Grateful my journey of learning and growth led to a career in sales
Many of our new crew members launch their careers in Client Services, as it provides them an opportunity to see and experience first-hand Vanguard’s unique business model, and how our clients are at the center of everything we do. We recently sat down with crew who have served in our Client Services and Operations group to learn more about what initially attracted them to Vanguard and what keeps them feeling fulfilled in their roles. In this second installment of a three-part series, we highlight the experience of Courtney G.
Tell us about your voyage to Vanguard.
My journey to Vanguard started taking shape early on in my career. After graduating from Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism with an emphasis in Accounting, I held roles at both public and private sector firms. I learned to build and manage cash forecast models and to use the information to deliver on better money management tools and recommendations for successful business results. Although I was developing skills that would support continued career success, I did not feel fulfilled in my work. I wasn’t connecting with people and I wanted to use my knowledge to help others.
I took some time off to evaluate my career objectives and began looking for a better job fit. In my search, I came across Vanguard’s mission statement, “To take a stand for all investors … to treat them fairly … and to give them the best chance for investment success.” At the time, the investment industry was somewhat intimidating to me, but I wanted to learn more. I was quickly drawn to Vanguard’s culture and the meaning behind the company’s mission statement. In December, I will be celebrating five years with Vanguard! Not only have I continued to build my investment acumen through internships and by obtaining additional licenses and credentials, but most importantly, I am making a difference in investors’ lives. As my voyage continues, my passion grows, and I look forward to new opportunities to help others towards their goals of investment success.
Why did you choose to launch your career in Client Services?
The reason I chose to launch my career in Client Services is because it felt like the right space for me to have conversations with clients and talk about something we all think about… retirement! I don’t feel like I am much different from my clients who want to make sure they are saving enough for the future, investing in a way that makes sense, and navigating more complex areas once we’ve reached retirement.
What have been the most rewarding aspects of your role?
The most rewarding aspect of my role is sharing with my clients what makes Vanguard unique. The experience many investors have had before coming to Vanguard consists of focusing on returns and reacting to market volatility. What I’ve found satisfying is having that first conversation with a client about Vanguard’s time-tested methodology for investment success. Helping my client see that outside distractors are not where we focus our energy. Our focus is on our client’s financial goals, a balanced portfolio, keeping costs low, and the discipline to make decisions with confidence. I love sharing the holistic approach of creating a plan to live by so that you aren’t just “hoping” for success but “planning” for success.
Another aspect of my role that I find fulfilling is sharing with my clients that we don’t work on commission at Vanguard. I ensure they know that my fiduciary responsibility is to recommend options that are in their best interest.
How has Vanguard supported your professional development and career advancement?
Vanguard is a company that is goal oriented. From our investment methodology to the career development of crew members, setting goals is in our DNA. I remember just over a year ago, I declared my interest to move into a sales role. I wanted to cultivate relationships with my clients that would have a positive impact on their investment journey. However, I lacked the skillset to transition from a client service role into a sales position.
I discussed my interest in sales with my leader who encouraged me to apply to the “Accelerate to Sales and Advice Program,” which I affectionately refer to today as ASAP. What I loved about ASAP was the opportunity to join a cadre of like-minded peers across Vanguard’s domestic sites who shared a desire to enhance their sales acumen and learn about the Miller Heiman (MH) Framework from the ground up. Over the course of twenty-four weeks, we concentrated on four primary areas of MH: Open, Discover, Satisfy and Close. Here, we go beyond the numbers and graphs, and focus on why investing is important in our clients’ lives. As a sales specialist I earn the privilege to open deeper dialogue with investors and uncover their needs and their deeper needs. The deeper needs or the “Need behind the Need” (NBN) are discovery moments where the client begins to recognize, observe and see things differently. They can also be identified as “Positive Defining Moments” (PDMs) which create authentic connections and bring value to the client experience at Vanguard. This client immersed MH approach takes the focus off the seller and redirects it to the client, where it belongs. The conversations that manifest are impacting our clients’ lives and the way they invest.
The ASAP program was thoughtfully constructed and very rewarding for me. Upon successful completion of these four areas, I launched into a senior sales role that I love. It’s been an exciting journey and I’m humbled to be part of a company that values the development and advancement of their employees, which in turn, creates a better, positive client experience. Thanks to the ASAP program, I have found a deeper passion in my work that creates excitement in my role with every client experience.
Interested in a career in Client Services or Sales? Check out our opportunities today!
Please check out our first installment of this series to learn about Don’s experiences within Vanguard’s Client Services and Operations group.
