There’s a famous scene at the end of the movie Cast Away (if you’ve never watched the movie put it on your “to do” list”) in which Tom Hanks is standing in the middle of the crossroads trying to determine which direction he’ll take his life after spending 1,500 days alone on a deserted island. The scene highlights the power of having options and the factors involved with making decisions that shape the direction of lives. The power of choice can never be undervalued. We have so many choices to make in this life and perhaps none more important than what shapes the direction of our careers.

In July 2015, after 11 fantastic and rewarding years with Vanguard, I found myself at a career crossroad. I chose to leave the organization to explore a different path. It was a very difficult decision as I knew what I was leaving behind: the crew, the relationships, the stability, the mission, and the pride in saying I worked for Vanguard. I chose to leave to push myself outside of my comfort zone. I was intent on taking the life and career lessons learned at Vanguard and positively impacting an entrepreneurial start-up organization. I knew what I was leaving behind, left on the best of terms, and was excited by the unknown ahead.

Returning to Vanguard

My career tenure outside Vanguard did not last long. Fast forward 9 months…in April 2016 I returned to Vanguard as a contract recruiter – a return that was possible based on previous performance and the strong relationships I had built during my time with the organization. While there are many reasons why the other career opportunity did not pan out as I had hoped, the lessons learned, both positive and negative, further solidified my drive and passion to return to Vanguard. Most importantly, I learned the value of humility, as I left Vanguard a full time crew member and returned as a contract resource with no guarantee of being rehired as a crew member. Despite the risk, other full time job offers, and lack of guarantee in being rehired, my heart was set on Vanguard. I was eager to reconnect with my peers and positively impact the organization for a second time.

When I share my Vanguard career journey with external candidates and internal crew, I’m always asked the same question: “Why did you come back to Vanguard?” It’s a fair question as people don’t often return to a former employer. My “why” can be categorized in three key groups: the people, the purpose, and the possibilities.

The People

Vanguard’s people (crew, contractors, interns, etc.) drive business initiatives and innovations that positively impact our shareholders. Throughout my collective 13 years with Vanguard, I am grateful to have worked with smart, inventive, engaged, passionate, and dedicated people who have helped me grow personally and professionally. In turn, they have become my best friends, confidants, teachers, counselors, and extension of my family. I am also grateful to have led so many talented professionals. Watching their growth and development is as equally rewarding as my own career success.

The Purpose

Vanguard’s continued commitment to clients, crew, and community is unwavering. It’s rewarding to work for an organization that strives to put the best interest of clients first, provides rewarding career opportunities for its crew, and consistently serves our surrounding communities. The business initiatives, strategies, and innovations implemented at Vanguard are done to create the best possible experience for our shareholders. For crew who make a personal commitment to own their career journey, perform well in their existing role, and continuously push themselves to learn, opportunities await – whether it’s interesting projects, coaching and mentoring, or a new position. Lastly, I am proud to work for an organization where supporting our communities by volunteering our time, talent, and treasure is part of our cultural fabric and not an organizational obligation.

The Possibilities

I originally started my Vanguard career as an entry-level Processing Associate. In the subsequent years, through hard work and taking an active role in my development, I’ve built a successful career in Human Resources in both individual and leadership roles. I’ve gained something from each of my positions at Vanguard while embracing the challenges of new roles and pushing myself outside my comfort zone. I define career possibilities as the opportunity to combine my passions with organizational needs and openings. With hard work, initiative, and an open mind, there are no limits to what your career can be at Vanguard.

At some point in our lives we are all in the same position as Tom Hanks’ character in Cast Away. Each of us will encounter a career crossroads at some point in our lives. Defining your “why” is a critical step in determining the path you take. I have taken the road less traveled and my “why” has allowed me to come back home to Vanguard. The very last words spoken in Cast Away are “thank you”. The words simplify the gratitude Hanks’ character had for his journey and the ability to determine his path – regardless of which road he chooses. Thank you Vanguard for allowing me to choose the road less traveled and ultimately to choose the road back home.

