What is your mission as a company?
Our mission statement is “Driving success with our clients, employees, and communities.” It points to our role as partners in the work we do for clients that improves where we live and where we work.
What is your company culture?
Thompson is growing, but the company manages to keep a smaller, family vibe versus the feeling of a large corporate firm. I’ve worked for a large firm before, and the cliché was true -- you can feel like a number instead of an important part of the team. I work in one of Thompson’s branch offices and I’m a woman in a male-dominated field, two things that, at another company, might impact my experience negatively. At Thompson, I feel included and important, like I’m part of the family.
What are your recommendations for seeking mentorship and support in the workplace
By interacting with others at school, in your community, organizations, and eventually at work; identify someone you admire and trust and then don’t be scared to ask for the support you need. It’s important to have someone you can talk to in order to keep in perspective that we are all doing the best we can to be the best that we can be. We all need each other to be a success.
How do I ask for help as a professional?
Big picture - understand that it is not unprofessional to ask for help. Realize that, as a professional, you are responsible for your own growth. Asking for help and learning from others is part of that process.
What is one piece of advice that you would give to your college-aged self?
I would tell myself not to be intimidated by others. We all take different paths to get where we’re going, we all have different strengths and weaknesses, and we all figure things out in different ways. But for the most part, we are all very similar. Don’t let intimidation scare you from your goal or hold you back.
How can my Auburn Engineering education best prepare me for the world of work?
Personally, my college experience taught me the value of hard work and never giving up on goals. I started school at Auburn University at Montgomery. I worked full-time and attended school at night for years until finally I needed to finish at the main campus where I worked part-time and went to school full-time, which wasn’t easy. But I kept going. I also got married and started my family while I was enrolled at Auburn University. I kept plugging along and pushing my way forward. The harder it seemed the prouder I was each time I made it to the next step, the next class. It took 8 years, but I didn’t quit and now I’ve reached goals that seemed unattainable at first. I had great mentors that didn’t let me quit or be embarrassed about the length of time it took to graduate. What resonated with me the most, from my biggest supporter was, it may take you 8 years, but what else would you be doing? In 8 years, you can either have your degree or have regrets.
If you were to hire someone to work with you today, what factors would be most important in your hiring decision and why?
I would hire someone who is personable, who can carry on a conversation. Tell me about something other than your GPA, such as your involvement in organizations and in the community, or where you work, or what you enjoy doing in your spare time. Show me how you’ve put yourself out there and show me how you’ve worked with different groups of people to accomplish goals. In the end, it’s not a GPA that interests me but more of who you are.
What types of experiences, paid employment, or otherwise, would you most strongly recommend?
Anytime you spend time interacting with other people to obtain a common goal you learn something about yourself. Co-oping or interning while you are in school, putting yourself where you think you might want to be when you graduate; these things help you see what that next step is going to look like while you’re learning what you want to be.
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