Antonia’s perspective: Vanguard’s MBA Development Program
Recruiting for MBA students is an extremely competitive landscape. Decisions are based on prior work experience and role compatibility, geographic variances, industry preferences, total compensation, benefits, and more. So, what is it about Vanguard’s MBA Leadership Development Program that has both attracted and retained this high-potential talent?
We took a deeper dive into this question and asked Vanguard crew members who participated in the MBA Leadership Development Program to recap their experience and share what initially attracted them to Vanguard and what keeps them feeling fulfilled in their roles. In this final installment of a three-part series, we highlight the experience of Antonia S.
What was the biggest thing that drew you to Vanguard as you were seeking full-time opportunities?
Company culture and development opportunities are two very important attributes of a post-MBA employer. While recruiting in business school, I was determined to work at a company where employees felt like they were being cared for and actively being developed into their best selves. After 7-8 pre-Super Day information interviews, it was clear that these were genuinely the top reasons crew and leaders not only came to Vanguard, but also why they stay.
Vanguard’s MBA Leadership Development Program is rotational in nature, and also unique in that they solicit the business to understand where the needs are for MBA talent. So one experience can be different from another. What teams were you able to support during your 15 month rotation?
My first rotation in the MBA Leadership Development Program was in Organizational Consulting Services, followed by a rotation in Enterprise Advice, and then our Retail Investor Group. I launched on the Enterprise New Ways of Working team.
What were some roles/responsibilities that your day-to-day consisted of?
In my first rotation, I served as Organizational Effectiveness Consultant on our Organization Consulting Services team. During this rotation, I had a bird’s eye view of what was going on across all 11 of our divisions from an organizational strategy and design perspective. As a result, I had the opportunity to influence organization strategy, design, in-take processes, and training in change management.
Next, I served as an Advice Strategist on our Enterprise Advice – FAS Use Case team in my second rotation. It was in this rotation that I really accelerated my overall investment management acumen, specifically in the financial planning space. Additionally, it was there that I was introduced to the methodology of New Ways of Working. This rotation was also a stretch opportunity for me as I was the only woman of color on my team, did not have extensive technology experience, and the team was headquartered away from Malvern’s main campus.
In my final rotation, I served as a Business Project Manager on our Retail Investor Group’s Blueprint Transformation team. This rotation was unique because the entire team was working from each of our US offices. Consequently, I spent the majority of my time working remotely with crew from our domestic sites implementing strategies around New Ways of Working.
What was the most significant project you worked on?
As I launched into our Project Management Office team for Enterprise New Ways of Working, we were evaluating a new vendor that would provide a tool that gives the enterprise easier access to team intelligence and information. I was able to take this initiative through all phases: research, pilot, testing, and ultimately deploying it into all divisions. I remember how rewarding it felt when the feedback came in from our testing phase, and crew were really enjoying using it. This was an enterprise-wide shift, so to leave an imprint at that scale will always be something I remember.
What was the most impactful takeaway from the rotational program?
Relationship management. This was crucial to understand and build expertise in. Honing my relationship management skills allowed me to get my job done more efficiently, whether I was responsible for building a team, getting a message across to the enterprise, or just checking in with someone. It has allowed for continuous, open, and honest feedback throughout my career at Vanguard, and it has given me access to having a seat at the table to make decisions.
What was the biggest challenge you faced?
For me, it was tackling the infamous ‘imposter syndrome.’ As a career switcher entering into a rotation program, I was truly excited by all of the opportunities I could take part in, so much that I always selected roles that were completely new to me with the hope of developing new skills and experiences. With the steep learning curves that come with each new rotation, you can imagine the frequency and intensity of self-doubt that hit every time. Fortunately, between and post each rotation, participants are given ample time to reflect and engage with their managers and mentors. It was through these intentional engagements that I was able to better recognize and track my personal progress. Additionally, it did not hurt to have great peers and mentors who were also intentional in providing meaningful feedback on my progress and strengths.
What is keeping you fulfilled in your current role at Vanguard?
The Man in the Mirror effect – based on the famous song, which essentially says: If you want the world to be different, if you want it to be a better place, the change needs to start with you—the person in the mirror. In this case, Vanguard is the man/person/organization in the mirror right now. We have been making great strides to change pertinent aspects of our businesses, products, services and culture to continue taking a stand for all investors, giving them the best chance for investment success and doing it in the most inclusive way possible.
