Senior Analyst
Daisy has been promoted to System Specialist, Programming. "The function of my job is to be the in-between person for the technical side and the business side. I figure out what needs to happen on the business side, what is possible technologically, then try to merge the two."
 | Why did you join Macy's Systems and Technology and why have you stayed? |  |
I started here as a contractor. After working with a specific project for about nine months, I was offered a full-time position. By this time, I had formed relationships with the people here as well as the users of the application. I wanted to see the project through and how the actual users would use the end product. I am still working on that project, but I also work on how it relates to other applications. I also am involved in training. I have been able to continue in areas that interest me as well as branch out into other areas with this company.
| What do you enjoy most about what you do and what are your overall job responsibilities? | |
Everyone is a joy and challenge to work with and the environment here is very educational. Here at Macy's Systems and Technology you are working with other very talented people and they have taught me a lot. I also enjoy working with the specific people that need these applications, understanding their needs, how they do their job and what I can do to help them. Having such good people to work with and learning what they do, makes my job so much more enjoyable and fun. The focus of my responsibilities is to design the advertising applications for people in different retail divisions. I make sure it is useable for them and figure out how it should look and work. The function of my job is to be the in-between person for the technical side and the business side. I figure out what needs to happen on the business side, what is possible technologically, then try to merge the two. My job has recently expanded from just the designing of the application, to working on training for the application.
| What contribution do you make to your division and how does this contribute to the company's overall success? | |
I feel like my contribution has been merging the business and technical sides because I can work a little in both areas. This is a little bit new for Macy's Systems and Technology. Traditionally, we have had a very technical focus. My team and I can work with both sides and help with the communication between them. By doing this, we can do things that are technologically possible and work best for the user at the same time.
| What has been your most memorable moment since joining the company? | |
It was a few months ago at Macy's East. I was conducting a usability test, which means I was presenting an application to a set of users and asked them to use it without giving instructions how to perform the tasks. One specific user went through every one of my tasks very quickly and knew how to use all of the functions that we had designed. She even knew how to use the functions that I thought were going to be difficult. This user required no training and it was memorable for me because it showed me that even though I anticipated something was going to be hard, the application was not hard to use. Until you have someone actually using your application, you aren't sure if your decisions were right or wrong. I will always remember that because I was dumbfounded and it was good to get that reassurance that I had done my job well. The application was not only going to work technically, but it was also easy for the user.
| How has the training you've received since joining the company benefited you? | |
I have learned a tremendous amount about retail itself. I knew about usability, building applications, technology and a good bit about advertising from my past, but I didn't know much about the retail business in general. Working with everyone at Macy's Systems and Technology, as well as the users at the retail divisions, has opened up a whole new world to me. I have learned that it's not always what I think it is and learning how that retail business works, has been a huge training and educational process for me. It has made a huge difference in how I do my job and builds on the skills I already know.
| What do you like best about your work environment? | |
The people that I work with. Not only is everyone fun to work with on a personal basis, but they have taught me so much. It's enjoyable to work with such intelligent people who can teach me other things. I enjoy that, and it makes the job fun. I enjoy not just the projects but working with the people on the projects.
| What personal interests/hobbies do you have and how do you balance them with your work? | |
For the past six months, I have been practicing a lot of yoga. I enjoy that because it helps me balance work and relaxation. It gives me a way to truly get away from work both mentally and physically. I also am very interested in travel. It's good to balance this with work because when I'm at work I give 200 percent and sometimes that means I work more than 40 hours. I save all my vacation time so I can use it at one time and really get away. Travel works for me because when I return after a ten-day vacation, I can start fresh.
| What advice would you give to a new employee joining the company in a position similar to yours? What helped you establish yourself and move ahead with your career goals? | |
For a new employee my advice would be to get to know everyone you are working with from all areas. It's the people in other areas that really teach you how to do your job better. Those are areas you don't know well and are not your strengths. That has helped me because by understanding what other people do in their job, I can anticipate how to design an application without having to do a lot of rework. It also helps me communicate with them and make suggestions.
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