing teams, improving processes, creating processes, checking Inventory health, putting out fires, running back order reports, answering emails and preparing for meetings.
Q. Is there any advice that you wish you’d known, while earning your bachelors and/or masters? Or perhaps, anything that you wish you’d done differently while studying?
A. I recommend most business students to focus on excel.and programs that companies you want to work at use. EXCEL, SAP, Oracle, Visio, Power BI, and Microsoft Office Suite, just to name a few.
Q. As a project manager, did you use Microsoft Project or Smart Sheet, and do you still use them?
A. Surprisingly, most companies do NOT use every software that they teach you in school. It helps to know how to use these tools however, it’s better to know how to apply it to the software that the company you work at uses as well. You can always make a case to use a different software once you have proven your knowledge and can display the benefits of adopting other tools.
Q. In what ways did your previous jobs help to prepare you for your current role?
A. In college, counselors, advisers and professors always state” you will change your job at least 6 times”. and I’m here to tell you that that data is old. You may change the company/ industry, career more times than that. However, they are not wrong that most student will change their career path after college and I’m here to tell you that it’s completely okay and in fact it shows progress and growth for most people. I’ve changed industries and positions several times and it’s always been for the best. In my journey I’ve only gained knowledge and learned how to work with people across different industries and see how different companies have similarities but also differences.
Q. If you had to choose, which area of supply chain do you think is the most in demand or most important right now?
A. Supply chain is growing faster than ever and so many companies need forward thinking employees who want o work and make a change. You never want to go in as a new hire and be disrespectful of how a company could be functioning a certain way in the 21st century. You need to learn everything about the company so you can make thorough informed decisions and suggestions to management with proven facts and data to back up your story. More than ever we need individuals in the warehouse, scheduling and purchasing to help create efficiencies for the business. Many companies use older technologies and methods and some employees have been here for a long time and do not want change.
Q. I also read on your profile that you specialize in Real Estate? How did you get into that? Do they have overlap?
A. I think it’s really important to develop hobbies and interests outside of your work. It helps you grow and have something to look forward to on your weekends. It really helps establish a health routine when you have interests outside of work. However that being said I’ve noticed that when you have these other hobbies you start noticing a pattern. Do you take the safe route or do you just show up and then not give your 100%? It’s a great way to see how you can improve other areas of your life. For example, if you show up to the workout class or real estate class and just sit and not pay attention, then it’s a great indicator you have that same behavior at work.
I' love mentoring and interviewing with students all the time. I always wished there was someone out there who would give me advice and just say it how it is without all the BS. I’d love to create a community where we all talk about our experiences and the advice’s given to us from different professionals.
Let me know if you guys have any questions that concern you about life after college!