One of my most recent memorable experiences was during our company-wide ‘real talk’ sessions hosted by the Vanguard Black Professional Network (VBPN) this past year. Our real talk sessions included topics ranging from social justice reform to white fragility to micro-aggressions in the workplace. In my entire 10+ year professional career, I had never had the opportunity to take part in such triggering, yet vulnerable conversations as these at work. VBPN provided safe and productive environments for members of the Vanguard community to talk about race, social economic status, family background and mental health, all during one of the most traumatic periods of our country’s history. Importantly, these conversations have not stopped there—they have effectively transcended managerial, team, department, and divisional level conversations. Just this past February, our Chief Investment Officer, Greg Davis, emphasized a need for the entire investment management community to do the work required to make our industry a safer and more inclusive environment for everyone. From the most junior crew to the c-suite, it is clear that, while we have a ways to go, Vanguard is making an intentional effort to make this industry a more inclusive place. As a Black woman and leader at Vanguard, this is something that I truly value.
What is one piece of advice that you would give to someone considering joining either our MBA internship or full-time rotational program?
Do the personal reflection work to truly understand the following question: Why Vanguard? Don’t limit your reflection to what you can give or get out of the rotation program, but focus on the impact you can have near and far, local and globally, at an organization such as Vanguard. Think about the community and environments you thrive in most. As a participant in our Leadership Development Rotation Program, you will have access to various people and resources to help you shape and chart the next course in your professional journey.
If you are interested in learning more or applying to our MBA Leadership Development – Internship opportunities, please visit our MBA page.
What I learned from my summer with Vanguard
Each year we’re amazed by the tremendous contributions of our College to Corporate interns. Our goal is to provide extensive training, real-world experience, hands-on opportunities, and mentorship from professionals. In this video, you can hear directly from the interns about their summer of learning, teamwork, camaraderie, and volunteering.
Interested in exploring our internship opportunities? Click here.
Insights from our College to Corporate interns
The Vanguard 2021 College to Corporate Interns have nearly finished their virtual time at Vanguard this summer. They’ve brought fresh ideas to the table while living #LifeatVanguard through teamwork, volunteering, camaraderie, and learning. In this blog, our interns provide advice for candidates and discuss their journey to Vanguard.
What advice do you have for students or entry-level candidates who are interested in Vanguard?
Make connections as often as you can. You never know when someone will be able to help you in the future, and hopefully you will be able to do the same for them. Making a positive impact on your peers goes a long way! – Christopher L.
Connect and message recruiters on LinkedIn! When I discovered the Emerging Leader Development Program (ELDP), I messaged the current ELDP cadre and nearly every recruiter on LinkedIn. Not all of them saw my message—but many did. They were so helpful and even recommended the College to Corporate Internship that I hadn’t known about. – Ryan M.
Be interested, be humble, and be authentic. – David D.
My favorite advice during my recruitment process with Vanguard was two-pronged. One was the fundamental principle of the fiduciary mission: It’s always all about the client. Our purpose is to help clients in any way they need. The second often goes hand in hand with the first: Absorb as much information as possible from as many resources as you can. A huge, unique part of Vanguard as an institution is the wealth of information available to this wonderful peer community of financial advisors. These resources are meant to help advisors help other advisors, and in turn, to help those advisors help clients. – Mattia A.
If you’re interested in Vanguard, I would definitely recommend reaching out to any of the crew! Everyone here is welcoming and willing to talk with you. They’re all super understanding and candid about their experiences, which is very beneficial when you are trying to find a firm out of college. – Rebecca C.
If you’re interested in Vanguard, reach out to crew members whose jobs you’re interested in! Almost everyone here will be eager to set time aside to tell you about their job and give you tips about working at Vanguard. – Ethan R.
Apply early! Reach out to Vanguard employees to build relationship and a network even before you need a job. – Julia K.
Summarize your journey to Vanguard.
The main thing that attracted me to Vanguard is the culture. The idea of putting others first is present both internally and externally—making sure that our clients as well as our colleagues are provided with the resources they need to be successful. – Christopher L.
I was attracted to Vanguard because of how my family and I have been treated as clients. I want to work for a company that cares for the people it serves and has a strong sense of obligation to those it serves. – Ryan M.
I was primarily drawn to Vanguard because its reputation and mission are unmatched within the financial services industry. Since 1975, our leaders have made every major and minor decision with the best interests of our investors at the forefront. – David D.
For as long as I’ve envisioned my career path, I’ve been passionate about people and about investments. Vanguard has gifted me the opportunity to learn to help the average investor figure out how to send their kids to college, to retire, and to achieve their personal idea of optimal return on life —with a minor in portfolio implementation. 🙂 – Mattia A.
Vanguard came to an event at my school, and the people were so kind and welcoming. They talked about the positive culture and inclusivity at the firm as well as the focus on community, so I knew I had to apply. – Rebecca C.
In my freshman year of college, I met a crew member and he spoke so highly of Vanguard that I scheduled a visit to the Malvern campus for a career trip. That day I learned all about Vanguard’s culture and people and concluded that I wanted to work there. – Ethan R.
