My First Opportunity

I am currently attending Utah Valley University, working on a degree in Information Systems with an emphasis in Business Intelligence. One of the hardest parts for me about obtaining a technical degree was obtaining my first "IT" type job. As anyone who is familiar with the IT world knows, most people get their first "IT" job by working at a help desk of some sort. For me, working at a an IT help desk did not seem to provide any benefits towards what I actually want to do in my career. I decided that I would patiently wait for an opportunity more suitable to my goals to arise before I tried to get any other sort of job

While I was working for Zions Bank as a Signature Card Review Specialist I took the opportunity to learn all about the database that we used to track signature card exceptions. Since the manager of the department was the person who created the database, and no one else knew how to manage it, I offered my help whenever possible. During this time, I always mentioned to him that I really enjoyed working with databases and that I was looking for a way to break in to the "IT" realm. Things continued in this manner for about a year.

One day, my manager called me in to his office to tell me that he had accepted a promotion within Zions Bank. Additionally, he explained that after he left they would be reorganizing some of his duties. He asked me if I would like to take the position of database developer within the department. After working through some scheduling conflicts, I decided to accept the position. I have now been a database developer for Zions Bank for 8 months, and I have learned a tremendous amount.

 My current position has helped me narrow my schooling and career goals, and has provided me with enhanced focus. I have determined that I don't care much for programming (which I do a lot of currently), but that I have a passion for data (both the storage and analysis of). Additionally, I have really discovered a passion for learning and problem-solving. I love being challenged and I love the feeling I get when I figure something out. I love to learn new things and I love a job that is constantly evolving.

Throughout this process I have learned several key things:

• Excel in the job you have currently, so that you will be ready for any additional challenges/opportunities.
• Communicate with everyone! (managers, coworkers, friends, etc)
• Keep learning.
• Push yourself to try new things.
• Don't be afraid to ask for more responsibility.

This whole experience has allowed me to add a few more tools to my toolbox and I now feel that I am ready to take on a new challenge.

Samurai Pie

Samurai Pie may not sound like it has anything to do with a career based blog, but I assure you it does. I am very fortunate to be the proud father of a sweet 9-month old little girl, Mya. When people say that parents often learn more from their children than their children do from them, they aren't joking! I have already learned so much from Mya.

Mya already has a favorite TV show, Backyardigans. The show is about some kids who play together in their backyard, using their imagination to think up a bunch of crazy scenarios which they then act out during the course of a given episode. One such episode is entitled "Samurai Pie".

The episode details the adventures of one of the children, Austin, on his road to become a pie maker for the Empress. Austin finds the greatest pie maker in the Empire, Tyrone, who is also a samurai. Tyrone teaches Austin that if he wants to become a great pie maker, he must put in the work. The episode also features two Ninja who love pie. Throughout the episode these Ninja are always trying to steal the pie that Austin and Tyrone make. Tyrone and Austin eventually explain to the Ninja that they can't go around stealing other people's pies, they need put the work in themselves.

Tyrone the master pie maker

The moral of this episode so fully explains my attitude towards my career that I couldn't resist using the title as my blog title. As I finish school, I have determined that I need something to set me apart from the rest of my fellow recent graduates. I don't feel that I am smarter than any of them, nor do I feel like I am inherently more gifted than any of them. The area where I feel I can make my mark is how hard I am willing to work to get to where I want to be. An example: I have been purchasing and reading technical books in my spare time, to help me better understand what I am being taught in school. While this may not seem like much, I believe it is one step further than a lot of my peers will go.

This blog is another step I am taking, another avenue to go the extra mile. If you have any comments about ways that I can better prepare myself as I enter the work-force, please let me know below.