-Chris E.

If you’re seeking an environment where you can make a difference and develop professionally, check out our career opportunities at www.vanguardjobs.com.

I’ve always believed that in order to grow, you must first step outside of your comfort zone. So, in 2015 I decided to take a leap of faith. I had graduated from college in 2013 with an undergraduate degree in Marketing and was working in Media and Advertising Sales. Honestly, I loved it. But, I reached a critical point in my professional career where I felt ready to advance.

I had a decision to make. I could either stay put and hope a promotion opportunity arose in the next 2 years—Or I could take a step back and transition to another company with vast opportunities for advancement and growth.

Somehow, I moved from a career in Media and Advertising Sales to Financial Services. I started my Vanguard journey in Retail Services as a Client Relationship Associate in October 2015, where I spent time servicing our direct Retail investors and learning the ‘ins and outs’ of Vanguard and the financial services industry. Once I was comfortable with my role, I started branching out and seeking opportunities to network and explore career paths. I started saving job postings that interested me and taking note of hiring managers who I wanted to meet. I found this was a great way to demonstrate genuine interest and learn more about the various departments across the organization.

After 10 months as a Client Relationship Associate I moved over to Select Services where I piloted a 3-month internal internship program. The program was an opportunity for Client Relationship Associates to further develop their relationship management skills and expand their investment and business acumen. Furthermore, the internship program established a talent pipeline within Retail Services to facilitate career mobility. After successfully completing my internship, I was hired as a full-time Select Services Investment Professional.  In this role I gained exposure to high-net-worth clients and deepened client relationships by pairing investors with Vanguard financial advisors and assisting with asset consolidation. Outside of my normal daily responsibilities, I had opportunities to represent the department and host several “sit-withs” and overviews with senior leaders from across Vanguard who were looking to gain insight into Select’s business model. This was a great opportunity to positively affect change and have an impact on future business decisions. I used these opportunities to showcase my skills and provide meaningful, real-time feedback on daily operations.

Upon joining Select Services, my team leader took a proactive approach in aligning my skill set and career aspirations with department initiatives, such as joining a communication council for our Retail Investor Group. The council’s goal is to maintain an open line of communication amongst client-facing crew, Marketing Managers, and User Experience Designers to ensure Vanguard is providing the best-in-class digital client experience. This was a fulfilling experience because I was viewed as a subject matter expert and I felt that my opinion mattered.

What’s next? At this point, I’ve been at Vanguard for about 2 years and already held two full-time positions and an internship, built a network, and had opportunities to provide value to the business.

Currently, I work as a Senior Relationship Analyst in Retirement Plan Client Services. In this capacity I am now supporting Relationship Managers and helping Vanguard to deepen relationships with our Institutional clients. Learning an entirely different business is challenging, but my Retail acumen and my skill set from my previous career allows me to add value in a unique way.

In short, that “leap” turned out to be a great investment.

-Glover C.

If you’re seeking an environment where you can make a difference and develop professionally, check out our career opportunities at www.vanguardjobs.com.

In my last blog, I shared with you the moment I knew leaving the world of architecture behind for personal finance was the right move. This is how I was inspired to come to Vanguard.

In the fall of 2012, my school awarded John Bogle the “Pioneer Award” for his efforts in starting the Index Fund and persevering through the hard road for this phenomenon to catch on. Here I was sitting, on the edge of my seat of course, several feet from a titan of finance!

After the Q&A session, I had the pleasure of having lunch with Mr. Bogle and his team. He autographed my copy of The Little Book of Common Sense Investing and shared a few more stories. Later that day, I helped him carry his Pioneer Award and a large framed painting of a ship from Great Britain’s Royal Navy to his vehicle. I also made sure to tuck my resume in the portfolio of one of his recruiters.

