Here is a short Q & A with Administrative Assistant, Tiffany Brown. Tiffany joined the GEO Jobe team in September of 2020 and is based out of our Center for Research and Engineering (C.R.E.) in Gulfport, MS.
Q: What is your job at GEO Jobe, and what does it entail?
A: I am an Administrative Assistant at GEO Jobe. My job entails scheduling meetings, correspondence, doing research, making calls, or really anything I can do to keep things moving smoothly.
Q: What attracted you to join the GEO Jobe team?
A: I had come to a point in life and in my career where it was time to change direction. I wanted to find a place that I could use the skills I had learned as a salesperson, manager, trainer, and dispatcher combined with my love of technology. GEO Jobe was the perfect place to do just that! I get to be a part of a company that is innovative and helps people and businesses connect.
Q: What jobs and experiences have led you to your present position?
A: I feel that many of the skills I learned in my previous positions as a supervisor and as a dispatcher will help me in my current role. Although both positions are very different, they have taught me to understand how to balance my time, resources, and customer needs.
Q: What particular skills or talents are most essential to be successful in your job?
A: The most important skills I find are the ability to multitask, be organized, and be self-motivated. This is not a linear task kind of job. I often need to work on more than one thing at a time as things move from person to person to be completed or priorities shift.
Q: Any advice for recent graduates entering the job market and aspiring to a similar role?
A: I would give the same advice to someone wanting to change careers as I would a new graduate, be persistent. If the job is something that you are passionate about then let that passion shine through. Experience and skills are important but sometimes personality, drive, and the desire to learn can be just as important.
Q: What technologies and strategies do you use in your day-to-day work that are key to success?
A: My calendar is key to staying on target. I make use of reminders a lot as I move from project to project. That way I know what I need to circle back to later, versus what is complete. In this COVID-19 world, where we are working from home, I use Slack to stay in quick contact with my teammates.
Q: On a more personal side, do you have a favorite newspaper, magazine, blog, or sources of inspiration?
A: I have a couple of podcasts that are my go-to items when I want to relax and be inspired at the same time. I enjoy StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson because it is a quirky mix of science and pop culture. My other favorite is Write-minded. It is seriously an inspiration for anyone who has ever harbored a secret desire to write a novel.
Q: What kind of technology do you prefer and why?
A: I have always loved computers and gadgets since I was a kid. I am especially fond of Smart technology. I have everything from a video doorbell, indoor and outdoor light, and smoke alarms all connected together just a shout away. As far as computers go, I have had a lot of exposure to both PC and Mac and for me, I am definitely a PC fan but I wouldn’t give up my iPhone and iPad for anything. I have also logged quite a few hours on my Xbox One.
Q: What do you enjoy doing outside of the office?
A: I enjoy being involved in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy Fandom community. I belong to the USS Neptune which is the local chapter of SFI, STARFLEET the International Star Trek Fan Association. The Neptune is a place where I can get together with other people that share my love of Star Trek and Sci-fi. Sometimes it’s just to hang out and have fun, other times we volunteer our time to charity.
I also enjoy attending Sci-fi and gaming conventions and I try to make time for several every year. I have had the privilege of serving on the Board for CoastCon, the longest-running fan-run Sci-Fi/Fantasy convention in the Gulf South for the last 8 years and I have been volunteering with the convention since I was a teen. The convention circuit is where I picked up another hobby of mine, I love to sew and create costumes to wear at events. I am also an avid reader and I have dabbled at writing myself. I have participated in NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month since 2013. The objective of NaNoWriMo is to write a complete novel of at least 50000 words in the month of November. It’s chaotic, crazy, and stressful but I absolutely love it.
