Where to go from here?
Hello everyone,
I am hoping the group here can give me some guidance on where to go from where I am. I am a Quality Manager that has worked my way up progressively in responsibility for the last 10 years. I have my HACCP, PCQI, SQF Prac. Cert, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, but don't really know where I should go from here. I am feeling a bit "stuck" in a sense since it doesn't feel even with these certificates/trainings don't seem to be valued by my organization. Any thoughts?
If your knowledge/education/training/levels are not appreciated by your organization, may be it's a time to start looking for a new job? Or start your own food safety consulting firm?
Hi AbeNewman, you have an impressive list of qualifications and ones that are very much sought after by employees. If your practice is as good as your theory and you have the drive and energy then I would look for another job. It sounds like you are flogging a dead horse with your current employer.
Best of luck.
Simon
Hi Abe,
I am an executive recruiter and have looked at and worked with hundreds, if not 1,000+ specifically within food safety and quality.
The only thing I have to go on is what you've shared here and a couple things jump out.
"doesn't feel even with these certifications/trainings don't seem to be valued by my organization"
If you(not your company) are viewing the attainment of certifications or training as what you're hoping to be valued, that may be something to reframe in your mind.
I doubt they value the certifications.
What they do value is how you've applied the certifications, the continuing education and what you've delivered as a result of the certifications.
I experience this belief(even if it's not one you hold) system working with food safety and R&D professionals and more broadly those who've invested so much time and money in their education, only to "top out" in their career.
Moving forward though, I would consider some self-reflection on what you've personally delivered over the last 3 years in your career.
- Projects(and their outcome)
- Accomplishments(how it impacted the business)
- Cross-functional collaboration that led to a business win
Doing this, you may begin to identify what you've enjoyed, what you've excelled at, what others valued in your work, etc.
Many people in Food Safety & Quality get "stuck" at Manager and Sr. Manager for two very broad reasons
1. They have difficulty transitioning from being a subject matter expert in Food Safety to a leader who has broader business obligations that are non-technical in nature
2. They cling to the technical nature of their work due to the detriment of building their cross-functional skills, people skills and project and program management skills
Hope that spurs some thoughts,
You need to decide what is most important and how much responsibility you are willing to take on. A larger company will offer more opportunities to grow however you may be working more hours and be taking on more stress. I would make a list of short term and long term goals then work from there. To move up, I went from a company that employed under 15 people to a plant with around 200 people and a company with thousands of employees. It's been a lot more work and stress but worth it for me.
Good luck - we've all been there.
The best thing you can do is put those certifications into practice. Are there projects you can lead with the six sigma black belt? Is there a continuous improvement program? If so, what does it look like? Do you take part in it? Can you lead a CI program at your company?
Certainly, with your experience and certifications you should be able to lead a CI team. If that isn't an option at your current company then perhaps you may need to find another company to use your experience and certifications.
Before you do anything I would have this conversation with your boss and get his / her feedback. If the outlook is beak on that front, then you are best served to find another company. Good luck!
Hello everyone,
I am hoping the group here can give me some guidance on where to go from where I am. I am a Quality Manager that has worked my way up progressively in responsibility for the last 10 years. I have my HACCP, PCQI, SQF Prac. Cert, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, but don't really know where I should go from here. I am feeling a bit "stuck" in a sense since it doesn't feel even with these certificates/trainings don't seem to be valued by my organization. Any thoughts?