3 Signs You Should Join a Rotational Program (And 2 Signs You Shouldn't)
- Makayla
- Oct 13, 2022
- 4 min read
Almost 2 years ago now I joined a full-time rotational program to enter corporate America, and I could not be more grateful for the opportunity. It was truly a God thing, but I will have tell that story another time. For today, I want to point out the type of people who I think would be the best fit for a program like mine and which type of people may not be as well suited.
Let me provide some background about what rotational programs are in case this is the first time you are learning of them. While the logistics differ company to company, what a rotational program generally consists of is a set limited amount of time (probably 1-5 years) where you rotate periodically through different roles to learn more about the company, the types of roles in your field, and what direction you'd like to take your career (since who really knows the answer when you start your degree?). So with that description in mind, let's look at who could be a good candidate and who may not.
You SHOULD consider a rotational program if...
You are not sure about your career path
You enjoy learning
You don't mind being challenged
I believe that the ideal candidate embodies these three traits (among others depending on the structure of the program). It's important of course to be someone who has a vague idea of what they are interested in but is also still willing to explore. In a rotational program you will be forced to try at least 2 or more roles and analyze what aspects of each you like and dislike to inform your eventual placement into a role outside of the program; therefore, you have to be open to trying these different roles and even excited to do so!
For me, I received a Computer Information Systems degree with 0 clue what I wanted to do with it! I had dabbled in data visualization during an internship and enjoyed it, and I had mild interest in database management but no specific role I could put my finger on. A rotational program has allowed me a more solid understanding of the role possibilities, and I've been able to try them with virtually no strings attached!
Second, you have to enjoy learning new things and be willing to feel uncomfortable as you come up to speed in a new role. When rotating every six months or year, you must onboard quickly into new roles and learn the skills required for that role. This means completing various trainings, courses, certifications, etc. But it can also look like a lot of trial and error and taking in feedback from your manager or being willing to ask for help as you learn. If it is too intimidating to you to learn new things quickly (or at least attempt to) then rotational programs may not be the best fit.
Lastly, pairing well with the uneasiness of having to onboard into new roles frequently and quickly, a good rotational program candidate has to like a good challenge. It takes a lot of energy, patience, and courage to jump into a new space with new management and new teammates once or twice a year. It is easy to feel undervalued or unworthy of the position you are in, and it can be stressful when your new manager only a week into your role already has deliverables for you. But that's the nature of the beast. By virtue of the fact that the program is a short-term experience, you have to push yourself to get as much out of it as you can!
You SHOULDN'T consider a rotational program if...
You feel confident in your career area of interest
You aren't open to change
As mentioned above, rotational programs are key for those of us unsure of our desired career path, but on the flip side, it may not be right for you if you do feel confident in what you want to do for work. You are going to be encouraged to try roles that may sound adjacent to your interests or you may even be placed in a role that isn't very interesting. If you feel like you know where your true passion lies, it may not be best to be in a rotational program where you may never reach that dream job or may have to try different, less interesting roles along the way.
It's also obviously not a great idea if you feel particularly adverse to change. Most people seem to have some apprehension when it comes to change, and that transitionary period in a rotational program is hard no matter if it's your first or third; however, you have to remain positive and push yourself over that uncomfortable hump. If that seems like too big an ask, then a rotational program may not be a great fit. There are lots of roles out there where you can get nice and comfy (and still face change and work through that periodically, but significantly less so) and slowly transition your career the way you'd like.
Do you feel like you'd be a good fit for a rotational program? If so, feel free to reach out and I can refer you to some that I know (including mine!).
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