Several emails and a few college transcripts later, I landed an interview with Vanguard’s Business Development Group. By this time, I was a pro in navigating Vanguard’s campus as I had visited during one of their EXPLORE days. Two weeks later, after the phone screen and four hour interview I was offered a full time position. Not only was I going to start my career with a top investment management firm, but I ended my job search before I even graduated!

After several weeks on Vanguard’s campus in Malvern, PA, I felt at home. Now I knew why so many investors trusted Vanguard with their life savings. Everyone from peers to leaders was dedicated to helping not only our clients but also crew members like myself, grow as professionals. The management team was engaged in my development and my peer coach was ready to provide job aids and resources to help get me off the runway.

By the end of 2013, the economy was continuing to stabilize, cash flows into Vanguard were steadily increasing, and the phones were ringing off the hook. Vanguard announced they were rebranding its advice offer, now calling it Personal Advisor Services® and that it was going to revolutionize the world of advice. We were going to provide high-quality, low-cost advice to millions and I couldn’t wait to be a part of this investment revolution!

Shortly after the announcement, I began studying for the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification. I was amazed to see how interconnected all of the financial planning topics were. With this amazement came a sense of need, knowing that these are real areas where people struggle. I experienced firsthand my family and friends scratching their heads and guessing at how to allocate their portfolios, determining how much they’ll need to comfortably retire, or even recite the definition of a balance sheet. Personal Advisor Services® was my shot at helping the masses get their financial lives on track.

After spending two years working in sales, going toe-to-toe with the competition, I was headed to Personal Advisor Services®. Again, my peers and leadership team went right to work on helping me get up to speed on the new technology, investment methodology, and best practices of managing the relationships I would build as an advisor. Now, with a few years of giving advice under my belt, I couldn’t imagine doing this for any other firm!

Looking back at it all, I know I made the right decision. I never thought I could develop the relationships I have with my colleagues, leaders, and company in the way that I do now. It’s been five years since I first stepped foot on Vanguard’s campus and believe it or not, I still get that day one feeling.

And John Bogle and I are on a first name basis.

-Gary S.

If you’re seeking an environment where you can make a difference and develop professionally, learn about our careers in advice at www.vanguardjobs.com.

Growing up, toy blocks ruled my world. Spaceships, sky scrapers, submarines – you name it, I built it. So… it came as no surprise to Mom when I declared I wanted to be an architect when I grew up. It made a lot of sense why I would choose this profession. I was the kid who was passionately curious about everything. The kid who asked for tools as Christmas gifts. The kid who hooked up the VCR at age 4. I was also the kid who took all the screws out of the dining room table, resulting in us ordering takeout that night. I had the brain of an engineer, the soul of an artist, and a mother at her wits’ end.

Fast forward to 2007. High school was in my rear view mirror and I was heading off to college to study the works of Frank Lloyd Wright, Zaha Hadid, and I. M. Pei. When grades were posted over winter break, Mom’s flashbacks of my childhood antics slowly dissipated after seeing a 3.6 GPA. I finished out the rest of my freshman year strong and had one of my designs featured in our school’s newspaper. Despite all of the hard work and long road ahead of me, I was feeling good about my decision to study architecture.

In the fall of 2008, things started to feel different. Internship postings on our school’s career website began disappearing, newspaper headlines warned of troubling times in the housing market, and I could see an uneasiness in almost every adult I knew, including Mom. By the end of the year, the S&P 500 was down nearly 40%, the unemployment rate was on its way to doubling, and the world was in a panic.

My engineering mind needed to know what was happening and more importantly, WHY? I began reading financial websites, looking for answers. After asking almost every adult I knew “what’s going on?” I discovered that no one, other than those who had a hand in it, knew what was happening. When the market finally bottomed in March of 2009, the mystery was over. The subprime mortgage lending business, the securitization of risky bank products, and Wall Street’s greed led to the greatest recession of our modern world. It would take years for the economy and housing market to recover. My dream of becoming an architect was over.

