Staying On Top Of Industry Trends Allows Philadelphia VP To Envision The Future
Joe Stubblebine serves as vice president of Talent Solutions at Beyond.com. Stubblebine is primarily responsible for the development and execution of corporate outreach initiatives to increase awareness of the Beyond.com brand to HR professionals and industry influencers, while also leveraging his extensive industry expertise and relationships to support several key areas of the business.
What is your educational background?
"I first studied accounting. On the surface, it might seem like apples and oranges compared to my current role, but my first accounting job out of college helped me develop skills I would later use to start my own company. Besides providing the general support of an internal accounting team, I was able to tinker with application development which led me to fundamentally different endeavors. I believe strongly against painting you into a corner, and that young professionals should learn to explore their interests. You never know what side project might spark a career-changing opportunity."
What is your background in management?
"Currently, I manage the Employer Sales Team at Beyond, but it's not where I started. I began with a smaller project-based consultant position. Working your way up to managing your own team requires a commitment to learning as much as you can, which includes going out of your way to ask advice from more experienced colleagues. Eventually, you find yourself assuming more responsibility and developing and applying the leadership skills needed to run a successful business."
How has your education fueled your management success?
"While higher education certainly got me started, I developed my best skills by networking and connecting with the right people. Getting your hands dirty and diving head first into different projects is the best ongoing education you can give yourself. Having co-founded several online career sites and published recruitment magazines, I've developed relationships with all sorts of individuals working in a wide array of industries."
What advice would you give someone just starting out in your field?
"Digest information with a passion. You'd be surprised where your interests will lead you. Staying up to date with the current industry trends allows you to envision what the future might bring. A great way to do this is by involving yourself with like-minded professionals. Become an active member in industry associations and online career communities. You'll start to see the pieces fall into place, and will be able to determine what kind of professional you want to be."
Christina Thompson is a freelance writer living in Philadelphia. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.