Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/799779
16 FEDA News & Views think they'll enjoy it, but there's some- thing a little off. It's almost as if they're trying to fi nd what they want to do. They just haven't found it yet. N&V: Looking back, did you see your- self at Hatco when you graduated six years ago? And if not Hatco, did you have any thoughts on the fi eld or industry you wanted to pursue? Christian: I did not. I had done a lot of offi ce administration work on campus, and I ran a call center so I knew that I could start there. Those were the types of jobs I was looking for across indus- tries. I didn't really have that dream job selected. N&V: Sounds like you had quite a bit of experience coming out of the gate. What was your degree in? Christian: Business Administration E&S continued with an emphasis in Marketing and Management. N&V: Tell me a bit more about your work experience at Wisconsin Lutheran College. Christian: I was a Peer Admissions Counselor in the Admissions Department. We called high school students, talked to them about college, life at Wisconsin Lutheran and tried to help them feel at ease about making the big deci- sion. I was in the call center for two years and then I ran it my junior and senior year. N&V: You mentioned earlier that you applied for a number of jobs. In what areas? Christian: There were a few sales positions that required me to do day- long calls and I didn't have a good feeling about them. It just didn't seem like something I wanted to spend my days doing. N&V: Were any of the positions in the E&S industry? Christian: No, one was in retail and the other was in housing. N&V: How did you connect with Hatco? Christian: Hatco actually found me. I put my resume on Career Builder and Monster.com and our HR director found my resume on Monster. When I actually looked at the company, I learned that Hatco's manufacturing plant was in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, which is only 40 minutes north of the town I grew up in. That was key in my decision to do more research on Hatco. N&V: Once Hatco was on your radar, what did you learn that made you want to move forward? Christian: It actually was my fi rst onsite interview that infl uenced me the most. I had a conversation via email with the HR director. She asked me to fi ll out an application and we scheduled a phone interview. That was followed by my fi rst interview in the offi ce, where I met with our CEO and president, the Customer Service manager and the VP of Sales and Marketing. I was very nervous because I wasn't expecting to meet with the CEO, but I left the interview think- ing it was one of the best I'd had in the last few months. The conversations were relaxed and comfortable. We didn't just talk about the job and my qualifi cations. We talked about my family and my hob- bies, and my high school and college experiences. I was really hoping to get that second interview. N&V: I imagine your list has changed but what are some of the things you value in an employer? Christian: Back then, I was more focused on getting a job so my list has defi nitely evolved. Some of the things that are important to me now are the continued on page 20 CHRISTIAN me. I put my resume on Career Builder and Monster.com and our HR director found my resume on Monster. When I actually looked at the company, I learned that Hatco's manufacturing think they'll enjoy it, but there's some- thing a little off. It's almost as if they're trying to fi nd what they want to do. They just haven't found it yet. College. Christian: I was a Peer Admissions Counselor in the Admissions Department. We called high school students, talked to them about college, life at Wisconsin Lutheran and tried to help them feel at ease about making the big deci- sion. I was in the call center for two years and then I ran it my junior and senior year. N&V: You mentioned earlier that you applied for a number of jobs. In what areas? Christian: positions that required me to do day- long calls and I didn't have a good feeling about them. It just didn't seem like something I wanted to spend my days doing. N&V: the E&S industry? Christian: and the other was in housing. N&V: Hatco? Christian: CHRISTIAN Looking back, did you see your- self at Hatco when you graduated six I learned that Hatco's manufacturing plant was in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, which is only 40 minutes north of the town I grew up in. That was key in my We called high school students, talked to them about college, life at Wisconsin Lutheran and tried to help them feel In what areas? Christian: positions that required me to do day- long calls and I didn't have a good feeling about them. It just didn't seem like something I wanted to spend my days doing. N&V: the E&S industry? Christian: me. I put my resume on Career Builder and Monster.com and our HR director found my resume on Monster. When I actually looked at the company, I learned that Hatco's manufacturing Customer Sales Support Coordinator, Hatco Corp. (6 Years In) ASHLEY CHRISTIAN Cool Things that Hatco Does to Grow its People • Formed a Future Leaders Group: Routinely meets with President David Rolston to discuss, business, books and other hot topics. • Started the Heat up Health Committee: Organizes healthy cooking classes and exercise classes. • Offers Educational Assistance: Provides fi nan- cial assistance to employ- ees who pursue work-relat- ed degrees or training. "At our Christmas party this year, our president listed all of the people who received either a bachelor's degree or a master's degree through our educational assistance program and it was an impressively long list. There were at least 20 people." -- Mike Whiteley, Vice President of Sales and Marketing Cool Things that Hatco