4 answers
Elizabeth
Student
Dover, New Hampshire
2
Questions
Asked
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What is your position and how did you get there?
What is your position and how did you get there?
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4 answers
Steve Rizzi
Support Manager
1
Answer
Biddeford, Maine
Updated
Steve’s Answer
Hi Elizabeth-- This is a really great question. My name is Steve and I am currently a Customer Support Manager at a company called HubSpot. But if we rewind a bit, I never thought I would work within the tech space when I was growing up, in college and even when I graduated. I studied Sports Management in college and always dreamed of working for a professional sports team. After college, I was fortunate to get a job at a sports arena where I did Sales and Marketing for the arena and all the events that took place there. I communicated often with our club seat and suite holders as well as different groups in the area (girl & boy scouts as an example). It was at that time where I learned what I really liked, and that was to interact with people and help them accomplish what they were trying to do.
That brought me to my current company, HubSpot. I joined HubSpot in 2017 as a Customer Support Specialist and I helped our customers troubleshoot the software and help them accomplish their goals while trying to deliver the best experience I could. My next opportunity at HubSpot came in 2018 when I became a Team Lead for Customer Support. In that role, I helped onboard new hires into the Customer Support role and helped them get comfortable with the job and provide best practices as they entered into the role-- so they could help our Customers succeed. Knowing that I loved to help people (not only our customers but our internal team as well), I knew I wanted to stay within the Support Department. In 2020, I applied for a manager position in Support and was fortunate to get it. To help me prepare for this role, it was super important for me to learn as much as I could. I talked to other managers, observed how they handled certain positions, and put myself in a position to practice those skills. I received feedback on how I could improve in certain areas, which has made me a better leader. In this role, I help our team accomplish their own personal goals as well our business goals. Additionally, I help my team with their career goals and help prep with internal mobility and landing opportunities that will allow them to grow within their career.
I think it is important to remember that you will learn what you like and dislike in each position you are in and based on that, it will allow you to make certain moves that will benefit you and fuel your passions. This way, you can enjoy what you do for work and make it easy to login / go to the office each day
That brought me to my current company, HubSpot. I joined HubSpot in 2017 as a Customer Support Specialist and I helped our customers troubleshoot the software and help them accomplish their goals while trying to deliver the best experience I could. My next opportunity at HubSpot came in 2018 when I became a Team Lead for Customer Support. In that role, I helped onboard new hires into the Customer Support role and helped them get comfortable with the job and provide best practices as they entered into the role-- so they could help our Customers succeed. Knowing that I loved to help people (not only our customers but our internal team as well), I knew I wanted to stay within the Support Department. In 2020, I applied for a manager position in Support and was fortunate to get it. To help me prepare for this role, it was super important for me to learn as much as I could. I talked to other managers, observed how they handled certain positions, and put myself in a position to practice those skills. I received feedback on how I could improve in certain areas, which has made me a better leader. In this role, I help our team accomplish their own personal goals as well our business goals. Additionally, I help my team with their career goals and help prep with internal mobility and landing opportunities that will allow them to grow within their career.
I think it is important to remember that you will learn what you like and dislike in each position you are in and based on that, it will allow you to make certain moves that will benefit you and fuel your passions. This way, you can enjoy what you do for work and make it easy to login / go to the office each day
Michael Torio
Consultant - Data Reporting & Analysis (HQ Finance)
362
Answers
Alpharetta, Georgia
Updated
Michael’s Answer
Hi Elizabeth,
One's career path is never straight forward. I earned my Bachelor of Science (BS) in Criminal Justice and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Management. I wanted to become an attorney and specialize in Corporate Law. But, after completing my MBA, I was burnt out from school and had student loans to pay back. So, I took a break and started looking for employment.
My first job out of college was working as a Computer Statistical Analyst for a Market Research firm. Without any experience for the position, most of my learning was on the job training. Career progression led to my next position as a Project Manager and still within the Market Research industry. Over 12 years establishing a career in Market Research, I was caught up in back to back corporate downsizings and restructures.
The economy was in a full recession. It was challenging to find work, especially in my field. So, when a friend indicated that the company that he worked for was hiring, I jumped at the opportunity. The position was entry-level. It was being a Front Line Retention and Loyalty Representative in a call center. This was a complete career change from what I was previously doing. Meaning, my responsibilities were to handle 65 customer calls per day from customers who were upset, angry, etc. The main goal was to retain customers and have a win-win-win solution on every call for the customer, for the company and for me.
