Reflecting on my Rotational Program

On Tuesday, July 20th, my first three years of work experience post-undergrad culminated in a graduation webcast for me and my cohort in Merck's Manufacturing Leadership Development Program. We each got to share our stories, look back at our favorite moments, and thank those who supported us along the way. As I sat there waiting for my turn to speak, I reflected on these past three years, and how they affected me.

When I joined my rotational program, I thought it was going to give me business critical opportunities, challenge me to be flexible, and allow me to build a network across the business. Luckily, I was right about these things. I had some great projects handed to me. My adaptability and resiliency were tested in ways that helped me grow. I built a fantastic network. However, there's so much more that I didn't consider when I started. I didn't know that I'd find mentors who would support me throughout my three years and beyond. I didn't realize how many new hires and interns would look to me for guidance and advice. Most importantly, I didn't anticipate much my cohort would mean to me, not just as my colleagues, but as my friends and my support system.

In my first week, I didn't think I belonged in my program. The majority of my cohort graduated with engineering degrees, and had technical knowledge in areas I had never heard of. As one of only two people in my cohort with supply chain degrees, I was concerned that I wouldn't be successful here. Over the course of my first few weeks, I began to realize how wrong I was. As I got to know my cohort, I noticed how each of us had our own strengths, and how much we could learn from each other. It didn't matter that I never took a thermodynamics class - I could teach my new colleagues about things they had never considered, like a centralized warehouse strategy, or considerations for different modes of transportation in distribution. As time went by, my cohort began to lean on each other. We realized that we were in this together, and we were a built-in support system. We had all kinds of adventures together, getting snowed in during a program-wide conference, attending a few weddings, taking some amazing trips when we could. They helped me professionally, but more importantly they helped me grow as a person.

When you join a rotational program, you may not realize the relationships that you can develop, and how meaningful they can be. I am incredibly grateful to my cohort for all they've done for me over the last three years, and I hope our friendships last far beyond our rotations.

If you have the opportunity to join a rotational program like mine, I have a few pieces of advice to truly get the most out of the experience:

1) You Belong. Find your niche, and share your experiences, and in due time you'll realize what you bring to the table. You were hired for a reason.

2) Be Adaptable. You may have a plan coming in, and that plan will probably change. Stay flexible and you may find yourself in exciting places, working on things you'd never have expected.

3) Get Involved. There's much more available to you if you just ask. Avoid complacency, and seek out creative ways to grow, learn, and add value.

4) Pay it Forward. You may be given great opportunities to learn from mentors and leaders. Don't stop there. Find ways to teach and support your mentors in return, and be willing to mentor others along the way.

5) Be Open. Your cohort is not your competition. They're your collaborators, your teammates, and if you're lucky, they can be your friends.

And if you're wondering, yes this picture is from the aforementioned snowstorm incident.