Life at GE : Careers : GE
Playing with new technology! One of the best - and sometimes most challenging - aspects of my job is being presented with a business problem and finding ways to solve it. While technology is not an automatic "go-to answer" for problems, it is obviously a common component of many business solutions. I love being able to dig into a technology, to understand all its facets (especially how different vendors take different approaches to meeting customer needs), and work to morph that into a world-class solution for the GE environment.
The continually changing environment. GE is such a global and diverse company, there's always something new to do, someone new to talk to, or a new problem to solve. I find it incredibly energizing to be in an environment where you can be working in one vertical at a given time, and just a few months later be working on something completely unrelated. It's also interesting to have contacts across the world and learn about different cultures, lifestyles and perceptions.
An important component of my background that I believe has shaped my current role is my business concentration in college. I feel this focus has given me the ability to really understand and digest business problems. In IT, we often have to take technical solutions and turn them into non-technical business acumen. A solid business background has helped me to bridge these gaps and drive cohesion across teams and customers I interact with. Additionally, being a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), my "other life", has given me the experience to act quickly under pressure and understand the importance of clear thinking, imagination, and looking at the big picture to drive resolution.
Coordinating efforts for the GIS Virtual Desktop Initiative (VDI). Working against an incredibly tight timeline, we had to create a team of experts in a subject area new to the Company. In addition, we had to introduce new technology solutions and fully operationalize them in just a few short weeks. This project taught me the importance of quickly forming a team, understanding what needs to be done, and doing anything in your power to make that happen - even if it means doing work outside your given field to help out.
Being able to sit down and write code! While it's not something I'd envision doing on a day-to-day basis, I feel it gives me a solid technical backing to understand the intricacies of application development. I still enjoy taking on side projects to keep my skills sharp and stay involved in the technology community. These skills have helped hone my problem-solving abilities and clear thinking.
Don't be afraid to dig into technology, get under the hood, and understand how it really works. Then, deliver, deliver and deliver. Once you are fully engaged in a technology and understand it inside and out, you have the ability to see things in a different light - you can find more creative solutions.
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