In the fall of 2009, I did what every logical 19 year old would do after a global financial meltdown. I changed my major to finance. I wanted those around me to have a resource to lean on for financial help. After a few semesters, I learned about the world of personal finance and was again energized to make a difference. It wasn’t until a college professor assigned The Little Book of Common Sense Investing by John Bogle that I realized how murky the waters of financial planning were. Virtually anyone could market themselves as an investment advisor as long as they had a nice suit, firm handshake, and knew a joke to put your mind at ease. So what could I do about it?

Stay tuned for Part 2, where I share how I met the man who changed the investment world and inspired me to join Vanguard.

-Gary S.

If you’re seeking an environment where you can make a difference and develop professionally, learn about our careers at www.vanguardjobs.com.

As an undergraduate, I was lucky to have taken a class taught by Charles P. Kindleberger, who was instrumental in creating the Marshall Plan, which provided aid for Europe’s reconstruction after World War II. I was excited to hear from a professor who was not strictly an academic but actually had practical experience in economics.  To this day, I have no recollection if Prof. Kindleberger discussed rebuilding Western Europe, but I vividly recall his engaging and humorous chronicling of history’s financial crises. He had me at manias long before I heard of irrational exuberance. So began a lifelong interest in the psychology of the financial markets.

An introduction to finance

Upon graduation, I began work at a private bank in New York where I got to sit at a very large mahogany desk, fill in ledgers with numbers, and occasionally use a relatively new computer program called Lotus 1-2-3.   The work was tedious, which would have been OK for an entry-level position, but the culture lacked a soul and slowly eroded my enthusiasm for the finance profession. Perhaps I was naïve, but I wanted a job where I left the office most days feeling as if I had made just one person’s life a bit easier. As my disenchantment grew, one Monday in October, things got interesting. The institutional brokers that sat across from me were smoking more than usual, executives were leaving their offices, and the normally staid atmosphere took on a frenetic air.  By the end of the day, the Dow Jones was down by 22%.  To me this meant nothing. I barely had money in my checking account, let alone the stock market.  But I did get to witness history firsthand, a real live market crash. I quit several months later, feeling free to pursue something more meaningful.

A circuitous route

Photography had always been a hobby of mine. While I figured out whether to go to business school or law school, I took a job in the photo library of The Associated Press. Immediately, it felt like home. My new colleagues were intellectually curious and incredibly dedicated. We had, dare I say, fun? There was never a doubt that we had a mission to accurately and objectively inform the world. A job that was supposed to be a bridge to graduate school turned into a 19-year career where I got to travel the world and gain a global perspective from my colleagues both here and abroad.

In 2007, my position was eliminated. Initially I was a little disoriented but I left the office that day determined to pursue an old career in a new and profound way. I was going to become a certified financial planner.

Persistence pays

In 2014, I read that Vanguard was rolling out advisory services for 30 bps. I’ve primarily worked at fee-only firms that believe in low costs and extraordinary client service (fee-only firms have a fiduciary responsibility to act in their clients’ best interest). The only difference was that my current firm was charging 100 bps. I immediately wanted to be part of this. Vanguard’s approach was going to change the landscape of the industry and bring advice to millions in a cost effective way. So, I interviewed for a senior financial advisor position and was excited to start my new job. Unfortunately, it’s hard to begin a new position when you haven’t been hired.  I knew I was a perfect fit for Vanguard, but as with many things in life, the timing was not right.

But persistence paid off, and in 2018, I started working at Vanguard as a financial advisor.  I’ve finally found a place that combines my love of finance and psychology with the qualities of the best mission-based organizations.  As with my journalism colleagues, our crew is dedicated to goals beyond individual accolades, share their knowledge freely, and understand that the best work is a result of collaboration and diverse ideas. I’m excited about what we can do for advice as a company as well as looking forward to the many opportunities I have as a Vanguard crew member. Whether that means being a mentor, obtaining my CFA, or working with external financial advisors—the possibilities are endless.

