MBlog07

[Josh] Will Work For Food

We are in the home stretch...well, not really, but everyone is realizing that it is time to at least start looking for jobs. Not that it is difficult to get interviews...Chris has brought in industry speakers everyday to the program to both educate us on real supply chain challenges and solutions, as well as recruit from our program.

There haven't been many food companies come through yet...actually none, which is a bit unfortunate, as this is my passion, but there have been some retail companies who have grocery businesses, like 7-eleven and Target. It is important to understand that Iam the most passionate about agriculture and food supply chains, among all my classmates...quite possible among all of MIT. In fact, I'm certain of it.

The MIT name, though, has been very helpful in networking into companies on my own (outside of MIT/MLOG recruiting). I don't think any of us should be worried about finding a job, it is just finding the best one. I think most of us are looking for that $90K+ salary and a management title. You might think that this is only possible for MBAs, but not true, as many MLoggers have already accepted jobs that meet this criteria (e.g. consulting, investment banking, cage fighting, you name it!).

Wish me luck!

[Debbie] still on tour, volume 3

No one likes Six Sigma.  It's a long process to look closely at long processes.  CEOs must stay awake at night, repenting for all the tears of boredom they're inflicting on their people.  But I have to hand it to MLOG - if you're going to cover Six Sigma (and you have to!) you should first fly your class out to Spain, have them enjoy long nights out at the cervezarias, let them sleep in, serve them breakfast, and then fly in an experienced, enthusiastic, organized speaker who controls financials at a Fortune 500 company.  You design, run, and critique team exercises rather than lecture theory.  You do a little bit over two days.  At the end, I was impressed at how many people were inspired to interview with the presenting company.

Renewed Vigor [Josh]

After reading the other blogs about being thankful to have completed one semester, it fills me with inspiration. It  could not have come at a more opportune time, either. Now is our chance to get moving ahead on thesis work and put our learning to the test with the Supply Chain Management Simulation. I must admit that I need a bit of a kick after the long winter break. I was soaking up the atmosphere at home and the interaction with my family and friends as if it may be the last days I ever spend in Indiana. Now I hope to carry the same attitude and rigor into my classes and dialogue with my classmates, teachers, and friends.

As a one year program, our biggest limitation to enlightenment is our time. How will you spend your last semester at MIT? Will you try to take 90 credit hours? Will you try to change the world of supply chain knowledge with the best thesis ever written? Will you develop close relationships with Sloanies and a few civil engineers? Will you join the rowing club? There are individuals in the MLog class of 2007 to fill each of these roles.

Good luck.

[Mike] School Work During Winter Break?

My winter break began after the ESD 71 final.  It was a good opportunity to recharge and to connect with friends and family whom I had "neglected" somewhat as a result of having a busy semester.  However, I did some work, following my thesis advisor's recommendation.  Edgar told me to spend at least 4 full days looking over literature during the course of the break.  He advised that a lot of people had struggled with their theses because they had put off doing initial research and literature review.  So my advice--enjoy your break but put a little bit of grease on your axle.  I plan to use my IAP time to conduct field work and data analysis.