Life at GE : Careers : GE

What are the best aspects of your current job?

There's never a dull moment! Each day brings new and unexpected challenges. Every day, I walk in the door with a must-do list, but usually that list changes substantially within the first two hours. Things change quickly in our business, and that keeps me on my toes!

What are the best parts about working at GE?

The best thing about working at GE is the people; our Company employs some of the brightest and most hardworking individuals I have ever met. People here take great pride in what they do at every level, and that encourages me to continuously raise the bar on my personal performance.

How did your background/previous work experience prepare you for your current role?

My initial experience with GE was as an intern with GE Energy in Schenectady, N.Y. After that, I knew immediately that I wanted to continue to work for GE. When I graduated from Syracuse University, I was hired by GE to be a systems analyst.

I worked my way up by executing on every assignment I was given, progressing to project leader, IT architect and program manager. Each position meant increased challenges and responsibilities, and each new role brought important technical lessons from the best and brightest individuals in our industry. Today, I can apply the lessons I learned to make better, quicker decisions related to sourcing Information Management programs.

What is the most challenging project you've worked on at GE?

My most challenging project was my first. Fresh out of college, I was the systems analyst responsible for creating the interface our engineers would use to monitor locomotives for service agreements. It was the first time I was able to apply my formal education to a real-world situation, and I wondered if I was ready.

Not only did I need to display and gain skills around application development, but I also had to learn and adapt to the GE culture. That was no small feat, but mistakes were not an option. Fortunately, I worked with and learned from some of the best IT professionals within GE, and they helped me gain the skills and foundation necessary for my future success.

What are the top technical skills that you take pride in possessing and/or still draw upon for your job?

The different positions I have held throughout my career have helped me achieve a good balance of skills in both application development and technical design. Typically, an IT professional is stronger in one area than the other, but I believe I have developed a good balance of both.

Of course, problem solving and troubleshooting are key as we simplify processes and improve our users' experience. Putting the right people on each job is extremely important, too; it's vital for me to align staff who have the appropriate knowledge and expertise to assist with designing systems and resolving issues.

What is the best piece of career advice you can offer IT folks embarking on a technical career at GE?

There are three, simple pieces of advice I can pass on for a successful career in any field, not just IT: maintain your desire to learn; treat others as you would like to be treated; and become really good at a few things, rather than mediocre at several things!