If you haven't noticed, I've been doing a lot of photography posts lately. It's a combination of loving to show off my friends and family (okay, mostly Doodlebug) and the lack of time I have to actually sit down and write something thoughtful. At least once a week, I'm going to try (no promises!) to actually write a post! One of Mamakat's prompts this week asked for ten reasons why you love your job... and since I really do love my job, here we go (in no particular order!)!
1. I believe in my company. I love being a part of a global health care company that not only provides patients from around the world with innovative medicines, but is always researching new ways to help improve the lives of others. Sound cheesy? It's the truth so deal with it!
2. My managers have been mentors. I've worked with two different managers over the last four years and both of them have been more than just a manager - they ooze with brilliance (literally, one has a PharmD and the other has two Ivy League degrees!) and have gone above and beyond to help me develop as a person and an employee.
3. My office is b-e-a-utiful! Not only is my office building gorgeous and in a great location, our suite is beautiful and we have totally great work spaces!
4. I'm using my degree. I have a BA in Public Administration and International Studies (with minors in Political Science, Women's/Gender Studies and Russian Studies) and spent my first three years here working in International Policy. I never left the US, but I was a part of teams that analyzed different countries' Intellectual Property policies and drafted new-and-improved proposed legislation! I got to experience the FTA process as an industry member with the Korea-US FTA and still marvel at how the whole process happens... I could go on, but I'll spare you my excitement for regulatory data protection!
4. They let me be who I am... a policy-minded people person! After spending three years doing research on intellectual property and learning the ropes of our international business, I was given an opportunity to switch modes and focus on the U.S. I now work in US Government Affairs and help run our grassroots program which reaches out to our employees to educate them about policy decisions happening in DC that will affect their lives. We want our colleagues to be informed voters and get involved in the political process! I help run webinars, education sessions, and events... seriously, how fun is that!? (Answer: VERY!)
5. The paycheck. In a perfect world, money doesn't matter. In this world; however, it does.
6. I get to meet some really cool people! Although I consider researchers and political figures totally exciting, I know that most people don't. Occasionally we get to meet a celeb or two... like how I met NBA Hall of Famer Jerry West on Tuesday!
7. My schedule is slightly flexible. Although I have to be in an actual office for 40+ hours a week (which, as noted in #3, is not exactly a hardship), I'm able to get in at the crack of dawn (usually by 7) and leave by 4pm. Joe gets D to daycare in the mornings, but I really like to pick her up at 5/5:30 and have as much quality time as possible with them at night. Pre-motherhood I worked until 5/5:30 and didn't get home until 6:30/7, so I'm really excited that my new schedule was approved!
8. I LOVE the people I work with. Our office in DC is small, but I truly like everyone here in the office. I often go to our HQs for meetings and events and get to meet colleagues from all over... everyone is so kind and brilliant in their respective fields. I'm always in awe of their knowledge and try to soak as much up as I can while listening to them!
9. Not only do we offer medicines, but we research and manufacture vaccines, too! I know this wouldn't fall into "why I love my job" for most people, but having access to vaccines experts is a serious perk of my job. When you're having a baby and random people tell you vaccine horror stories and spew misinformation at you, it's wonderful to be able to sit down with a colleague and get the facts. Vaccines do not cause autism... they prevent horrible diseases that I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy, let alone my child. And that flu shot that everyone will be clamoring for in the next few months... we have my colleagues to thank for that as well! (Getting off my soapbox now.)
10. I learn something every day. Whether it's a nugget of general business knowledge, details on a disease and how to prevent or treat it, information about a program we're working on as a company or a part of a coalition, what's happening on the Hill, or listening to a colleague's story, I'm constantly learning.
So, friends... when I'm moaning about the 90-minute commute to and from work and the long hours, remind me that I once blogged about my love for it and tell me to suck it up! Unless I'm having a no-good-horrible-very-bad-day... in that case, forget you read this! :)
2 comments:
Haha I love that using the degrees we went to school for can be a reason to love a job! (It is for me, too!) In this day and age it seems more and more rare that people end up in the field they studied for in undergrad.
Visiting from Mama Kat's!
I'm glad you enjoy your job. I've always been impressed when we've talked. You seem very happy and comfortable at work. That is so important!!
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