Beethoven In Trance - Episode 41
Dear Mark,
I am writing to seek advice on my career development. I have been working in an insurance company as a pricing analyst for about 2 years now and I have not been successful. The reason I end up in the company is because I need the company sponsorship. There are not many companies out there these days are willing to sponsor international students, not to mention in this job market. The job requires a detail oriented person and appearantly I am not. This is not the first job that I have in this company. I previously worked in the corporate finance department and wasn't successful either for the same reason. I did make some improvements along the way, but still it just doesn't measure up.
Last week I made a mistake in my job, which was caught pretty late in the game. Fortunately I was able to fix the problem eventually but the business impact could have been substantial. My manager told me that he would talk to me today. And in the meeting this morning, he gave me a performance plan. It is a 60 days performance plan that requires me to resolve my 'quality issue', or I will be pretty much gone. It seems to be the last step before discontinuing employment.
Since last week, I have been reflecting on how I have been doing in my career since my bachelor degree, and here is my story.
I worked as a warehouse person in charge of promotional give-aways for Budweiser company when I was a freshman in college back in China. I was doing all right, because I was doing the heavy labor work with no complains. That job doesn't require many special skills, only the willingness to get the job done. It was good experience for a college student though, to get to know what was going on outside the campus and how difficult money can be made.
After I graduate, I joined the Gillette company as a management trainee. I was first assigned to Sales team as a door-to-door sales person for 3 months. I was the first college graduate doing this job, and I was doing quite well. Again, the job requires a thick skin, and interpersonal skills and the willingness to close the sale. I remember I didn't like the commute of the job, but I didn't really mind meeting the people once I started talking, even the nasty people.
After my 3 month sales training, I was transferred back to HQ, and was working with a newly assigned 'trade marketing manager' to set up the new 'trading marketing department' which is a bridge between sales and marketing. I had the best time working there. I was busy, but had fun. I was a good candidate at that time because I had great attitude and some computer skills that my manager (who comes from a sales background) didn't have. I did make mistakes at that time and I was sometimes frustrated because sales director sometimes caught those mistakes and he wasn't happy about it. I talked to my manager once and asked him whether the sales director didn't like me for whatever reason? I was told the opposite, my manager said the sales director told him that I was a 'good material', and he should develop me well. I was happy to hear that. My manager and I talked about job, frustrations and life together all the time, and I felt supported and motivated to do a good job.
But the good time didn't last long. Gillette sold the products that we worked on to Rubbermaid, and the company re-organized afterwards. The marketing director asked me if I was interested in working in Gillette Marketing department. I first said no, because I understood how difficult it was to find a good manager like mine. But after talking with my manager, he suggested I move on to the Gillette marketing because it was a bigger role in a bigger department. He told me it was a good career move. I then talked to the marketing director again that day and I got the job the week after.
All things seemed to move along well till that point. I was working under a female manager from HK. Her managering style is different from my previous one. I didn't enjoy the work much and as a matter of fact I didn't know much about what I was doing. The only achievement I made in that department is that I suggested a marketing message to the advertising company for an upcoming new product in front of marketing director, and they took the advice. Come to think of it, the marketing director must see something in me so that he helped me along my career.
However, my career stopped at that point. I decided to quit my job and purpuse my master degree in US. I was preparing the tests at home for about 5 months, and then took the test afterwards. I then went back to work force. First I joined a small trade organization who promotes US produce and fruits. It was a temperate job that I took before I could move on to something else or leaving for my master degree in US. I also was interviewing other jobs at that time, and essentially I got a job in adidas. Come to think of it, the job in the trade organization was a good opportunity for a enterprising type of person, but at that time, career wasn't something in my mind.
The job in adidas is about product training. I could do that well. But I still didn't have the motive or guidance to do a good job. Half of the time I didn't know what I should know,and I was bored. If I have the chance now, I believe I would have done a much better job. But at that time, I did realize my career in adidas would be short, I was planning on moving on to Nike after two years in adidas. But it never happened.
Because I came to US for my MBA program.
I wasn't a good student in the program and haven't been. Look back the years I was a student, I did manage to get through various exams and test to get me to the next level, but most of them utilized a bust of energy with some persistence instead of consistent improvement on a solid base. The only thing I was good at is English. I could speak this language well, only because I watched many movies and played many pc games. I wasn't good at grammar though.
