Finding Growth and Flexibility

This January I celebrated my 10th anniversary with Sodexo. Unlike many, my career journey has been non-traditional, much of which I've been able to do because of Sodexo.

I started my career with Sodexo immediately after graduating from Purdue University. In fact, I signed my offer letter before I walked across the stage to receive my degree. Looking back, I realize how fortunate I was to secure a position at that time. My entry into the job market could not have come at a more inopportune time. I was one of many unfortunate college students whose graduation happened during the recession, as the job market looked bleak. 

Early in my time at Sodexo, I learned the importance of networking, pivoting, and flexibility. In the first 10 months of my career, I was still adjusting to life as a full-fledged adult with a new job when I received devastating news about my father’s health. I thought that I would have no way to care for my father and continue to work. Thankfully, with Sodexo's vast network of accounts and belief in Quality of Life, I was able to talk to my General Manager and was given permission to post for a position in my hometown to be closer to my father. Through the power of networking, the recruiter who I'd made a connection with while still in college reached out to me after I had applied for a few positions. It just so happened that he covered New York as one of his states, and when he saw my name, he immediately reached out. I ended up securing a promotion at a large hospital in western New York. I was approved for a flexible work arrangement which allowed me to work remotely when my dad had appointments or unforeseen emergencies. I stayed in this account for nearly three years before being promoted to another large location. A flexible work arrangement doesn’t sound like a big deal today, but 10 years ago, they were not as common. I’m grateful that the leadership at Sodexo made this a priority for their employees.

I’ve set personal goals throughout each transition and promotion I have taken. When I joined the organization, my initial goal was to gain experience in Operations and Human Resources eventually to fully pivot into Human Resources, and more specifically, Talent Acquisition. Each role that I have had increased my HR responsibilities and this was key for me to make the transition. I learned to be flexible but intentional throughout my career with Sodexo. I also learned that sometimes a Career Lattice may fit your career goals more than a Career Ladder, and I learned that pivoting can be fun. I am now a Recruitment Manager supporting five business segments, and I get to manage a fantastic team of six recruiters. I wasn’t sure where I would be in 10 years, but I'm pleased with how things have turned out at Sodexo.