Over 13.5 years working in the Telecommunications industry, positions held were in Resource Management, Data Analytics and Finance. Currently, I am a Consultant in Corporate Finance. Daily activities include project management, data analysis, collaboration with team members and partners, summary analysis reports and presentations, etc. The majority of my responsibilities center around telling the story behind the data and utilizing visualization tools like Tableau and Qlik to achieve this goal.
Again, a career journey is never straight forward. There will be internal and external influences that will affect one's career journey. The key is to keep moving forward, learning, developing, advancing, growing, pushing and challenging yourself, etc., but, at the same time, enjoy, have fun and reflect. Is it worth it in the end? The answer is "Yes!".
Best wishes for your educational and career adventures!
One's career path is never straight forward. I earned my Bachelor of Science (BS) in Criminal Justice and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Management. I wanted to become an attorney and specialize in Corporate Law. But, after completing my MBA, I was burnt out from school and had student loans to pay back. So, I took a break and started looking for employment.
My first job out of college was working as a Computer Statistical Analyst for a Market Research firm. Without any experience for the position, most of my learning was on the job training. Career progression led to my next position as a Project Manager and still within the Market Research industry. Over 12 years establishing a career in Market Research, I was caught up in back to back corporate downsizings and restructures.
The economy was in a full recession. It was challenging to find work, especially in my field. So, when a friend indicated that the company that he worked for was hiring, I jumped at the opportunity. The position was entry-level. It was being a Front Line Retention and Loyalty Representative in a call center. This was a complete career change from what I was previously doing. Meaning, my responsibilities were to handle 65 customer calls per day from customers who were upset, angry, etc. The main goal was to retain customers and have a win-win-win solution on every call for the customer, for the company and for me.
Over 13.5 years working in the Telecommunications industry, positions held were in Resource Management, Data Analytics and Finance. Currently, I am a Consultant in Corporate Finance. Daily activities include project management, data analysis, collaboration with team members and partners, summary analysis reports and presentations, etc. The majority of my responsibilities center around telling the story behind the data and utilizing visualization tools like Tableau and Qlik to achieve this goal.
Again, a career journey is never straight forward. There will be internal and external influences that will affect one's career journey. The key is to keep moving forward, learning, developing, advancing, growing, pushing and challenging yourself, etc., but, at the same time, enjoy, have fun and reflect. Is it worth it in the end? The answer is "Yes!".
Best wishes for your educational and career adventures!
DAUDI KINYE
Career Counselling
7
Answers
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Updated
DAUDI’s Answer
Hi.
This is a good question and it is a very important question, especially in this world of science and technology.
My name is Daudi Khamis Kinye and Am working as a Career Counsellor and Teacher of the Swahili Language at Shamsiye Boys Secondary School (Among the best school)in Tanzania.
First time I did not know my talent that I can be working as a career counsellor but due to most of the time spent with students together and I started to engage in their interests finishing high school programs they going to pursue as well as where and why so as time being schools administrator realized that a person who knows very well students are Me. So they started to introduce a career counselling office and also they started to send me to take various career counselling courses that catalyzed me to talk more and to be active with students and also it helped me until now who am.
So the important thing is everything will start intrinsically and not building much expectation but if you can do your job then people will realize your potential without any problem when the time comes it will be yours.
This is a good question and it is a very important question, especially in this world of science and technology.
My name is Daudi Khamis Kinye and Am working as a Career Counsellor and Teacher of the Swahili Language at Shamsiye Boys Secondary School (Among the best school)in Tanzania.
First time I did not know my talent that I can be working as a career counsellor but due to most of the time spent with students together and I started to engage in their interests finishing high school programs they going to pursue as well as where and why so as time being schools administrator realized that a person who knows very well students are Me. So they started to introduce a career counselling office and also they started to send me to take various career counselling courses that catalyzed me to talk more and to be active with students and also it helped me until now who am.
So the important thing is everything will start intrinsically and not building much expectation but if you can do your job then people will realize your potential without any problem when the time comes it will be yours.
david kirk
Retired Computing Manager
480
Answers
Syracuse, New York
Updated
david’s Answer
Hi, Elizabeth. Good question, because many people start at one career and end up in a different one. It's a matter of being exposed to new opportunities and experiences. I was a supervisor in a personnel department. A few people working there also did work in computer programming. After talking with them and grasping the concept, I took a course in computer programming. In my first job, part of it required teach new employees. I was good at both and got another job with a computer manufacturer. That expanded my skills and also required teaching. From there, I got a job as a director of training for a large company. From there, I became a consultant at a government agency and then became a project manager. Next, I became an associate director at a large university in charge of systems. Although each position had different responsibilities, all shared many common skills. Thanks for asking. People often dream of one career, but from my own experience, life becomes more exciting by having multiple career components. All the best to you.