STARS: On The Way Back- Part 8

I was now working in Greenville, SC as a delivery driver trainer. I loved everything about the job and station except for the commute. I drove some days up to an 1 hour and 30 minutes one way to get to work. It was all good as I had a plan. 

The plan was to put myself in position to get promoted to an L4 position and eventually a remote position within Amazon. Once COVID happened, many of these positions were opening up network wide. 

I was getting set up for success through my two managers at the station, my HR rep, my Learning Area Manager and many others from other Amazon facilities. This was a process I had not experienced before. It was still the STAR method but this time you had two interviews back to back with a brief intermission. The tricky part was both interviewers had to vote in your favor for you to receive an incline. There could not be a split or tie. 

I worked weekly on my interview questions and stories to fit them into the STAR method with good metrics and the leadership principles. I narrowed my stories down to 20 solid ones that could fit many of the commonly asked questions. I had mock interviews with managers and HR reps I didn't know so I could receive more unbiased feedback. All feedback was good but hearing from a 3rd party was extra helpful. 

It took me 3 sets of the dual interviews and honing my answers and delivery but I earned my incline and offer to become an Assistant Station Manager at CLT6! It was a promotion, raise, and a much better commute.  I would miss DSC3 as I had more fun there than my previous sites, got to train and learn the AMZL flow and even got paid to travel on Amazon's dime.

I am now 7 months into my role and there have been challenges. I feel I have did well overall. I am setting goals for myself to tackle the next challenge. I feel I have come a long way but the best is still yet to come!

I met with

STARS: On The Way Back: Part 7

I was flying high emotionally, being in my first leadership role within Amazon and first paid leadership role in nearly two decades. 

I loved everything about being in a new building from my team, my leadership and the folks I trained. 

However the tide started turning in the year that is 2020 and it was getting time to start thinking about advancement or lateraling to another position. I thought long and hard and actually loved my job and all. It was other factors that led to me thinking of a new role. 

I had mentioned the timeframe: 2020, when COVID was rampant without any vaccines. Masks everywhere. Numerous mandates. Little to no fans at sporting events. Also, many restrictions at work that added challenges. I needed to be in a smaller environment or in a virtual role. My mother was also growing older and very high risk.  I needed to reduce my stress level and peace of mind 

I looked into AMZL the delivery station with the infamous Amazon vans. It was smaller and had a different flow than FCs. Plus it was a better schedule for me, my family and my career development. I had connections from GSP1 that helped me make that lateral move to DSC3 in Greenville, SC.  I would still be able to train, which is what I love doing the most, and I would have a third of the restrictions and a smaller team. It's what I needed at that time. I was going from an AR building with 4,000 to a small delivery station of about 400.

I applied, researched, weighed the options and was happy to become a delivery driver trainer and be back in Upstate SC. I had grown so much in the past year and was ready for the next chapter in my Amazon journey. 

STARS: On The Way Back: Part 6

I was finally feeling more productive, appreciated and noticed at Amazon. I was feeling the optimism of growing as I did in 2015. 

I became a Learning Ambassador, later a Learning PIT Ambassador where I DID get trained to drive every piece of PIT equipment so I could train others. I was on the Safety Committee, Activities Committee, and I was getting praise and admiration from many leaders, particularly my direct manager and my Learning Coordinator. Things were finally looking up. 

Now I was ready to level up and advance to the next level (Tier 3) in Amazon terms. This was yet another challenge that took a year to achieve.

I learned the STAR interview method (Situation, Task, Action and Results). I practiced it through mock interviews, talking with my leaders/mentors and even geared this blog towards that purpose.  The STAR method is utilized by many major companies with great results so I knew mastering it would be extra advantageous. 

I also applied for jobs not only within the Spartanburg center but also at the ones in Charlotte.  They have 10 different centers/sites to work for and it gave me more options. 3 were launch(new) sites and that would give me more of a leg up. 

I had 4 interviews before my first incline (meaning that I could be placed in that role within a year without interviewing again and was a finalist).  I then had 2 more interviews before I earned the Learning PIT Trainer role at the newest Amazon center in Charlotte near the airport.  I was over the moon! 

I know by now you all are knowing there is more and you would be right. I earned my first leadership role within Amazon and not my last. It felt fulfilling that the 4 year wait and my hard work was paying off. 

STARS: On The Way Back: Part 5

Some could say I was already back since I was making more money, had a good schedule, great commute, benefits and such when I left RA and went to Amazon. I wanted more from Amazon though. 

I found that during that time, it seemed more common for at least the building I worked at during that time to hire folks straight out of school for the management and leader positions. I was okay with working up the ranks and climbing the ladder.  I would understand the overall process and flow of the fulfillment center anyways. 

However, even that was a challenge my first two years there. I suffered through a lack of support, leadership looking over me, and not being cross trained nor given the opportunities to train or to be groomed nor molded. I was just a regular worker and there is nothing wrong with that. I felt I wasn't getting a fair shake. I even won Employee of the Month for the entire company. 

I spoke up and reached out at roundtables, participated in connection calls regarding my managers and even met 1:1 with senior leadership. I simply wanted to be given a chance and at worse have an opportunity to do other jobs within the building.  

Two years had passed and I was only on the appeals board and my current manager kept lying to my face about getting me cross trained. I then went over his head and even called Ethics and corporate. I was tired of it and I wasn't going to sit by and take it like many others had before me. My goal was to show that advancement and cross training were possible.

I saw more optimism and results as I was plugged in FINALLY to leadership and folks that were dedicated to helping me grow. The manager I reported did recommend me to be a Learning Ambassador (trainer). That's where the story will continue for next time.

STARS: On The Way Back: Part 4

I was having a rebirth working in Sample Distribution. I was on an awesome team with great managers/mentors. It felt like the early RA again. The paychecks didn't add up and I knew I couldn't stay for long but I was enjoying this in between periods. 

I had to get a job where I didn't have to pull from my 401K or credit cards. I would maintain a couple of side hustles though. 

The time changed in 2014 when one of my managers changed departments and I knew the new manager and I wouldn't have the best rapport. That's when I got heavy on the job search again. I kept widening it when I would get fussed at or my integrity was tested.  I narrowed my choices down to BMW and Amazon. BMW weeded me out quickly in a screening. I applied for Amazon an hour later in a parking lot in my hot car. Within a month, I received a schedule, wage agreement, start date, etc.  I was FINALLY leaving Robert Allen after 12 years! 

It felt bittersweet as I actually had matured into a different man during that time and made many strong connections. I cherish the time and people there but it was time for another adventure. This would be an adventure where I would get paid more, would get 40 hours/week and I could use my education. 

Of course, I learned quickly it wasn't as easy as I thought to advance but definitely a reality.