Since I’ve joined Vanguard, I finally have that feeling I was searching for – that each day I leave the office knowing I’ve made someone’s life just a bit easier.

If you’re seeking an environment where you can make a difference and develop professionally, check out our careers in advice at www.vanguardjobs.com.

In my last blog, I shared with you why working at Vanguard has meant so much to me, including my journey and resiliency throughout the job hiring process, to officially onboard as a Vanguard crew member. When I share this story with friends, peers, or family, I inevitably get one question, “Was it worth it?”

After reflecting on this question, a few things come to mind:

Constant learning

From day one, I was fully aware that I had a very basic understanding of the financial industry. I was hired alongside people with advanced degrees and years of experience. But I needn’t have worried – Vanguard offers a thorough training program, allowing me and my peers to work on our financial acumen skillsets, and eventually talk confidently to clients about their portfolios. If Vanguard can take someone like me and make them financially literate, I know they can do the same for you.

Caring co-workers

Although I only had one formal mentor growing up, I’ve had many great examples in my life who have inspired me to become who I am today. Since starting at Vanguard, I’m continually impressed with the responses I get from my fellow crew, some of whom are much higher up the chain of command than I, yet still take the time to answer my questions and counsel me on my career development. My own leader meets with me regularly to discuss my career aspirations and is the type of leader I want to become one day. It feels great to work at a place that has so much support, opportunity, and interest in my professional future.

Nearly one year later

Now as I write this, sitting at my desk here in Vanguard’s Scottsdale office, I am so thankful that I was determined in my endeavor to get hired by Vanguard. Because of the work and effort I put in, I have a job that provides for me and my family, I am an employee of an institution I trust, and I have a stellar team of peers who support me and drive Vanguard’s values forward.

So, yes. It was worth it.

-Joseph R.

If you’re seeking an environment where you can make a difference and develop professionally, check out career opportunities at www.vanguardjobs.com.

“Thank you for coming in to interview with Vanguard, unfortunately…”

I didn’t get the job.

I felt like my world was over.

This was me in 2016: I was approaching my last semester of college and had no job lined up. I had also just found out my wife was pregnant. Needless to say, it was a very challenging and frightening time. And even though being declined for a job feels lousy, I knew immediately I would apply again.

You’re probably thinking, why reapply at a company that rejected you? Truthfully, I’ve always been fascinated with Vanguard! I come from a single-parent home with a tough military-widowed mother. My mother did an exceptional job raising three kids, however, I never had a good understanding of how investing works. In college, I would observe personal finance classes and try to glean as much info as I could. The more I researched, the more intrigued I became with the process of choosing investments wisely and setting appropriate goals. I also came to understand how much people trusted in Vanguard and came to really believe in its mission to stand up for ALL investors. I knew that if I had to start my finance career anywhere, I needed to start it at Vanguard.

So I applied again, and again I was called in to interview. This time, I focused on a set of principles to help demonstrate the interests and abilities I felt made me a good fit for the company:

Assertiveness.

You have to show your passion in both words and actions. During the interview, I discussed starting my own consulting practice to gain more experience in the consulting space. I shared what I learned from taking on such a big endeavor and how it related to the role I desired.

Dedication.

After you’ve shown that you can confidently take initiative, can you endure? While at school I was passionate about business and social impact and found an organization that combined both. By an interesting turn of events, I became the president of the organization. Although I was new, I didn’t let my naïveté slow me down and was able to lead the group through several projects. I shared in my interview how these experiences trained me to face demanding situations successfully.

Self-awareness

I’m a firm believer that hard work over an extended period of time can yield great results. When I was first turned down by Vanguard, I made sure to keep my skills fresh and gain knowledge: I enrolled in a career prep class to enhance my interviewing skills. I studied everything I could about Vanguard: their products and services, their marketing style, and their culture. I even brought a portfolio of my past projects and an academic manuscript to show that I could dedicate myself to Vanguard and its mission.

