2011 was a great year, but I have to say, 2012 sure is starting off nice. We’ve started gaining steam in our EMR division, going through the hiring process for a new internal Account Manager and the days are flying by with plenty of stuff to do! (At least for me!)
The last two weeks of December were pretty long and slow, with almost everyone using up their last vacation days by the end of the week. But I was here (with no vacation days to spare unfortunately) enjoying the quiet. My manager, Michelle Cessnun was able to complete not 1, but 2 training manuals for our contract division AND our Lawson and PeopleSoft software. Now we just need that new person to start so we can test it out. And as for me, I wrapped up a lot of “admin” projects I wanted to roll into the new year successfully. Now it’s on to 2012, a year of surpassing goals, unparalleled productivity and awesome production numbers for our division!
Now to our bubbling EMR progress…talk about some eager and pleasant consultants! This week alone, I reached out to one new consultant, and along with sending me her resume she also gave me the names and phone numbers of 10 other consultants that are looking for projects! I’m not sure if it’s because the new year has kicked off and projects are off of hiatus or the sad fact that these eager professionals have yet to be burned like the PeopleSoft & Lawson consultants by the, I’ll loosely use the term “eager” for them as well, recruiters of this industry. It’s a very sad comparison but that’s all I could think as I’m actually talking to these people AND getting returned calls and emails! It has been a very different market than the one I’ve worked in for the last year and I hate to think that in a few short years, or just one bad phone call, this market could also be burned and scarred.
Now don’t get me wrong, the consultants ARE NOT the bad ones!! They have just been treated so bad over the years, they’re very protective of their information. The consultants that I’ve spoken with and the one’s my manager works with understand there are the good and the bad firms out there. And it’s difficult at times (especially when you’re new to this industry) that the short answers and lack of information on the first couple of conversations is only a defense of the consultants’ relationships that they have worked very hard to maintain. Each project they work can either make or break their reputation, and once you realize that you’ll be golden! Once you show them that you call when you say you will, you actually check references, not flip them for sales leads and don’t beat them on rate, travel, etc. then they will start showing you a little bit of good will as well.
So back to what’s coming up in 2012. I think I’m starting to get some routines in place that will help speed things up and keep things organized in the coming year. I’m rolling my social media efforts out to the rest of the team, even last week I helped one of my Account Managers vamp up his LinkedIn and add some applications and skills that might help him stand out when managers start checking around. And let’s not get started on how Twitter’s 140 character tweets have flowed into my every day process. My other Account Manager loses interest in about 30 seconds, so I’m trying to follow #Twitter’s business plan and give him brief updates, questions, instructions and process changes in short, two line emails to keep his attention span in check.
All in all, as my first official year at Fidelis and out of college came to an end last Friday, I couldn’t be happier with where I landed and where we’re going. Definitely stay updated, as I’m sure things will get interesting and stressful with our increased goals and plans for the year.
Until next time,
Casidy
