Lynette Hawthorne

Cal Poly - B.A. English, 1985

Other degrees/certificates:

Current city/state:

San Jose, CA

Brief description of position duties/responsibilities:

I have held several positions over the years:  technical writer, technical support rep, business analyst, communications consultant, office specialist, administrative program assistant, customer support tech.  I learned that being a Business Process Analyst was my favorite position—using analytical skills and knowledge of computer applications and tools to improve or set up business processes.

What specific qualities/abilities, skills are necessary for this position:

Critical thinking, analyzing of business processes, and knowledge of system tools

While at Cal Poly, what resources did you take advantage of that have helped you in your current position:

Cooperative Education assignment at IBM, then becoming a student assistant at the Co-op Ed office and spoke at classes regarding the benefits of the program.

What advice would you give to someone interested in your profession?

Stay current on computer applications/tools available.  Focus on specific industry.

Is there anything you'd like to personally add about how you found your way to your current career since graduating from Cal Poly as an English major?  Any memorable epiphanies that marked major turning points on which path you chose?

If not sure what your interests are or what's available out there, expose yourself (volunteering, temp jobs, interning, etc.) to various positions/industries.  I have enjoyed my exposure to the corporate world (IBM, Microsoft, Symantec), government (State of Oregon), and higher education (OSAC, OSU, Stanford), but having moved around so much and not have a specialized field is more difficult to locate work in this tough economy.

Contact:

pacnwlynn@yahoo.com

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