A couple weeks after the next round of interviews, I got THE call again:

(drumroll please)

I was being offered a position in the company! It was a lot of effort and a long wait, but achieving the goal I had worked so hard for is indescribable.

So, was my journey worth it? Has it been everything I hoped it would be? Stay tuned for part two where I’ll share what it’s like to work at Vanguard – and how I feel now that I’m hired.

-Joseph R.

If you enjoyed this post, check out more from our #LifeatVanguard Blog. And if you’re ready for a more rewarding, engaging, meaningful career, search our opportunities at www.vanguardjobs.com.

Michael P. is a Senior Investment Analyst in the Portfolio Review Department. He is an alumnus of Vanguard’s MBA Leadership Development Program and is originally from Seoul, South Korea. This is Michael’s story of why he joined Vanguard and what he learned along the way.

A surprising introduction

One evening during my first year at Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, I attended a company presentation led by two Vanguard crew members. I still vividly remember the presentation, as it was quite different from what I expected. Rather than talking about how many assets Vanguard manages and how Vanguard funds are performing, the two crew members spent most of their time talking about the collaborative culture of the firm and how they are structured to do the right thing for clients.

I was instantly intrigued, as having been in the asset management industry for most of my career, I saw right away that Vanguard was a different kind of company. I found out my instincts were right after I joined the firm as a member of the MBA Leadership Development Program. Every crew member I’ve spoken with knew and believed in what the company stands for. It was refreshing to be part of an organization that is dedicated to the investment success of investors all around the world.

A 7,000 mile transition

Becoming a Vanguard crew member meant that there was a lot of change ahead for me. On a personal level, I got to settle down in my new home in suburban Philadelphia, 7,000 miles away from my hometown in Seoul, South Korea. At a professional level, I was eager to take on new challenges through the rotational program and expand my perspectives beyond my previous experience as a fixed income portfolio manager.

With that in mind, I took my first rotation in a product development research role in the Portfolio Review Department. Conducting research and drafting proposals to launch new products was quite different from trading bonds, but I was able to pick up a lot of new skills and enjoyed every moment of it. After my time in the MBA program ended, I launched in my current role as a Senior Investment Analyst.

Things I learned along the way

It’s hard for me to fully appreciate how lucky I was to have this journey from Korea to Vanguard’s headquarters in Malvern, PA. Reflecting back on my experiences, here are a few things I picked up that helped me along the way:

1. Be open-minded to new opportunities. The rotations of the MBA program are well suited to help you experience the various ways you can impact our shareholders’ financial well-being. Like me, you might find a new area of passion and learn new skills in the process.

2. Be aware that there are many people who are invested in helping you, and don’t hesitate to ask. I was consistently surprised how many crew members around me, both leaders and peers, placed my professional growth and development as one of their top priorities. This was a critical factor behind my successful transition.

3. Be ambitious. Here at Vanguard, we are excited about how much more we can do to fulfill our mission of helping investors achieve their goals. This is where every crew member’s extraordinary effort, wisdom, and enthusiasm makes a real difference. Are you ready to bring yours?

If you enjoyed this post, check out more from our #LifeatVanguard Blog! And if you want to learn more about our MBA Development Program, visit www.vanguardjobs.com or our YouTube channel to watch program participant videos.

After working as an engineer for over 12 years, I decided to completely change careers and pursue my MBA full time.  Why? I wanted to do work that I was good at, and passionate about.  The thought of making a major career pivot was exciting, complex and risky at the same time. Where could I combine my aspirations for general management with my passion for helping people with their personal finances?  Is it possible to transfer the skills that I acquired as a manufacturing engineer, technical sales engineer, and product manager? Or would I have to start over?  How would I get up to speed quickly enough to make a meaningful contribution?

I started by accepting an offer to enter into one of Vanguard’s Specialty Programs: the MBA Development Program.  This program is for external talent who pursued a full-time MBA and are interested in a career in general management or investment management.

