Company: Rockwell Electronic Commerce, a Wood Dale-based supplier of call center systems and e-commerce solutions
Salary range for this job: $60,000 to $100,000
Time on this job: 1 1/2 years
Previous jobs: I’ve worked at Rockwell for 14 years in various areas, including product management and sales support.
Age: 46
Education: Associate’s degree in electronics from DeVry Institute of Technology
How I got this job: I knew all of our products, which was beneficial for the year 2000 project, so the company asked if I would be interested in the job.
Why I took this job: I thought it would be fun, and it is.
Main responsibilities: I work with customers who have Rockwell’s products installed in their systems to ensure that the software and hardware products they have are year 2000-ready. All of Rockwell’s products are 100 percent Y2K-ready, including telephone switches, telephony software and telemarketing reporting systems. The challenge is making sure our customers, which range from the federal government to phone companies, know that their versions may need to be upgraded for Y2K compliance. Through letters, phone calls and our Web site, we let customers know that we’re here to help them upgrade. I spend the majority of my day communicating with customers on the phone and via e-mail answering questions and handling Y2K issues.
Best thing about the job: I don’t do anything twice in a given week. I enjoy the versatility and the contact with customers.
Worst thing about the job: Long hours
My ideal next job: I like project management and would like to continue in this area.
Advice to job seekers in this field: I came from a product background rather than a project background, which has really helped in my job. You must have a good understanding of the products you work with, and you need to learn what the goals are to accomplish the project.
