Tuesday, Jul 12, 2016
The global supply chain major took part in a co-op at Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a Johnson & Johnson company
Tim Mansure, a senior from Mansfield, N.J., participated in a co-op at Johnson & Johnson from January 2015 to January 2016. He’s majoring in global supply chain management at Rider’s College of Business Administration, which prepares students to succeed in one of the most in-demand specializations in today’s business world. Like Mansure, every global supply chain management major at Rider gains valuable hands-on experience through one or more internships or co-ops at firms.
Why did you choose Rider?
I chose Rider because of the generous scholarship opportunities. These allowed me to receive an accredited, top-tier private business education at an affordable price.
How did your classroom learning (or specific classes) help you at your co-op?
The global supply chain management major and CBA requirements were extremely helpful with my performance at my Johnson & Johnson co-op. Classes such as GSC 235 (Supply Chain: External Relationships) and GSC 385 (Supply Chain Information Systems) gave me the advanced analytical knowledge to be successful with programs such as Excel, SAP and Tableau. These programs were used frequently during my co-op and my classroom learning provided me the aptitude necessary to fulfill my role.
How did your co-op impact your career goals?
Prior to my co-op, I was unaware if I wanted to begin a career with an analytical role or non-analytical role. After a year with professional experience, I look forward to searching for analytical career roles and expanding my knowledge of supply chain planning. I am thankful to have the opportunity to understand what roles fit me best before entering the workplace. Following my first co-op, I applied and received a second co-op at the same company to explore more of my career goals. Additionally, I utilized the experience from my co-op in a national business competition for Rider and received a top honor.
How did your Rider faculty assist you with your co-op?
Dr. Tan Miller’s (Director of the Global Supply Chain Program) knowledge and passion to help his students is exemplified every day he is at Rider. Dr. Miller informs his students of internship and co-op opportunities and routinely meets with them to evaluate the work they have completed in their roles.
How did the co-op enhance what you learned at Rider?
The co-op applied my classroom knowledge outside of the classroom. This allowed me to practice, refine and expand my academic knowledge of global supply chain management in a real-world business setting.
Were you surprised by anything you experienced in your internship?
I was surprised by how large the network of Rider alumni was at Johnson & Johnson. For such a small-sized school, Rider makes a BIG impact.
What advice would you give your peers when searching for an internship?
I recommend to my peers to take full advantage of Rider’s career resources. By having interview training and résumé writing with career services, I was able to shine during Rider’s career fair with the many employers seeking interns. Furthermore, always keep in touch with your professors and the opportunities they are aware of.