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1.what are the vital steps someone should take to prepare for a role like yours?

#education #college-major #teaching

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Subject: Career question for you

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Heather’s Answer

Hi there Diana,

What a great question!

I personally sought out a 5-year program in education for K-8 students. I felt that when I reached my student teaching I was still vastly unprepared for the experience. The best way to prepare is to get yourself out there and have experiences in both formal and informal educational settings with a wide variety of age groups/grade levels and if possible in a variety of content areas.

Volunteering is a great way to gain experience in the education field in a non-committal manner.
-Reach out to local school systems to see how you can help through volunteering or even see if you could substitute teach.
-Look into working with students in afterschool program settings. Some schools have afterschool programs and there are organizations outside of the schools such as Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA, Girls Inc., Rise Up, etc. These outside organizations offer a lot of insight into the additional factors in a child's life outside of school that may play into the classroom setting.
-See if you can volunteer at your church or community center. There are usually lots of programs with students that will give first hand experience.
-Reach out to a local museum or science center to volunteer or work. I personally operate the Education and Exhibits departments at a science center and it's the most fun and rewarding experience to use my degree to reach students in an informal manner and teach them without them knowing it because they are having so much fun.
-Look into tutoring either your peers at school or through an organization such as Kumon.
-Network and connect with as many individuals in the education sector as possible. Get their insight and see how it plays into the bigger picture. -Talk with a SPED teacher, a math teacher, a science teacher, an ELA teacher, a social studies teacher, an occupational therapist, a principal or administrator, an RTI tutor, related arts teachers (art, music, PE, etc.), a school counselor, a secretary, a school nurse, cafeteria staff, a librarian, etc. This will not only help give you an idea of the bigger picture but will help you narrow down where you would like to become highly qualified or to pursue an additional certification or additional degree.
-Join student versions of national professional organizations such as the National Education Association. These memberships are often free or a minimal cost for student membership and allow you to be aware of educational trends, hurdles, successes, and more.

Enjoy the time you have with these experiences and best of luck on your endeavors. We need well-prepared, enthusiastic, and patient teachers like you out there in the world!
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RAVI’s Answer

Very thoughtful question indeed!
Let me tell you a little bit about my job and how I got here then I will try explaining how I prepared to where I am now.

I am the lead product marketing manager to develop, deliver and support Managed Network services globally for a large telecommunication company. I have a master's degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering, and about 17 years of software development experience in communications field and now about 18 years in product marketing. My experience is spread across a few companies although the past 20+ years has been within my current employer.

How did I prepare for my current job?
In reality, I did not. After I got my masters, instead of working in Electronics/communications engineering I jumped into software development, as that is the job I got and I needed one to survive financially. It was not my choice. But I got forced into it. I did have some programming background, mathematics, and good analytical skills. It was an easy fit into software development. This change, basically kept me away from electronics and communications for good for the next 17 years.

Then I got bored of programming and learning new languages and new way of coding all the time. I wanted to do something different and wanted to try something on the business side. I had no background and no real knowledge about product marketing. But I did have keen intensity to learn and work hard and succeed at whatever I do. I approached the hiring manager and wanted to see if there is a possibility of me changing the job. I was provided an opportunity to change, and I learnt everything from my manager and colleagues quickly. I had the basic background in communications, services and general industry awareness. Moreover I was just willing to learn. This has been the best part of my professional career, satisfying in all aspects.

So in a nutshell, I really did not have the planned preparation, planned training or education, and planned steps I took. I went along the journey, learnt along the way and how to travel in the path that was ahead, and put in the effort to succeed and not just survive!

Many of my colleagues that and other folks I work with on a regular basis have similar stories with a variety of education, cultural, family and geographical background that have literally nothing to do with what they do day to day. Employers and jobs will teach you along the way. In the end it is all up to you to see how you adopt to the situation, and how you succeed.

In other words, do not overthink at this stage. See what interests you and where you want to go in a few years or many years down the road. Try to meet people, learn things that will make you navigate the path you want to take. Sometimes the path may have splits, winding turns, or sometimes an abrupt end. Industry and technological changes as speeding up these changes. Do not be disheartened. Just adopt, and put in the effort. You will succeed.

Best wishes.
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Joseph’s Answer

The vital steps are degree completion, school selection and a study of state standards
Thank you comment icon Joseph, can you share more details about these steps? School selection is a big topic. Do you have any tips? Gurpreet Lally, Admin
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Bob’s Answer

1.what are the vital steps someone should take to prepare for a role like yours?

I am the Director of Supply Chain Strategy and Transformation for a mid-size Utility company in the Southern USA states. I manage Supply Chain teams that offer a range of services to our internal customers - personal and process safety, incident command for Hurricane, damage support, business continuity support where key services/solutions are lost or interrupted (such as our ERP systems), operational compliance & compliance governance; supply chain and third party risk management; strategic planning; performance management; analytics/advanced analytics; data mgmt. & engineering; asset decommissioning; systems management and admin; BOTs and automation, and the emerging/transformational strategic initiatives – inclusive of CI, SC Tech roadmap (digitization & automation), workforce capability development, payment terms optimization, demand forecasting and management, and SC business partners. Its a lot - and luckily i have a range of managers and senior managers and staff that manage these activities.

So how did I get here - well I have had a number of exciting roles around the world that have given me the skills, background and experience to lead the team with confidence.

- I studied telecommunications engineering for the merchant navy
- my first job was as an instrument engineer and field technician for a an oil and gas company in Colombia
- I did this same role building seniority and supervisory experience for a 2 companies for the next 10 years - working in 4 continents
- I then became a manager of a team of 100, and over the next 5 years I progressed to larger jobs culminating in managing 2000 in Venezuela
- I then moved from operations and technical work to an office based job in procurement and supply chain - supporting global field teams
- At the same time I became the Facilities Manager for a building of 1000
- Then I moved into e-procurement/e-commerce project management
- I then left the industry and became a business consultant - Energy, eCommerce
- I then joined a Dot Com as a consultant, product manager, help desk manager, marketplace manager, business development manager
- I then moved to the Qatar in the Middle East to lead as CEO a new business park development
- I then became the Global Category Manager of Logistics, Tubular and Subsurface at a major oil and gas company
- From there with the same company i became a regional CPO in Alaska and then Angola
- From there I joined the company I am at now as a supply chain consultant and then Direct Category Management
- Today I am Director of Supply Chain Strategy and Transformation

This happened over 30 years and I could write a book about each of these jobs, they were all great.
The skills I acquired over this now help me to set direction through strategy and transformation objectives.

I hope this helps - its a journey - enjoy it.

Reach for the skies, keep reaching and looking to build your skills, go to different places, meet many people.
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