What a Partner Manager at Dell wishes they had known before entering the technology industry
Matthew, a Partner Manager at Dell Technologies, learned the importance of proactively communicating accomplishments and areas for improvement to management, stating that "your boss isn't gonna be able to be an advocate for you" without this open communication. Further, Matthew emphasizes the critical role of networking to identify and pursue career growth opportunities, advising that "a strong resume is when you have met with someone" to actively solicit feedback and demonstrate progress.
Networking, Communication, Career Development, Leadership, Self-Advocacy
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Matthew Ferguson
Partner Manager
Dell Technologies
Loughborough University, 2008
N/A
Criminal Justice
Technology
Business Strategy
Took Out Loans, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Proactively communicate accomplishments and areas for improvement to your manager to ensure they are aware of your progress and can advocate for you.
2. Actively network with colleagues and leaders to identify potential opportunities and seek feedback on your career development.
3. Develop a strong understanding of corporate culture and communication styles to effectively navigate the professional environment and build relationships.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone would have told you before you entered the industry?
This is something I had to learn over a good period of time: how to navigate corporate America. Not being from America, I had no idea about corporate culture and the specific things I needed to do to be successful.
One of the first things I would suggest is to tell people what you are doing, what you are successful at, and what you are not doing well at. Don't assume your manager knows day-to-day what's going on or the results of every phone call. They only see what comes to you, unless they are paying very close attention.
Be more vocal and get comfortable talking about your successes. If people hear what you're doing well, you can develop those skills further. This can lead to more opportunities or visibility to do the things you shine at.
Being self-critical is also important. Saying, "I feel like this didn't go well. Can you give me guidance?" helps develop the skills you're not good at. If you're not having these conversations, your boss can't be an advocate for you or know what's successful in your area.
If you're looking to grow your career and move into higher-level or leadership roles, you also need to be strong at networking. Simply getting in front of someone and saying, "Here's where I'm at, here's what I'm good at, and here's what I want to achieve," is invaluable advice.
They may have a future role that fits your goals. Or, if they're a good leader, they'll tell you what you need to accomplish before they'd consider you for a role. This becomes a to-do list for you.
There's nothing stronger than a resume showing you've met with someone, received feedback on what you need to do for a promotion, and then can return to them months later with proof that you've accomplished it all.
If you've not only taken feedback but acted on it, found people good at those skills, learned from them, and can show proof, that's impressive. These are not things taught in how to do the job, but they are critical for business success.
Eloquently speak about what you're doing, work on your gaps, and network with people who may have opportunities. Telling them what you're working on and where you want to get to is key.
Some of these clear conversations are things I had to learn the hard way, wasting a lot of time. When I wanted a promotion, I hadn't discussed it with anyone or networked with people who had those opportunities.
If you don't proactively work on this from the beginning, as soon as you're comfortable in your role, you'll likely miss out on opportunities.
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