Many of us have not taken a direct route to get to where we are in our careers today, nor should we expect a circuitous route to suddenly become straight once we’ve landed at JMP. We want employees to know they can move from one type of role at JMP to another! But making a big transition is not always easy so we want to gather stories from you; we want to learn how you moved around in your career, from A to B (or to C or D).
Let’s learn about Sam’s career journey.
What’s your current role at JMP?
Senior Product Manager
Describe what you like most about it.
The ability to influence the future capabilities of our products, and the frequent opportunities to learn more about statistics, science, and technology. Also, I love to help others learn and grow.
If different, what was your first role when you started at JMP?
Systems Engineer.
Did you work at SAS before joining JMP?
No
How long have you been at JMP?
5-9 years.
Did your college or university degree(s) relate to your current role at JMP?
Yes (Mathematics, Chemistry, Statistics).
Outside of your time at JMP, what was your a) first job, b) best job, and c) worst job?
A) My first “real” job was as an officer and military analyst in the US Air Force. My first part-time job was as a cook at Hardee's.
My current job is the best job I have had, so far.
C) It is hard to share this without reflecting poorly on others, but let’s say that the worst job was when I was in a role that didn’t fit my personality and strengths very well, and I felt I was pressured to compromise my ethical standards.
Captain Gardner, USAF.Captain Gardner, USAF.
Have you made a major career transition? If so, what was it and how did you know you were ready for a change?
Yes, many times. I went from being a military officer and analyst to a non-clinical pharmaceutical statistician, then to a role as a process chemist, then to JMP as a SE, then back to pharma in advanced analytics, then back to non-clinical statistics, and now back at JMP as a Product Manager.
Did you have any concerns about making a change? If so, what were they?
My biggest concern and consideration was to minimize the impact on my family. There was also always a concern that I was burning bridges by leaving.
What were the first things you did when you decided that you were ready to change jobs?
Review my career and personality inventories and assessments, and then survey the job market and opportunities that were available.
Before deciding on the new role, did you spend time with someone who does that job? If so, how was that experience?
In some situations, yes. It was good, and it gave me a better idea of what the work was really like.
Who were the people that were instrumental in helping you make the job switch successfully, how did they help?
I had an excellent supervisor who listened to me and understood my desires and strengths, and who supported me on my career development path. Also was able to leverage several connections in my professional network to find out about new roles.
What advice do you have for JMP employees who are thinking about changing their roles?
Be honest and open about your concerns and desires. Get advice from more than one person, including people outside your main area of responsibility, and non-work friends/family. Take a good career assessment (StrengthsFinder from Gallup, highly recommended). Don’t “run away” from a situation, “run towards” something that you really think you want.
Because we love good stories, we want to learn about how your career evolved and tell these stories to our colleagues—the evolution of your career that has ultimately brought you to JMP or even how once arriving at JMP they made a major transition.
Please take the six-minute survey.
