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A Day In The Life |
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No project or position is the
same, gain some perspective from one
of our most respected consultants
Name: Christine
Title: Sr. Lawson Consultant
Home Base: Colorado
Work Site: Arkansas
Duration: 1.5 years
Background
I have been an ERP consultant for
more than seven years. The best
thing about my job is that there is
no such thing as a “typical day.”
Each day brings with it new
challenges and adventures.
Adventures that would be difficult
or impossible to encounter in many
other job settings.
In order to successfully perform in
my line of work, I am given access
to the inner-workings of some of the
largest companies in the world. The
sheer volume of transactions
performed is awe-inspiring. During
my first week on site at a job, the
client told me, “If there is a
one in a million chance of something
happening, it will or has happened
here.”
The First Day
The first day at a new client is
like starting a new job, even though
you may be performing the same tasks
you had elsewhere. The same fears
and excitement pervade, as if you
were entering into a new job. You
wonder about whether you will fit
with the new company, if you can
make it work. The main difference
between going to a new client and
starting a new job is that you
usually are not afforded all of the
niceties that come with a new job.
You are expected to hit the ground
running, there is usually no ramp up
period. While the environment may be
different, your “job” is the same.
The Current Project
For the project I am currently
working on, I joined a team of eight
consultants, guiding an HRIS
implementation at a global retailer
with well over a million employees.
The purpose of this project is to
implement a global HR solution, one
that will integrate the fifteen
disparate systems currently in place
worldwide. The project is organized
in terms of a multi-phase roll out
plan spanning the course of a few
years. Orchestrating fifteen
separate implementations is
extremely difficult; the best
analogy of this would be conducting
an orchestra where each member has
different sheets of music. Each
implementation site has its own set
of requirements that are constantly
changing and evolving. Just this
year, the retailer I am at has
opened over 200 new stores and added
thousands of new employees. Business
cannot remain static during a system
implementation, so constantly
evaluating new requirements and
flexibility are keys to success.
The Opportunity
I have had the opportunity to work
with industry leaders in retail,
healthcare and government entities.
Though there often are a number of
challenges and headaches that come along with each distinct project, the
skills that I learn in each new job
and pass along to new clients make
every day worthwhile.
The Groove
Oftentimes the life of a consultant
is described as being hectic, with
too much travel, and not affording
enough time for a routine, relaxing,
or family. However, working on a
long-term project in a single city
helps to mitigate some of these
drawbacks, as I am able to set up
some semblance of a routine. I get
to know the hotel staff, the local
restaurants, even the people at the
car rental counter. I take the same
flights each week and make sure I
set aside the weekends at home to
completely decompress from the week.
I am able to explore parts of the
country I would never have visited.
I always am sure to have a friend or
part of my family within a few hours
of my project, so I am able to catch
up with old friends. Traveling
itself may not always be the most
glamorous, especially during bad
weather, but from it I derive a
sense of adventure while still
maintaining my sanity and
relationships.
The Reward
Finishing up a project and moving
onto the next adventure is the
ultimate award. I can move on
knowing that I was able to partner
with the client and streamline their
business processes. Ultimately
making their job easier is the best
reward.
Next Steps:
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// HAVE A STORY TO TELL? |
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Are you a current or past employee of Synapse SE
and want to contribute your "Day In The Life"
story? Call and let us know! |
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