The only good project I did in the MBA program is about a technical topic and I was somewhat familiar with. I was the only one on the team who is interested in the subject. I was able to do the research and present the case in a clear and interesting way. It was a job well done.
After the program, I moved to CA looking for IT job. I wasn't lucky. IT industry was at its lowest point and I couldn't get an interview. I did get a telemarketing job during that year (after being a Chinese cashier in a Korean restaurant serving Mexican burito), because we (my wife and I) needed the money. I was doing all right, though I hated the job. I was making over hundred phone calls a day and the job drained my energy every day.
Before another year ended, I went back to school again in Chicago. This time, I was in the marketing communication program. Life in Chicago was all right at the begining but rapidly turned bad. I did like the program, but it was very expensive, and I couldn't afford the whole school year without financial aid. I wasn't able to find an on campus job and I didn't have a scholarship (not like the previous MBA program). I had a good project in the program which was for a non-profit organization to redesign its website. I was the project leader and I had some 'non-cooperative' member on my team. I pushed my communications hard on them, and eventually the project was done and well recieved by the client. I felt the reason of the success is that I was interested in marketing and I had techincal background knowledge of the website.
Then I was transferred to Case western in Cleveland for its operation management program. It was the right move for me as my money was running out and my life in Chicago was getting miserable. I stayed in a graduate student co-op, and was elected as the house president. I was fortunate to handle some tough issues during my stay there and became a person who was trusted among the house members. Meanwhile, I got the opportunity to further develop my interest in cooking in the house too. I think I was viewed as a righteous, and hardworking person who was willing to help others in the house.
After graduate again from the program, I was able to find the job in my current employer. That is where all my questions started. I am thinking the only reason I am still here is that I did a good job in automating a data updating process. However, since it's not the core function of the department, the contribution is less important.
I do think it's time to re-launch my career. I do think the performance plan will help me staying alert and prevent me from sliding again. But the question is what next? I can't see myself working in my current position in the next 5 years, and I don't really know what I can be in this company. And what I like to be is so remote and constrained by other factors. I really need to be successful at work again.
Sincerely,
Mark
I am writing to seek advice on my career development. I have been working in an insurance company as a pricing analyst for about 2 years now and I have not been successful. The reason I end up in the company is because I need the company sponsorship. There are not many companies out there these days are willing to sponsor international students, not to mention in this job market. The job requires a detail oriented person and appearantly I am not. This is not the first job that I have in this company. I previously worked in the corporate finance department and wasn't successful either for the same reason. I did make some improvements along the way, but still it just doesn't measure up.
Last week I made a mistake in my job, which was caught pretty late in the game. Fortunately I was able to fix the problem eventually but the business impact could have been substantial. My manager told me that he would talk to me today. And in the meeting this morning, he gave me a performance plan. It is a 60 days performance plan that requires me to resolve my 'quality issue', or I will be pretty much gone. It seems to be the last step before discontinuing employment.
Since last week, I have been reflecting on how I have been doing in my career since my bachelor degree, and here is my story.
I worked as a warehouse person in charge of promotional give-aways for Budweiser company when I was a freshman in college back in China. I was doing all right, because I was doing the heavy labor work with no complains. That job doesn't require many special skills, only the willingness to get the job done. It was good experience for a college student though, to get to know what was going on outside the campus and how difficult money can be made.
After I graduate, I joined the Gillette company as a management trainee. I was first assigned to Sales team as a door-to-door sales person for 3 months. I was the first college graduate doing this job, and I was doing quite well. Again, the job requires a thick skin, and interpersonal skills and the willingness to close the sale. I remember I didn't like the commute of the job, but I didn't really mind meeting the people once I started talking, even the nasty people.
After my 3 month sales training, I was transferred back to HQ, and was working with a newly assigned 'trade marketing manager' to set up the new 'trading marketing department' which is a bridge between sales and marketing. I had the best time working there. I was busy, but had fun. I was a good candidate at that time because I had great attitude and some computer skills that my manager (who comes from a sales background) didn't have. I did make mistakes at that time and I was sometimes frustrated because sales director sometimes caught those mistakes and he wasn't happy about it. I talked to my manager once and asked him whether the sales director didn't like me for whatever reason? I was told the opposite, my manager said the sales director told him that I was a 'good material', and he should develop me well. I was happy to hear that. My manager and I talked about job, frustrations and life together all the time, and I felt supported and motivated to do a good job.