During my freshman year of college, I was given the opportunity to attend an Explore Day. During that experience I met with so many wonderful crew who had only good things to say about Vanguard. – Julia K.
Advice from crew about starting a new job
After four years on a college campus, it’s time to move on to a different type of campus in the working world. You’ve taken the classes, earned the grades and learned many of the skills you’ll need for your new job, but it’s still probably an uncertain time for you. We’ve put together some tips from our crew to help you prepare for your new position in the workforce.
When starting a new job, I have two tips that can make all the difference. First, onboarding at any organization entails an enormous amount of information coming to you in a short period of time. I suggest re-reading and saving all emails you receive early on to ensure you get the details that might be missed when reviewing the materials the first time around. Secondly, but most importantly, is to purposefully network and make connections; it will help tremendously with feeling engaged and welcomed. – Allison D.
Starting a new role is extremely exciting but can also be overwhelming. I would recommend setting some goals to accomplish within your first months. It is also important to make new connections, so schedule time with peers and key stakeholders to begin building solid relationships. This is also a great opportunity to learn from them, so be prepared to ask questions! Further, be sure to define what success looks like with your manager and get to know them better. Lastly, taking initiative and fully immersing yourself in the role will only set you up for success! – Julie G.
Ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask what you might think is a silly question. If you ask that question, you’re not the first and won’t be the last. Be sure to review your new-hire benefits packet and onboarding resources before your hire date to be as prepared as you can. Familiarize yourself with the resources on your company intranet and with the support teams they have available. Be patient with yourself and your leaders in this virtual environment. We’re all learning to adapt to what the future of work will look like. – Keara F.
When I have started new roles at Vanguard, the first thing I did was set up meetings with key partners across all of the departments and divisions that I knew I would work with regularly. A coffee chat can really build rapport for when you need to come together on a future project. My other piece of advice: Observe but remember you’re in the role because your leaders see the potential in you! Do not be afraid to speak up when you identify opportunities to improve a process or outcome. – Aimee K.
Ask each person you meet for an additional name or two to do overviews with to develop your business acumen and pick up on new skills. – Ashley C.
My advice is related to your mindset. If you start a role thinking you won’t be successful, chances are you won’t. If you acknowledge you’ll have a learning curve but remind yourself of the tools you have in your toolkit to help you succeed, you’ll draw upon them when faced with adversity. I came to Vanguard very anxious about studying for the Series 7 exam (this was before the introduction of the SIE) and I found myself making assumptions about the hardest parts of the Client Relationship Associate role, including investment guidance conversations. For the first 3 – 6 months, I avoided those conversations to the best of my ability and actually made it harder on myself! Once I acknowledged the fear, but reminded myself of my qualifications, I found them to be my favorite part of the job. I even started having those conversations in Spanish! – Mike B.
It’s ok to make mistakes! The professional world can be very different from the classroom, you may have to experiment with different approaches before you get it right. Professional development is all about learning and developing best practices! – Sarah H.
Jun Oh’s perspective: Vanguard’s MBA Development Program
Recruiting for MBA students is an extremely competitive landscape. Decisions are based on prior work experience and role compatibility, geographic variances, industry preferences, total compensation, benefits, and more. So, what is it about Vanguard’s MBA Leadership Development Program that has both attracted and retained this high-potential talent?
We took a deeper dive into this question and asked Vanguard crew members who participated in the MBA Leadership Development Program to recap their experience and share what initially attracted them to Vanguard and what keeps them feeling fulfilled in their roles. In this second installment of a three-part series, we highlight the experience of Jun Oh Y.
What was the biggest thing that drew you to Vanguard as you were seeking full-time opportunities?
I knew that Vanguard was the right next step for my career when I saw how they treated their crew members. My previous work experience at large financial service firms prior to business school taught me that emphasizing the employee experience in writing and having it embedded in the organization are two different things. With Vanguard, I experienced first-hand the level of support and investment Vanguard was making toward its crew members during my internship, and when it came time to decide where to head after business school, the decision came easily.
Vanguard’s MBA Leadership Development Program is rotational in nature, and also unique in that they solicit the business to understand where the needs are for MBA talent. So one experience can be different from another. What teams were you able to support during your 15 month rotation?
My MBA rotation experience was broad, dynamic, and fulfilling. I couldn’t have asked for a better overall experience. My three rotations were with: Enterprise Advice, Corporate Strategy, and Investment Risk.
What were some roles/responsibilities that your day-to-day consisted of?
While rotating through Enterprise Advice, I worked in Advice Product Strategy and Management, in the financial planning product sleeve. This rotation focused on exploring the applicability of a new scenario planning tool and building a model to better estimate end client usage of our advice products. With a good mix of a broad new subject matter and quantitative analysis, my first rotation helped lay the groundwork for my Vanguard journey.
