IMLPs Leading the Way

I think it’s safe to say that the average college-grad in the first year or two of work doesn’t really expect to be a leader in their company. Just figuring out what’s going on and how to get around seems like enough work, much less trying to initiate something new or help those around them.

Not so with IMLPs at GE. Repeatedly over the past few months, I have had the opportunity to see IMLPs lead the way in embracing new technologies and methodologies. In addition, after these leaders have explored new territories, they are given the opportunity to share and guide others in using these tools.

One great example of this at GE Transportation is Video Conferencing. The IMLPs have been among the first people to make regular use of this technology in the business, and have gained a depth of knowledge on the subject that surpasses even most IT personnel. As a result, the IMLPs have been asked to help staff Video Conference training sessions. At all of Transportation’s various sites, IMLPs have given hands-on tutorials to fellow employees from all functions and levels of the business.

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Feed the Children in Houston

Recently, the Houston Drilling & Surface and Aero IM teams partnered with Feed the Children to provide some volunteerism for this worthy organization. For over 30 years Feed The Children has delivered food, medicine, clothes and other essentials to individuals and families affected by famine, war, poverty and natural disaster.  It is one of the largest private organizations dedicated to this effort delivering more than 133 million pounds of food and other essentials to children and their families each year.  Food is delivered domestically, to all 50 states, and overseas to 119 countries around the globe. 

GE volunteering with Feed the Children in Houston, TexasWe were able to help Feed the Children by packaging personal hygiene boxes to be distributed to families in need within our local community. These boxes were filled with items we often take for granted such as soap, shampoo, conditioner, children's books, and much more.  It was a great opportunity to not only provide a service, but to engage in cross-business networking and team building as well.  We worked via assembly line to fill the boxes (leaning our processes and working at Six Sigma capacity, of course), completing 640 packages, weighing approximately 12,800 total pounds!  Afterwards, we had a team lunch of delicious BBQ before returning to work.  Don Kafka (a fellow IMLP) and myself were there among representatives of both the D&S and Aero IM teams, including Nick Parrotta, Aero’s CIO.

It was an enjoyable, worthwhile, and mutually rewarding experience that we had with Feed the Children, and we hope to keep the engagement alive in the future!

Digital is Forever – How to Maintain Your Personal Brand

The world is now full of fast and easy ways to communicate digitally. Many people do not understand the consequences of posting information on the internet for the world to see. Not only can we impact our own lives, but these actions can have repercussions on our friends, family, coworkers, and employer. However, social media can be used to improve your personal brand and improve your chances at receiving a job offer. To an employer, you are what you tweet, post, and blog.  Make sure your internet communications represent how you want to brand yourself.

Many college students don’t think about how their internet activity could affect their ability to find a job after they graduate. More employers are starting to look at candidates’ Facebook, Twitter and blogs. Unfortunately, we do not have complete control over our online presence. Don’t just be mindful of how your posts impact yourself; your online activities could be potentially harmful towards your friends, family or coworkers. You do not want to be the reason for their embarrassment or unemployment. If you’re in doubt, don’t post it.

However, if used properly, social media can boost your chances at attaining your dream job. Social media is a great place to learn about a company and interact with potential coworkers. Many companies have Facebook pages, twitter accounts and linked in groups. These are great resources for researching companies and formulating insightful questions to ask during your interview. Programs like IMLP also use these resources to screen and look for potential new hires. Interviewers use the site to interact with candidates, knowing who you are before info sessions or interviews can give you a big leg up on other interviewees! Make sure to check out all of the IMLP media sites!

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Volunteering with GE

Are New Year’s Resolutions on your mind?  What will it be this year: work out?  Get in shape?  Lose 10 pounds?  Eat healthier?  It’s great to think about what you can do to improve your own lifestyle, but what about goals focused on those around you?  Add volunteering to that short list of goals for 2012!  Giving back to the community and to those less fortunate should always be at the front of our minds.  Volunteering, community service, and giving back is a pillar of the GE culture across all businesses.  Whether it’s a small activity with just a few ITLPs, a large event with GE Volunteers, or simply something you took the initiative to do on your own, getting involved in the community is supported by team members and managers alike.  It’s estimated that 100,000 GE employees volunteer annually, contributing to one million hours every year.  GE employees and retirees can participate with strategic volunteering partners or GE-wide initiatives.  Regardless of your interests and passions, GE fosters volunteer opportunities in education, healthcare, the environment, and community development.

© Getty ImagesAt GE Healthcare in Milwaukee, I have found an organization called STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) that goes into the classrooms and helps students in those focal areas.  Assisting students on their projects and getting them excited about these disciplines is a fun way to leverage a skill I have and get involved with a passion of mine.  I always enjoy going back to the school, visiting the kids, and seeing what is on their minds for that week.  Additionally, we also try to discuss how studying and working hard now can help them with a career later.  Sharing personal experiences and informing them of their options motivates them to look beyond today and think about long-term goals.  Serving as a resource to these students – whether as a tutor or a mentor – is entirely rewarding.  Add ‘volunteering’ to your 2012 New Year’s Resolution, take an hour or so out of your weeks, and make an impact in your community!

Increase in Salary...or Tweeting Time?

© Twitter.com - Obvious CorpOur generation is used to getting the information we want and getting it fast.  How fast did our generation hear about the earthquake in DC that was felt as far as Cincinnati?  Faster than most of the world thanks to texting, Tweeting, and Facebook (I got a ping as it was happening!).  We get frustrated when our internet search takes longer than three seconds and heaven forbid we ever forget our cellphones at home (how do we know what time it is?).  Our generation works and communicates differently than any before us.  But what’s our greatest downfall?  According to Cisco’s most recent “Cisco Connected World Technology Report,” it’s following IT security protocols.

Cisco’s Connected World Technology Report is a summary of results collected by polling 3,000 young IT professionals and college students from all around the world.  It is used to gauge what the next generation of workers will be looking for and how companies will need to mold the current environment to meet those needs and expectations.  Key areas include mobile technologies, social media, work life freedom, and network accesses.  The most troubling find of this study was that 70% of young professionals worldwide, admitted to knowingly ignoring or circumventing IT security policies and procedures.  The most common reason for doing so: They didn’t believe what they were doing was a real security threat and 61% don’t believe it is their responsibility to protect themselves on devices.  

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