Good morning team,
I am about to start working in the automotive glass industry again after 4 years in the other sectors of manufacturing industry… I appreciate any good vibes or suggestions as I embark on this new rewarding journey and potential career in Ohio.
I very much look forward to the future after overcoming various challenges such as COVID and employment gaps! I gladly accepted this offer after Wounded Warrior Project helped me prepare for interviews and such through Warriors to Work program. I was also in Voc Rehab and it helped me a ton too! I am just so grateful as a citizen and younger veteran to this community. I appreciate you reading this and have a terrific Tuesday!!!
-Kindly, Micah (Chi-Huang Sun)
First-generation American
Former US Air Force linguist and all-source analyst
Quality Engineer
Answers
Micah,
I’ll pile on to what Mr. Engle has offered since he and I are seemingly on the same wavelength. QA/QC and related process control experience will go a long way in developing and advancing your new career. Any good QA/QC/process control practitioner is also a worthy candidate for QA/QC or any other systems type auditing/surveillance activity. Exposure to Lean/Six Sigma and Agile development methodologies along the way would also be in order.
I also like Mr. Engle’s take on being inquisitive. But first, I would offer that you should listen, listen, listen, and then listen some more! Not only are you ingesting the industry’s tribal knowledge, but you are also simultaneously assessing the interaction between all parties to gain an understanding of the dynamic interactions/personalities (or lack thereof) of your teammates which can significantly shape the development of your own dynamic. Next, be certain to read every correspondence thoroughly and thoughtfully., My experience has been that this century indicates that both comprehensive listening and ingestion of the written word are eroding to an alarmingly extent. It seems we are in the day and age of instant gratification. I get that sometime a YouTube snippet can be quite useful, however, many subjects, especially those related to technical disciplines, continue to require blood, sweat and tears.
Lastly, there is no question that your success conquering the many professional and personal challenges during your journey thus far, will serve you well in achieving success in this next chapter of your life. Its no coincidence that success always seems to follow hard work.
Thank you for your invaluable service, good luck and Bravo Zulu thus far!
Best regards,
-Chuck
Hello Micah.
It looks like you have a great education and relevant experience for the new position.
You probably know that the automotive industry has lots of standards and procedures defined for their products. These might be new things to learn, to get up to speed as a quality control specialist. You probably have lots of experience reading specs (they can be tedious).
One thing many civilians and veterans wonder is whether they are going to be able to handle the new position. I tell them they would not be hired if the manager did not think they could do the job. Also, the manager wants his employee to succeed and expects a bit of a learning curve, even if it is just fitting into the company organization and culture. In other words, expect to be asking questions, learning procedures, learning the job, understanding the 'culture', etc.
An important point about getting up to speed: Dont be afraid ask your boss, or maybe a peer, questions. Try to resolve all issues yourself, but if you are not sure, for example, whether to go down path A or B, ask the boss (or peer) for their thoughts. They are great resources for you. A reasonable approach might be a few questions, once or twice a day for the first week or so, then only as needed after that. You don't want to bug your boss/peer, more than this. Note that on the plus side, it lets them know what directions you are heading and how you are doing!
It seems with your education/experience you will have lots to contribute. Once you have a good understanding of what is going on, and established your credibility, then start trying to improve/change the processes.
Lastly, start looking for a winter coat and All-Season tires!
Many thanks for your service Chi!
Hi Micah,
Thank you for posting this question. Here are some additional websites and resources to look at to help you with your journey in the Ohio automotive industry:
https://columbusregion.com/industries/automotive-mobility/
https://ohiose.com/industries/automotive-aerospace/
https://www.zippia.com/company/best-automotive-companies-ohio/
It look like you're entering one of the most booming states for the automotive industry, with plenty of options. Best of luck!
Best,
James
Your Answer
Please log in to answer this question.