Tim Childree Spotlight

English with a Literature Concentration (B.A.),
Graduated 2005

What are you doing now?

Software Support Manager for NCR.

How did you get your current job?

Applied to a job listing shared by a friend. 

On a typical day in your position, what do you do?

I coordinate and communicate among customers, sales teams, support teams, and software engineers to ensure that software defect investigations are progressing and software bugs are addressed quickly and fully. 

What advice would you give someone considering English studies?

Your keen eye for detail isn't just there to enjoy stories - it will be one of your greatest tools throughout your academic and professional career. Hone it early and often, because the analysis required in English studies hinges on your attentive and inquisitive nature.  

If you were in a position to hire new graduates, what characteristics would you be looking for?

A strong eye for detail, intellectual curiosity, excellent research skills, professional communication skills, and the ability to recognize the significance of patterns and themes. 

How did the English major prepare you for your career?

My research and analysis skills were sharpened by my English major, and I entered my field with exceptional written and verbal communication skills. It isn't always apparent from the outside, but many technical roles still have a tremendous need for clear communication.

Before I managed my team, I made my mark as the knowledge expert for the team, and I have my English major to thank for how quickly I was able to apply my skills to excel in my role.  Loving essay writing certainly didn't hurt with creating and maintaining knowledge for the entire team.  

Please name any specific course (or courses) that has been particularly helpful to your post-graduation life.

Poetry & Poetics and all literature surveys.

Did you complete a minor? If so, what was it? If it has contributed to your career, please explain how.

Spanish minor. I've unfortunately had little use for the minor in my career, but it bolstered my love of language in general, which is never a bad thing.