Learn to Dance in the World of Gray

Next week, I will be speaking at Penn State University on the future of supply chain technologies. It is a networking group of business leaders. The last time that I spoke at Penn State was a year ago, and the experience is still etched in my mind. As I book my travel and pack my bag, I am recalling the events. I am trying to manage myself.

At the end of the forum sessions, the business leaders often gather with students. Last year, I volunteered to do this. I believe in giving and want to give back to the profession that I love. These small group sessions are usually with rising seniors or master degree students. They are thinking about their future and exploring opportunities for a career. At the last session, I shared some advice that was not well received. I asked the students to try to ground their educational experience with relevant work experience. I talked about the importance of co-ops, and summer internships, and expanding their horizons. I believe that this kind of work helps students to understand what they like and what they are good at to make the job search more meaningful. I also asked them to be realistic in their expectations.

The students replied with a litany of facts. It was a robotic answer. School is expensive. Their loans are massive. If they streamline their education and forego co-ops, summer intern positions, and projects with industry, they can graduate faster, lessen their debt load and earn a salary quicker. The demand for their skills is so high that they do not see it as a high priority right now. It is a race to the finish line.

I understand. The market for supply chain talent is a tough one right now. There is more demand than supply for entry-level positions. It is not a small number. While it varies by geography, it is a factor of three or four based on the region. It is a good time to be graduating in the field. The career impacts are massive because the story does not stop with the entry-level position. There are even greater gaps in mid-management positions within companies. These positions are staying empty for five-to-seven months. The race for talent is on. As a result, major retailers and manufacturers compete heavily at schools like Penn State to win the favor of graduates. They are catered to, cajoled and courted. I believe that it sets unhealthy expectations.

It hearkens me back to the days when I was interviewing for a job. In 1978 ( yes, years ago), there was a burning demand for female chemical engineers. I got over 25 offers for employment. Four of the companies never even interviewed me. I was proud to get the highest starting salary in my class. It set up an unnatural relationship with me and my employer of expecting ongoing kid-gloves treatment. I was spoiled. It made me cocky. I wanted princess treatment in a cold, man’s world. Unconsciously, as I look back, I can see that It permeated my attitude for a decade. My worry in speaking to these Penn State students is that the demand for students is making them cocky too….

It is not so in other regions of the world. I often speak internationally. There is a very different reaction when I share the statistics of job openings with the students in Egypt, Greece or Portugal. The aftershock of the recession lingers. I often think to myself how ironic it is that I am talking about massive job opportunities to students that sit in countries with double-digit unemployment. Yet, the average company continues to heavily court the students from the North American schools. The nature of the global growth agenda should make the humble, multinational students attractive, but the recruiting frenzy in North American schools goes on.

So, as I pack my bag to go to Penn State next week, I will bite my tongue, but hope that the students that I meet read my post. My unspoken advice will be:

-Manage Yourself. It is a great time to be you, but only you can manage yourself. As you enter the workforce, stay grounded. Look to maximize the opportunity. Find great mentors and ask for advice. Temper your expectations and learn the business. Get good at your job. Just because you were courted heavily in school, don’t expect it to continue on the job.

-Learn to Dance in the World of Gray. The world of supply chain can be abstract. Most people in the organization will not understand many of the academic concepts that you learned in school. Supply chain management is a relatively new field. Most middle management leaders that you will meet did not study supply chain in school. You may talk a different language. So ask your questions openly and listen before judging. Work hard to bridge the gap between academic thought and practical application. If you can do this, your world of opportunities will be greater.

-Open Doors. Twenty years ago there was not a supply chain department. Tomorrow, there will be even more opportunities. The career that you envision probably will not happen. The changes are so vast that it is hard to imagine the opportunities. As a result, be open to the outcome. Embrace new opportunities. Also, don’t be in a great hurry to grab the brass ring. Horizontal career movement is more valuable for long-term employment and job satisfaction than a rapid vertical rise within a function.

So, as I roll my suitcase down the hall and hop on the elevator, what do you think are the odds? Yes, the odds that I can keep my mouth shut and stay silent in this audience? While well-intentioned, it will be hard for me to bite my tongue. Wish me luck….