JULY 22, 2024 |
By Cyndi Ternovoy, Business Systems Analyst with the Process Excellence agile squad
We often think of career trajectory as a set of stairs moving upwards. Mine, which has shifted laterally on more than one occasion, is more like a colourful tapestry of interwoven horizontal and vertical threads.
My journey began at our Valley First division’s Peachtree branch as a Member Advisor. I remember my nerves shaking while helping my first member. The transaction was simple and I got through it with the help of my supportive team. I could rest easy knowing that I just needed to do my best serving members.
After a year in the branch, I applied for an interesting role in Marketing and Communications. I didn’t meet all of the qualifications in the job description, but I got an interview and was honest about my experience. If I didn’t know the answer, I would say so. I wanted to demonstrate that I was willing to learn and that I had a true interest in joining the team. And I got the job, weaving colourful new threads into my tapestry.
Making career choices
Not all my career decisions have been easy, some have been tricky. Like turning down a role that I just couldn’t see myself in, and continuing to work hard for the next opportunity, not only in Marketing, but throughout First West. And that career move came four years later when I applied for a role with our People and Culture team. This was the scariest career move I’ve ever made. I questioned everything about my decision to leave Marketing and a few times I thought, “I have no business applying for a role in HR!”
I had support of my First West mentor, the respect of senior leaders as a valued team member, and the willingness to learn. In the end, that was enough and I’m braver because of that leap of faith. Growth isn’t just about acquiring new skills, it’s about evolving as a person. I carry this bravery into every new role, knowing it’s essential for progress.
My biggest, most courageous career move—and brightest career thread to date—was taking joining the Process Excellence agile squad in 2024. This is a role within our IT team. As an agile enterprise, First West advances member value through iterative improvements that are driven by distinct squads, each guided by a unique persistent purpose.
Here, I’ve realized that impactful ideas can come from unexpected places. I speak up and ask questions, knowing my perspective counts and my voice is respected. My squad is currently working in an area of the business I’m still earning about, and it can be intimidating. But the knowledge I’ve acquired across multiple First West teams serves me well as I navigate this part of my journey.
Through my time at First West, I’ve learned that a career isn’t always crafted from roles that look the same or line-up in a single direction
Experiences of different types can be woven together into a rewarding career. For me, moving between diverse teams has made for a deeply satisfying career in which I’ve created lifelong connections and proven my resilience. Where I’ve found consistency is in our values, which ground us, in our people who inspire us, and our culture that unites us. This is constant within each team I’ve been a part of, and have eased every transition.
What’s next in my colorful career journey? Honestly, I don’t know. My experience with First West feels more than a job, it’s a purpose-driven commitment. What I do know is that at the end of each day, I sign off with satisfaction that I’ve put in a hard day’s work for our members.
If you’d like to work for an organization that encourages their team members to follow their ambitions, see what opportunities are available today.