Education Information & Advice |
You & Your Career |
The Actual Work
EDUCATION INFORMATION & ADVICE
Tell us about your education and your future education plans.
I graduated from the College of Dupage with an Associate of Arts degree in 2004. I want to further my education to get a bachelor's degree in ad design or graphic design. I am also interested in web design. Some of my favorite classes were art, drawing, web design, and computer art. I liked to learning how to create and design computer art using Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Quark. I would like to learn more about those programs and also learn Flash. I think this will help with my career choice to be a designer.
What did you like and dislike about your education?
I enjoy taking classes and learning. I don't think that some of the required classes are relevant to my degree; science, history, etc. Being an adult, and working full-time, I found it difficult to balance school, work, and a social life. Sometimes there are not a lot of classes offered during evening hours.
How did you decide to pursue an associate's degree?
I wanted to transfer to a four-year school, and thought the associate's would be the most convenient and cost effective way.
What is your recommendation to students considering community college?
It is great for students that don't have a direction. They can learn about all their options before jumping into a four-year school.
Would you change anything about your education if you could? If so, what?
I would like to have started earlier; had I known what I wanted to do at an earlier age, it would have benefited my education and career.
How has your education benefited your career?
It has made me a well-rounded person, and has taught me verbal and communication skills. But it has not affected the current position that I hold with the company.
In retrospect, what do you know now that you wish you knew before you pursued your associate's degree?
I wish I would have known what I wanted to do. I would have still taken the general education classes at the community college… but I would have completed my degree sooner.
What factors should prospective students consider when choosing a school?
If that school is accredited. It's important to look at where you want to transfer to if you are going to a community college, and if that school will take all of your credits. You should also check out the curriculum, because some schools have a more rigorous class selection. You also should feel comfortable with the school itself, and make sure it is a place that you can see yourself going to every day.
What other advice can you give to prospective students thinking about an education and career in business?
Try to find a job in your field of interest and work towards that. Don't be so concerned about the amount of money that you are making in the beginning…look at the bigger picture of what you are working towards, which is more important than the instant gratification.
YOU & YOUR CAREER
Tell us about your career. Where did it start? How is it unfolding? Current position?
I am a Sales Project Analyst for a Fortune 500 company, an office products wholesaler. I work in the National Accounts Department, and I am the contact for a leading retail office supply chain. I supply the retail chain with all of its reporting needs. I have been with the company for 10 years; I started in the customer service department.
What do you enjoy most about your current position?
I enjoy the flexibility that I have at my job. It is a professional working environment, but at the same time it is a laid back atmosphere.
What type of on-the-job training have you received?
I completed the program for our in-house database program called Focus, as well as training on use of Excel, Access, Content Management Service (used to create web pages); we also receive in-house training on problem solving techniques.
You work for a Fortune 500 company. Are there challenges to working for a major corporation as opposed to a smaller business environment?
Yes, the challenges are that sometimes you feel left out of the loop on important decisions that affect everyone in the company. For instance, our company has decided to relocate to an office about 10 miles away. This will add an additional 20 minutes to my 45 minute commute to work each day.
What has been your greatest success thus far? Biggest setback?
Completing several web pages for the company's intranet site. This is something that I enjoy doing. A major setback is problems with reports that are out of my control.
What are some of your favorite responsibilities or projects?
I love to work on the company intranet. I liked it better when our department was allowed more creativity. Now we have a web template and every page looks the same.
What are some of your personal and/or professional goals for the future?
I would like to be a freelance graphic designer, work as an ad designer, art director, art producer, and own my own business and art gallery.
THE ACTUAL WORK
Describe a typical day of work for you. What exactly do you do? What are your key responsibilities? On a basic level, what skills does your job demand?
I have scheduled reports that I run for internal and external customers. I also have an Ad Hoc request that comes in for internal and external customers. A typical day for me would be to prioritize my duties. I work on the reports that are scheduled first, and then take on Ad Hoc requests based on the due dates.
Most of the reports I work on have strict deadlines that need to be met. I also need to juggle tasks, as certain tasks may come up that need my attention. I also work to troubleshoot any problems that I find when I develop new reports. I create reports using a database language called Focus. There is programming involved, and also a lot of work formatting reports for our customers. I use Excel and Access frequently to format reports. I also create and maintain web pages for the company intranet.
My job requires at least 5 years experience in a similar office environment, extensive knowledge of Focus, Excel, Access, MS Outlook and Content Management Server. I also use my knowledge of Adobe Photoshop and Kodak Digital Camera to take photos for various websites. I created the website for our company store, where we sell clothing and other items with our logo.
What are the most challenging aspects of your job?
It is challenging to juggle multiple tasks, and also if you have to re-prioritize your tasks when something more urgent comes up. People, especially your subordinates, may not always respect your time, or the effort that you put into your work. Some people you work with, or for, can be unappreciative and condescending.
Do you use specialty computer software programs? If so, what are they and what do they do?
I use Content Management Server, a template for a web page. I use this to design and maintain web pages for our departments' web page on the company intranet. Before we had CMS, I did this with Front Page, which allows you to create web pages without using HTML code.
Has the popularity of the internet affected your profession?
The internet has made my job easier, and it has helped make things more efficient. It has also created a lot more jobs.
What are the greatest stresses, what causes you the most anxiety?
Deadlines, lack of communication, and when I don't get the answer for something quickly. When I am given the wrong answer for something, or people just flat out don't want to help. Having people say that my work is wrong, when they don't have all the facts. Having to re-do work when someone else made a mistake, or didn't give me all of the information.
What are the best ways to get a corporate job?
To have a college degree, to know someone in the business that can help you get an interview. Or just apply. Most of the people that come in lately are from outside the company.
How is the job market? How do you think it will be in five years?
I think the job market is getting better, but it seems like places want more from the people and want to pay less. For instance, it seems like everyone wants at least a Bachelor's degree, even in lower paying positions. And jobs want people that have specialized, specific degrees. I think in the next five years, most people will need at least a Master's degree to get a decent paying job.
Describe your ideal job? Your nightmare job?
My ideal job would be to have my own business. I want to work from home, and do something in the creative field. I love to work with art, and photos, and I enjoy writing. If I could have any job in the world it would be an art director, or own my own design company or art gallery.
I would hate to be a job where I am watched all the time, and have someone constantly looking over my shoulder. I like to have independence and freedom to make decisions.
What are your top five pet peeves with your current position?
The work load is heavy and there are strict deadlines. There is no time to catch up on things. It can be mundane. Sometimes I feel chained to my desk.
What are some of the top challenges in facing corporate staffers over the next decade?
They are trying to cut costs, but they want more work to get done by less people.
Is there anything else you can tell us about yourself, your career, or the business world that would be interesting or helpful to students?
If I could start over, I would not have taken so much time off of school. I would have liked to finished earlier and already be established with my business. Students need to keep in mind that their education is important, and sometimes you take big risks to get rewards. I wish that I would have taken more risks in my life and with my career.
The earlier students decide what career they want to get into, the easier it will be for them. They should also keep in mind that good work ethics and having a good positive attitude will get them far in life. People are drawn to those that have positive attitudes. That will help them get ahead, along with a good education.
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It was a delicate balance of work, family and school commitments, but perseverance led Nicole DelGallo to an associate's degree, a Fortune 500 career and to new education and career goals.