I further expanded my understanding of Vanguard in my second rotation in Corporate Strategy, where I worked with various teams across the enterprise and divisional level in Data and Analytics, International, our Institutional Investor Group, and Business Development. My second rotation was quite dynamic in coverage and helped me better understand the business, along with our biggest priorities.
To round out my experience, my third rotation was closer to investments in the Risk Management Group, where I was tasked with re-vamping our Reasonably Anticipated Trade Size methodology in our Liquidity Risk Management program.
What was the most significant project you worked on?
When I was working on re-vamping our Reasonably Anticipated Trade Size methodology in our Liquidity Risk Management program, the new methodology was to impact the liquidity classifications across our hundreds of funds and had downstream impact in regulatory reporting as well as how we would look at liquidity risk going forward. Having the chance to contribute to such a highly visible and impactful program was very fulfilling.
What was the most impactful takeaway from the rotational program?
The most impactful takeaway is that we are expected to ask a lot of questions and bring our diverse opinions to the table. The program was designed to bring outside talent in. I believe those in the program should consider the rotations as an opportunity to develop these skills and bring it to their launch roles.
What was the biggest challenge you faced?
Switching between different project methodologies by balancing execution and upfront planning were a challenge. Given the expedited timeline of the rotational program, I initially tried to define an exact scope and specific internal milestones for every engagement. However, with the iterative nature of the larger projects, I came to realize that the flexibility of an agile methodology with consistent involvement from cross functional teams would produce a better, more efficient outcome. Fortunately, the opportunities to practice this skill – identifying which types of projects would most benefit from these two opposing approaches— and becoming proficient in it, ultimately helped me secure my current launch role.
What is keeping you fulfilled in your current role at Vanguard?
The two things that keep me at Vanguard are the people and Vanguard’s attitude toward development. When I was rotating in Enterprise Advice, a fellow crew member mentioned how “unconditional positive regard” helps him work through differences of opinion in meetings. This concept of acceptance and support regardless of opinion, with the acknowledgement that we are all on the same team, neatly summarizes my interactions with my colleagues. It is so refreshing to see how everyone in the room is working toward the common goal, without pretext. Along with such an amiable work environment, Vanguard’s support for learning and development, both in and outside of work, sets it apart. The various support networks and resources we have available helped me further expand not only my subject matter expertise, but also made me feel more like a member of the broader Vanguard family.
What is one piece of advice that you would give to someone considering joining either our MBA internship or full-time rotational program?
Take full advantage of the MBA program network! We have quite a few folks that have gone through the program before us with wonderful nuggets of wisdom to share. I learned a tremendous amount from them and made some great friends in the process.
If you are interested in learning more or applying to our MBA Leadership Development – Internship opportunities, please visit our MBA page .
Please check out our first installment of this series to learn about Chantee’s experience with Vanguard’s MBA Internship Program.
Chantee’s perspective:
Vanguard’s MBA Internship Program
Recruiting for MBA students is an extremely competitive landscape. Decisions are based on prior work experience and role compatibility, geographic variances, industry preferences, total compensation, benefits, and more. So, what is it about Vanguard’s MBA Leadership Development Program that has both attracted and retained this high-potential talent?
We took a deeper dive into this question and asked Vanguard crew members who participated in the MBA Leadership Development – Internship Program to recap their experience and share what initially attracted them to Vanguard and what keeps them feeling fulfilled in their roles. In this first installment of a three-part series, we highlight the experience of Chantee B.
What was the biggest thing that drew you to Vanguard as you were seeking internship opportunities?
I went to undergraduate school in Philadelphia, so I heard a lot about Vanguard and its culture before pursuing my MBA. Coming from consulting, I had exposure to various financial institutions, but from everything I learned, Vanguard was just different in the way that they treat and care about their crew. I did a lot of research on the firm, and I was interested to find out for myself what life at Vanguard was all about, so I applied and interviewed for the internship. I was then given an offer and I accepted it!
Vanguard’s MBA internship program is unique in that they solicit the business to understand where the needs are for MBA talent, meaning one experience for a participant can be different from another. What team or department were you aligned to during your 10 weeks?
My internship was on the Marketing Solutions team in Vanguard’s Planning and Development division.
What were some roles/responsibilities that your day-to-day consisted of?
Coming into Vanguard, I knew that I wanted to work on a project that would be a stretch experience for me. I had no background in marketing and wanted to learn something new! The project I was assigned was a very strategic initiative for the firm, and it also gave me the opportunity to dive deep into data. Some of my daily roles and responsibilities consisted of engaging key stakeholders to gather information, finding and analyzing pertinent data, and documenting frameworks to create repeatable processes.
