What is your mission as a company?
Our mission is to provide safe and reliable service to our customers, keep the communities we serve safe, and protect the safety of our most valuable asset – our employees. We look out for each other. We’re empowered to raise our hands when we spot an issue. We seek out ways to identify problems earlier and solve them faster. All as we work towards becoming the gold standard of safety.
What is your company culture?
Working at Norfolk Southern offers a unique opportunity to be part of our proud legacy that spans nearly 200 years. We are a customer-centric, operations-driven team dedicated to advancing safety, serving communities, and driving innovation for tomorrow’s rail. As part of Norfolk Southern, you’ll join a collaborative team where there are opportunities for growth across the organization. We are building a culture where everyone can thrive by owning and driving exceptional results, being humble and leading with trust, serving our customers with excellence, and collaborating and coaching to win.
What are your recommendations for seeking mentorship and support in the workplace
An employee should network as much as possible by getting involved with the various employee resource groups at their organization. There is a place for everyone in an ERG and they offer so many different events. If the company also offers a leadership development program or career tracks program, I highly recommend taking advantage of the opportunity. I would also learn on your supervisor and embrace having candid conversations. Reassurance and growth opportunities are important to everyone, so you want to ensure you’re always setting yourself up for success.
How do I ask for help as a professional?
I always recommend relying on an a seasoned individual on the team. Do take advantage of everyone’s openness to help and always think with the mindset of “everyone was the new person at one point.” Everyone should be a sponge, not just early in their career, but as they progress to leadership levels. If a person is shy to ask for help, theirs less direct ways to get help such as exploring avenues such as learning and development courses or company sponsored workshops and townhalls.
What is one piece of advice that you would give to your college-aged self?
Get involved more on campus. College is more than going to class and trying to maintain a good GPA. Education is certainly important but truly immerse yourself in the college experience. Join the clubs that interest you. Search for internships to give your professional experience. Visit your professors during their office hours to pick their brains and network. You never want to look back on your college experience with regrets.
How can my Auburn Engineering education best prepare me for the world of work?
Your Auburn Engineering education has prepared you to tackle the technical aspects of any job or internship. You’re coming from a well-known engineering program that opens doors for you but you also stand out because Auburn students have things employers cannot necessarily teach such as soft skills. Your ability to be innovative in your thinking and step into leadership roles will take you far as you step into the working world.
If you were to hire someone to work with you today, what factors would be most important in your hiring decision and why?
The factors that are important in our hiring decisions are education, experience, soft skills, but mainly potential. Our organization likes to see career runway. The individual joining our organization is much more than their first role within the organization. Longevity matters to us and not only do we want to see the candidates take on multiple roles throughout their tenure, the hope is that the candidate sees Norfolk Southern as a company they wish to be part of for some time.
What types of experiences, paid employment, or otherwise, would you most strongly recommend?
I recommend taking advantage of any experience that gives you exposure past the classroom. Paid employment opportunities are always my first recommendation. However, unpaid opportunities provide much value as well. If possible, try to get multiple experiences at various organizations within different industries. This is a perfect way to discover what you like and don’t like as you prepare for a future post college.
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