Here’s why the program appealed to me:

Vanguard’s Mission

To take a stand for all investors, to treat them fairly, and to give them the best chance for investment success.

This sounds a lot like my passion for people and their success with personal finance!  And this mission is not just hearsay, it is the foundation for the work that gets done each day.  For example, when I worked in the Institutional division, we were focused on helping plan participants achieve retirement success.  When I worked in Enterprise Finance, we were focused on monitoring how well we were performing as a company for the benefit of our clients (fund performance, cost, client loyalty and risk management).  Now I am working in Client Experience…I’m sure you get the point.

A supportive squad

There were 15 other professionals who joined the MBA Development program with me.  Their academic and professional accomplishments have enriched my experience.  This group has been my “speed dial” for many things like: learning the Vanguard organization, understanding various aspects of the financial services industry, and just getting connected and acclimated to a new working and living environment.

The additional benefit is that there are many cadres that have preceded us and they continue to make themselves available – sharing their insights to ensure that our experience is a success.

A quality offer

All leadership development programs are not created equal. These are some distinct elements of Vanguard’s approach to MBA development:

Program Qualifications – Vanguard looks for candidates with more pre-MBA work experience than most companies.  This was very compelling for someone who worked for many years prior to business school.  It was a signal to me that Vanguard values my past experience and provides opportunities for crew to transfer their skill sets.

Rotational Assignments – There is a lot of work that goes into matching participants and assignments at Vanguard.  We are placed in departments that align our strengths, experiences, interests and even development opportunities, thus creating meaningful and unique on-the-job training.

Development (beyond the job) – The MBA Development program has created additional opportunities to enhance our professional development through: industry discussions, leader overviews, specialty workshops/trainings, assessments & feedback, MBA buddies, and corporate mentors.

There are other benefits to working at Vanguard (people & culture), but this is supposed to be a blog and not a book.  In four days, I will celebrate my one year anniversary at Vanguard. As I reflect back on the excitement, complexity, and risk, one thing’s for sure – I would make the same choice all over again.

-Melanie M.

Check out this video to learn more about the MBA Development Program!

If you’re seeking an environment where you can make a difference and develop professionally, learn more about our MBA programs at www.vanguardjobs.com.

This Valentine’s Day, we wanted to recognize a special kind of love – love of your career! Below we share just a few of the reasons Vanguard is a caring place to work.

At Vanguard, many crew members start their first day in a group and spend time together to get licensed and trained. In this video, you’ll hear from Amanda S., a crew member that shares why her husband eventually came to Vanguard too.

Amanda S.: And that’s what brought my husband here. He worked for a competitor where it was you need to get licensed on your own. You have to figure out the job on your own. And he did it. He did it really well, but then he saw I had some great friends and how much Vanguard was investing in us that he was like, “All right, how do I come to Vanguard? I don’t care what role I come to Vanguard in.” He’s like, “I want to be hired because I know from there I’ll then be able to build my career path.”

Fun fact

Vanguard provides resources to help crew with the transition into married life.

We asked crew members Donald F., a Communication Project Leader, and his wife Arecka, an IT Project Manager:  What’s it really like working at the same company as your spouse?

“It’s a blessing for us because we both get to take advantage of the benefits of working for a company like Vanguard. From health coverage to our gym memberships to generous paid time off, we both feel very lucky to be working here.

 Also, balancing personal and work life comes easy for us because our positions allow for flexibility. We joke with each other all of the time about whose project is a higher priority, because if I’m trying to retain a billion-dollar client then she knows she’ll be the one driving our daughter to karate. Either way, we’re able to make it fun and productive because we can always balance work and family with minimal hassle.”

 The power of (career) love – When you feel good about what you do, you want to share it with those you love. That’s why employee referrals remain the number source for finding top talent at Vanguard!

If you enjoyed this post, check out more from our #LifeatVanguard Blog. And if you’re ready for a more rewarding, engaging, meaningful career, search our opportunities at www.vanguardjobs.com.