But the good time didn't last long. Gillette sold the products that we worked on to Rubbermaid, and the company re-organized afterwards. The marketing director asked me if I was interested in working in Gillette Marketing department. I first said no, because I understood how difficult it was to find a good manager like mine. But after talking with my manager, he suggested I move on to the Gillette marketing because it was a bigger role in a bigger department. He told me it was a good career move. I then talked to the marketing director again that day and I got the job the week after.
All things seemed to move along well till that point. I was working under a female manager from HK. Her managering style is different from my previous one. I didn't enjoy the work much and as a matter of fact I didn't know much about what I was doing. The only achievement I made in that department is that I suggested a marketing message to the advertising company for an upcoming new product in front of marketing director, and they took the advice. Come to think of it, the marketing director must see something in me so that he helped me along my career.
However, my career stopped at that point. I decided to quit my job and purpuse my master degree in US. I was preparing the tests at home for about 5 months, and then took the test afterwards. I then went back to work force. First I joined a small trade organization who promotes US produce and fruits. It was a temperate job that I took before I could move on to something else or leaving for my master degree in US. I also was interviewing other jobs at that time, and essentially I got a job in adidas. Come to think of it, the job in the trade organization was a good opportunity for a enterprising type of person, but at that time, career wasn't something in my mind.
The job in adidas is about product training. I could do that well. But I still didn't have the motive or guidance to do a good job. Half of the time I didn't know what I should know,and I was bored. If I have the chance now, I believe I would have done a much better job. But at that time, I did realize my career in adidas would be short, I was planning on moving on to Nike after two years in adidas. But it never happened.
Because I came to US for my MBA program.
I wasn't a good student in the program and haven't been. Look back the years I was a student, I did manage to get through various exams and test to get me to the next level, but most of them utilized a bust of energy with some persistence instead of consistent improvement on a solid base. The only thing I was good at is English. I could speak this language well, only because I watched many movies and played many pc games. I wasn't good at grammar though.
The only good project I did in the MBA program is about a technical topic and I was somewhat familiar with. I was the only one on the team who is interested in the subject. I was able to do the research and present the case in a clear and interesting way. It was a job well done.
After the program, I moved to CA looking for IT job. I wasn't lucky. IT industry was at its lowest point and I couldn't get an interview. I did get a telemarketing job during that year (after being a Chinese cashier in a Korean restaurant serving Mexican burito), because we (my wife and I) needed the money. I was doing all right, though I hated the job. I was making over hundred phone calls a day and the job drained my energy every day.
Before another year ended, I went back to school again in Chicago. This time, I was in the marketing communication program. Life in Chicago was all right at the begining but rapidly turned bad. I did like the program, but it was very expensive, and I couldn't afford the whole school year without financial aid. I wasn't able to find an on campus job and I didn't have a scholarship (not like the previous MBA program). I had a good project in the program which was for a non-profit organization to redesign its website. I was the project leader and I had some 'non-cooperative' member on my team. I pushed my communications hard on them, and eventually the project was done and well recieved by the client. I felt the reason of the success is that I was interested in marketing and I had techincal background knowledge of the website.
Then I was transferred to Case western in Cleveland for its operation management program. It was the right move for me as my money was running out and my life in Chicago was getting miserable. I stayed in a graduate student co-op, and was elected as the house president. I was fortunate to handle some tough issues during my stay there and became a person who was trusted among the house members. Meanwhile, I got the opportunity to further develop my interest in cooking in the house too. I think I was viewed as a righteous, and hardworking person who was willing to help others in the house.
After graduate again from the program, I was able to find the job in my current employer. That is where all my questions started. I am thinking the only reason I am still here is that I did a good job in automating a data updating process. However, since it's not the core function of the department, the contribution is less important.
I do think it's time to re-launch my career. I do think the performance plan will help me staying alert and prevent me from sliding again. But the question is what next? I can't see myself working in my current position in the next 5 years, and I don't really know what I can be in this company. And what I like to be is so remote and constrained by other factors. I really need to be successful at work again.
Sincerely,
Mark
posted by Beethoven In Trance at 2:02 PM
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