GE : imagination at work

职 业 加 油 站 Career DevelopmentOx Yu : Taking Life-Work Challenges in StrideOx Yu is a self-proclaimed geek when it comes to engineering.He is crazy about all things related to technology and achievesthe highest levels of satisfaction when solving even the smallesttechnological problem. This clever engineer, however, found thateven he is unable to deal with certain dilemmas in his daily life,particularly when it comes to effective ways of relieving stress.After nearly a decade of work, Ox finally found the perfect work-lifebalance to keep himself sharp on the job and enjoyable in otherpeople’s company.“Making work easier”Ox never hesitates to show his appreciation for GE’s talented,hard working employees. “It’s important to be a diligent worker,”he said. “At GE, no one takes a passive approach to work.Everyone likes to lend a hand. A good team is a key to reapingsuccessful results.”In 2010, Ox left the GE Engineering team after almost sevenyears of employment to work for a German medical instrumentcompany. A year later, he returned to GE as a product managerfor GE Transportation. The new position required him to havenot only a solid technical background and fast learning ability,but also the ability to master processes on the production line.“The biggest difference was that I had to communicate withcustomers directly, but this was a fun challenge,” Ox said, jokingthat the new job transformed him from a technical talent to ananthropological researcher.“Strive to make progress”Ox said his work at the other job was comfortable due to a slowerwork pace, but he started missing GE soon after leaving. Aftercarefully evaluating his career path, Ox found the GE culture wasmore suitable to him. “Only two questions need to be answeredwhen faced with options: one is who I am; another is what I wantto be.”“I like that GE embraces the spirit of fairness,” Ox said. GE provideseach employee with the same resources and opportunities toreach their goals or make their dreams a reality. After his careermove, Ox developed a more profound understanding on how tostrike a balance between work and life. “Difficulties are still there,but making yourself exhausted won’t help solve your problems.Rather, you need to relax, because relaxing will help you dealwith challenges more confidently.”It’s now part of Ox’s routine to take time each day to relax,because rushing through work and life is never good for personalgrowth.Welcome to Rejoining Us!— Q & A with GE China OD Manager Shirley ShenQ: How does GE keep contact with its alumni? Does the company invite them toreturn to GE when vacant positions open up?A: We maintain regular contact with GE alumni by sending them greetingcards, sharing GE updates, and inviting them to GE activities. We regardalumni as priorities when we spot vacant positions that fit their talents.On these occasions, we welcome them to come back to GE.Q: GE is well-known for its people oriented culture. What is GE’s secret toattracting and keeping talent?A: We have launched Employer Value Proposition (EVP) these years, aimingto become the employer of choice in China, and providing employees thebest working environment to fulfill their career dreams. We regularly holdmentoring programs, leaders’ connections and career coaching.Q: According to your knowledge, what are the main reasons that alumni return to GE?A: There are many reasons for GE alumni’s return, including these three: the teams they have cooperated with before in GE areexcellent, and efficient communication has been established among teams; GE offers a good learning platform; GE advocates a cultureof fairness and integrity. Your performance will drive your career success.Q: GE is able to offer internal transfer within the company. What are the requirements for employees to apply for this?A: Employees who have worked a long time in one position and have a good performance are qualified to apply for other positions inGE. And we encourage employees to try a rotation to work with different colleagues, gain new knowledge and find positions they arereally interested in.Ox’s career tips:• Learn to balance the relationship between life and work:Life and work always go together, and you will achieve more and reap better results ifyou have a balance between the two.• Nurture fast learning:Find ways to accumulate knowledge when facing new challenges. Join the company’straining sessions because studying and staying up to date on new business trends isimportant.• Be a specialist in at least one field:You may know a little bit in many fields, but you must be an expert in at least one area.17 GE & MEGE & ME 18