What was the most significant project you worked on?
The most significant project that I worked on was helping to achieve cost savings for clients using efficient processes and technology. Marketing is a technology driven function, and during my internship, I analyzed qualitative and quantitative data to make decisions on which marketing tools should be considered for widespread adoption and which should be retired.
What was the most impactful takeaway from the internship program?
Vanguard is a big place! There are a lot of functional areas and domains that you can dive into. On the flip side, it’s still easy to feel at home and part of the team because the firm takes a keen interest in its people.
What was the biggest challenge you faced?
Balancing learning all things Vanguard, while also performing well on my project, was my greatest challenge! After coming back full-time, I’m still learning about the organization! Prioritizing and pacing is key.
What brought you back to Vanguard to explore the full-time MBA Leadership Development Program?
The culture and the people are what brought me back to Vanguard full-time. I met so many amazing individuals over the summer who took the time to invest in me in some way, even though they didn’t know me. I’ve worked on many cool projects during my tenure that have helped with my development as I gain new skills, but it’s the people who helped along the way that matters the most.
What is one piece of advice that you would give to someone considering joining either our MBA internship or full-time rotational program?
Network! Talk to previous interns and MBA program participants to gain an understanding of their experiences. And once you come to Vanguard, don’t stop networking! During my summer internship I learned that crew love to participate in coffee chats, and that didn’t stop in the virtual environment! I have continued to network and schedule time with crew and leaders to learn about their journeys as well as different areas within Vanguard.
If you are interested in learning more or applying to our MBA Leadership Development – Internship opportunities, please visit our MBA page.
How Vanguard supports long-term career growth
Vanguard supports the long-term career growth of our crew through an internal mobility process, as well as mentorships and upskilling resources. I have the privilege of leading a Talent Acquisition team of internal recruiters in Human Resources who are dedicated to delivering a transparent and equitable hiring process for our crew. In this blog, I’ll be sharing insights into our offerings, as well as feedback from key stakeholders.
A look at internal recruiting
Internal roles are posted to our enterprise career site, and recruiters facilitate the process by ensuring all applicants are reviewed and calibrated, and that candidates interviewed receive feedback. Further, recruiters consult interview teams on the importance of diversity, awareness of unconscious bias, and why strong interview feedback is critical for career mobility. Our Talent Acquisition team fills more than 2,500 job opportunities a year through crew mobility and advancement.
“In my role as an internal recruiter, I am fortunate to experience firsthand the myriad of career opportunities available to Vanguard crew. Playing a part of the career development process is such a gratifying and meaningful aspect of my job. Vanguard truly encourages and supports career mobility and I am proud to contribute to that effort.” – Kris C., Recruiter
“The managers whom I’ve interviewed with have been very receptive to follow up conversations about my interviews and how and where I can improve. These conversations are the best way for me to fully understand and learn where my opportunities for growth are. Interview feedback has been incredibly helpful and has allowed me to land the job I’m applying for.” – Sam R., Internal candidate
Development opportunities through Crew Resource Groups
My team has a front row seat to observe crew investing in their professional development through enterprise resources and supports them in taking actions that will enable them to advance in their careers. Crew participate in our Crew Resource Groups (CRGs), such as Leadership and Engagement for Asian Professionals (LEAP), Open Professional Engagement Network (OPEN), Hispanic/Latinx Organization for Leadership and Advancement (HOLA), Women’s Initiative for Leadership Success (WILS), and Vanguard Black Professional Network (VBPN), as well as our Vets Connect group, to receive 1-on-1 mentoring, coaching, and business training. Crew leverage CRG opportunities to support their Vanguard and local communities and grow professionally.
“I am a member of the Vanguard Black Professional Network (VBPN), one of the many crew resource groups available that fosters inclusivity and career progression. Through VBPN, I was assigned a mentor, a senior leader who helped me increase my networking opportunities. Through her guidance, I was able to navigate interviews and land my current role. There are a lot of CRG collaborations across the different groups, which creates a broader network for crew mobility.” – Agnes E., CRG mentee
“I joined multiple CRGs soon after beginning my Vanguard career. I quickly discovered that the mentorship programs are a wonderful way for new employees to forge long-term bonds with more tenured employees. I was grateful to be partnered with a mentor in VBPN and a mentor in WILS. Both mentors have been instrumental in my career growth and have provided thoughtful guidance, support and friendship throughout my time at Vanguard.” – Tammarra W., CRG mentor
Our annual Career Expo
In addition to the opportunities mentioned above, the internal recruiting team recently partnered with our CRG community to host Vanguard’s third annual internal Career Expo, which went 100% virtual for the first time in 2020. The expo featured ways to fuel your career during a season of change with over 60 virtual booths. During the event, crew were invited to build business acumen, network virtually, and develop skills in relation to career mobility. Over 2,700 crew registered to attend the Vanguard Career Expo and enjoyed learning about job opportunities, as well as Vanguard upskilling resources.
