Read about Nora’s time as a Binghamton Tour Guide influenced her career development and the most influential class!
Major(s) at Binghamton University: Systems Science and Industrial Engineering
Career Cluster: Engineering & IT
Affinity Groups: Woman & LGBTQ
What activities and clubs/organizations did you participate in during your time at Binghamton University? This could include on-campus employment, research, volunteering, study abroad, student organizations, etc.
Tour Guide Program, Running Club, Research, and Intramural Sports.
Did you complete an internship?
Yes! I worked for Corning Inc. as a Process Engineer. It was a humbling experience where I learned how to ask for help, and how the real world never has one perfect answer the way the classroom does. In ISE, you need to come up with what you think is the best solution (and a plan b, c and d) and convince others why it’s the best option.
How did your experiences outside the classroom influence your career development?
Being a tour guide allowed me to think on my feet and speak in front of people. I also really had to know the resources we had and be able to utilize them. You can’t know the answer to everything, but if you know how to connect someone to the person that does it’s just as valuable
How did your experience at Binghamton University Prepare you for your first position post graduation?
The biggest thing was that I learned to question things and why they’d work a certain way. If there’s a process that doesn’t make sense, question it.
Why did you select your major at Binghamton University? What experiences or factors influenced your decision?
I was undecided, but I knew I wanted to go to Binghamton because there were so many well developed programs that I could succeed no matter what I wanted to go into. I eventually met with a counselor and we first realized it was easier to decided what I didn’t want to do. We landed on a few majors but I had never heard of industrial Engineering, and he said I should check it out because the way I think is very similar to that discipline. I ended up taking one course in psychology and one in IE (I was between ISE and neuroscience). At the end of the semester I decided to transfer to Watson and never looked back!
What advice would you give to a student who is exploring different major options?
Try out different things- don’t be afraid if a class doesn’t end up counting towards your degree… It’s easier to try a few classes out to know what you’ll like (and more importantly, what you don’t).
What class at Binghamton University was the most influential to you and why?
Enterprise Systems was one of the most frustrating classes but is now the one I use almost everyday. Having a very open ended question for a problem and being able to attack it from multiple angles allowed me to develop critical thinking and analysis skills and build my confidence. At first I took it for granted as it became second nature but the longer I’m in the workplace the more I’ve realized these skills are not easily gained- we just learned them so well that it’s easy for us now!
What would you say is the most important skill in your field and how do you use it in your current position?
As an industrial engineer you have to be like a Swiss army knife. Program management, analysis, public speaking, problem solving….you need to have it all. The biggest thing is being able to learn and stay humble. You don’t know everything and you never will
How can Binghamton University students develop this skill while in college?
Try things that scare and intimidate you – try doing case competitions and other things that scare you. This is the best time in your life to try something new – even if you don’t succeed.
If you were hiring a new graduate for your company, what skills and experiences would help this candidate stand out?
Curiosity. Ask questions about the process (not just the company). Use numbers and cause/effect on your resume. Pick one project from your work experience to show how you’ve made a positive impact (I reduced process time by 15% resulting in X dollars saved per year on the process).
What tools and resources were most helpful to you during your job search?
The career centers were great – I liked using fleishman for interview and job search help while Watson was better for resume review.
What is your advice for writing a strong resume/cover letter for a position in your field?
It’s always a numbers game, but I like to pick out my top 3-5 jobs everyday when job searching and write their cover letters. Make those letters really personal because they’re the ones you’re really hoping for!
Nora’s Top Tip: All companies don’t post the same job title for what you’re looking for. Two companies may also post the same job and mean very different things, (Process Engineer at one place could mean an industrial engineer, while at another mean a software engineer for application development). Try out different searches!
What is one thing you would suggest students do before graduation to be more prepared for the job search?
Intern, do things outside of class related to school but also personal things. At our company, we want someone with passion and we can’t see that if you just put coursework and one internship. Do clubs, competitions, or research for career skills and whatever extracurriculars to show off who you are
Also, find an industry you like. Casting a wide net and seeing what sticks may land you a job, but won’t necessarily make you happy . You spend most of your life at your job, so try to find something you like. In my case, I loved the environment and thrifting. I got lucky that a company I shopped at was hiring and I got the job because I was passionate and curious on top of my skill set.
What’s the best piece of career advice you have received?
Your first 5 years out of school can get very lonely – you’re not around your friends as much or as easily as you were in college. Know that you’re not alone in this feeling and it’ll get better!
Also, you have a lot to learn your first year in the corporate world (but so does everyone) so be patient, find a mentor (it can be informal, just someone you’re comfortable asking questions too) and keep going.