“The Global Risk & Security (GR&S) division has gone through a transformation over the past two years in order to ensure that the risk management support we provide to our various business lines keeps up with the dynamic and evolving industry in which we operate, and that we continue to protect and steward client assets. The career expo provided a fantastic opportunity for me as a leader to share insights into the work happening every day in GR&S, the shifting risk landscape, and how our crew are partnering with the businesses to meet strategic goals. Crew were able to attend overview sessions to learn more about the division and identify potential career areas of interest. We are always looking to hire talented crew into GR&S!” – Marissa B., Business lead
Resources for enhancing your skills
As for upskilling resources, Vanguard recently introduced Degreed to crew. Degreed is Vanguard’s learning experience platform and is a “one stop learning shop” that fits into the flow of normal work. With Degreed, crew get smarter in skills aligned to their career path with seamless integration of articles, books, videos, and courses to build needed skills for professional growth and expertise. Degreed is one of many Vanguard tools used to support crew in achieve their personal and professional goals.
“I really like how Degreed integrates a lot of sources and platforms (Harvard publishing podcasts, articles from industry publications, etc.). I already had followed the Harvard Business Review (HBR) Women at Work podcast, so having it in the learning system to check off as a learning task was awesome. Additionally, it allows crew to consider the other learnings that they may already be doing outside the traditional learning platforms.” – Jasmine T., Crew user of Degreed
“Vanguard is dedicated to providing a variety of development opportunities for crew at all levels. From industry certifications and advanced degree programs, to training classes and job rotations, I have personally benefitted from the development offerings. As a business leader who recently transitioned to a new domain, Degreed provided a roadmap for me as I worked to quickly increase acumen in my new role through internal thought leadership, external podcasts and articles, and traditional training classes.” – Marissa B., Leader user of Degreed
Come launch a career at Vanguard and meet my team in your advancement journey!
– Chelsea M.
Want to learn more? Take a few moments and watch this video where five crew talk through their career progression at Vanguard.
Tips and advice when interviewing for User Experience jobs
We recently sat down with Vanguard recruiters and asked them to share tips and best practices for interviews. In this segment of the Recruiter Q&A Series, Tom Riley provides insights and advice for candidates interested in pursuing an opportunity in our Client Experience and Digital group.
Tell me about yourself. How long have you been at Vanguard?
My career at Vanguard started two years ago when I was brought on to support hiring for design talent in our newly formed Client Experience (CX) pillar. CX was formed in January of 2018 to enhance our Retail Investor Group (RIG), Institutional Investor Group (IIG) and Financial Advisor Services (FAS) clients’ and participants’ experiences and build the infrastructure to scale rapid value creation, so that client experience work can live within the business. In summer of 2019, the client journey labs and the divisions were both ready for the labs to move into the business. RIG formed the Client Experience and Digital (CXD) subdivision to support existing RIG labs and create new labs to expand the scope of RIG’s client experience work to more client journeys, as well as key digital platforms and capabilities. IIG’s journey teams support diverse Business to Business (B2B) client segments (traditional institutions, plan sponsors, and consultants). Our FAS labs help improve the client experience with large transactions that are developing a toolset to provide advisors with dynamic portfolio analytics and recommendations.
What has your career journey looked like?
I was always interested in design. I took art classes in high school and considered going to college for Industrial Design. Professionally, I’ve always recruited for design roles going back to things like Computer-Aided Design (CAD), Controls, and Systems Design. My first real experience with Human Centered Design was with a reputable automobile company. There, I really got to see where design was forced to try to empathize with someone else rather than designing something for themselves. They designed something around that person’s wants and needs.
What business area do you recruit for?
At Vanguard I support a number of User Experience (UX) and creative roles for our experience, product and marketing labs in RIG, IIG, and FAS. Positions include UX Designers, Design Strategists, Researchers, Content and Journey/Product Owners. It’s an exciting time for design at Vanguard! Our product and marketing teams are being restructured into pods or labs as we adopt more modern practices such as Agile, Lean and design thinking.
How do you recommend candidates prepare for an interview in this specific field?
If I wanted to prepare myself as a design candidate at Vanguard, my focus would be on having a really solid portfolio. It’s the best way to tell the story of your work and the impact you’ve had. People learn in all sorts of ways. A formal degree in design or user experience is great because it shows you’ve put in the time to get a deep understanding of theory and practice. But a portfolio is how we are going to learn more about you and what you’ve been able to achieve. Here are some tips to consider:
- Tell the full story. Our managers like to see depth and breadth. Your project overviews should summarize the problem statement, process, team makeup, and your role on the team. It’s a red flag when all they see are final mockups with no understanding of how you arrived at that solution.
- Highlight your strength; what’s your superpower? When managers review a portfolio, they are trying to identify your potential strengths. It could be coding, complex interactive design, visual design, or something else. If you are newer to the field, managers will look for previous experience and skills that may be transferable, like the ability to problem-solve and use empathy to understand problems.
- Make sure your portfolio is modern and up to date. Refining your portfolio is a great way to improve your chances of getting a job. The details are super important to make it look put together and organized. Double-check for typos, grammatical errors, proper alignment of elements, etc.
-Tom Riley, User Experience Recruiter
Connect with me on LinkedIn.
More career blogs you may have missed
https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2021/04/27035830/Autism-Awareness.png
889
1336
kunalwagchoray
https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2020/07/VG_WM_S_RGB_v3.png
kunalwagchoray2021-04-28 07:00:112021-04-28 07:00:11Recognizing Autism Awareness Month in IT
https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2021/04/Schuylers-family-640x480-1.jpg
480
640
rumpamala
https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2020/07/VG_WM_S_RGB_v3.png
rumpamala2021-04-21 00:04:222021-04-22 14:24:45Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day
https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2021/04/Chelsea-M-featured.jpg
481
639
kkilgarriff
https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2020/07/VG_WM_S_RGB_v3.png
kkilgarriff2021-04-14 08:34:252021-04-14 08:34:25How Vanguard supports long-term career growth
https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2021/03/gettyimages.jpg
480
640
deepikasharma
https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2020/07/VG_WM_S_RGB_v3.png
deepikasharma2021-03-31 21:54:042021-03-31 21:54:04Vanguard’s enhanced Total Rewards package
https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2021/03/vanguar-choose-to-challenge-featured.png
480
640
kunalwagchoray
https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2020/07/VG_WM_S_RGB_v3.png
kunalwagchoray2021-03-26 10:43:502021-03-30 13:54:34Women’s History Month 2021
https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2021/03/GettyImages-1146500484-640x480-1.jpg
480
640
marcin
https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2020/07/VG_WM_S_RGB_v3.png
marcin2021-03-17 12:02:052021-03-17 12:02:05Networking amidst a pandemic
https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2021/03/Tamara-IWD-Pledge-640x480-1.jpg
480
640
marcin
https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2020/07/VG_WM_S_RGB_v3.png
marcin2021-03-08 16:38:222021-03-08 16:38:22International Women’s Day: #ChoosetoChallenge
https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2021/02/GettyImages-1218488774-1.jpg
480
640
kunalwagchoray
https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2020/07/VG_WM_S_RGB_v3.png
kunalwagchoray2021-02-17 16:10:422021-02-17 16:10:42Tips on team dynamics from a virtual work pioneer
https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2021/02/20191029_174259422_iOS-640x480-1.jpg
480
640
marcin
https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2020/07/VG_WM_S_RGB_v3.png
marcin2021-02-10 12:34:212021-02-10 12:34:21The call that changed it all
https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2021/01/HRR17C_075-640x480-1.jpg
480
640
marcin
https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2020/07/VG_WM_S_RGB_v3.png
marcin2021-02-03 13:25:072021-02-03 14:20:28Best practices for virtual wellness
https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2021/01/20150916_tech_cntrl_QR_062-640x480-1.jpg
480
640
marcin
https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2020/07/VG_WM_S_RGB_v3.png
marcin2021-01-27 12:10:062021-01-28 22:02:31Vanguard’s annual Collaboration Summit
https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2021/01/myce_1mil_fl.png
480
640
kunalwagchoray
https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2020/07/VG_WM_S_RGB_v3.png
kunalwagchoray2021-01-19 00:00:252021-01-21 07:17:05More than just a milestone
https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2020/12/stewardship_featured.png
480
640
jortega
https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2020/07/VG_WM_S_RGB_v3.png
jortega2021-01-06 00:40:312021-01-06 19:15:52Vanguard’s Community Stewardship impact
https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2020/12/best2020_featured.jpg
480
640
marcin
https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2020/07/VG_WM_S_RGB_v3.png
marcin2020-12-17 00:42:472020-12-22 13:45:45Our top careers blogs from 2020
https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2020/12/CN-top-story-Giving-Season.png
480
640
marcin
https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2020/07/VG_WM_S_RGB_v3.png
marcin2020-12-10 12:22:322020-12-10 12:22:57Vanguard’s season of giving
