How to Be Successful as an Associate Consulting Engineer
At CDW, our Associate Consulting Engineers (ACE) work on meaningful projects with cutting-edge technology that bring value to our customers every single day. Our ACE program is designed to provide access to the best resources and knowledge in the industry to develop technology professionals to support strategic customer outcomes. Jocelyn Guiwan, Sr. Manager, Associate Engineers and Rick Long, Manager, Associate Engineers are two leaders at CDW who provide encouragement, support, mentoring, and access to a world-class consulting education that enable Associates to master key consulting and technology concepts.
Read on to see how Jocelyn (she/her) and Rick (he/him) began their careers at CDW and what they look for in candidates.
How did your career start out at CDW?
Jocelyn Guiwan (JG): I started my career at CDW in 2007 as a technician contractor in Configuration Services and gradually worked my way up to a senior management role. I held different positions within Configuration Services, gained skills and experience, and developed relationships that helped mold me into the servant leader that I am today. After 14 years in Configuration Services, I decided to pursue a new opportunity as a Sr. Manager of the Associate Consulting Engineer (ACE) Program. I am super excited to be working with our ACE coworkers to help them build their careers here at CDW!
Rick Long (RL): I started my career at CDW in 2013 as a Unified Communications (UC) Consultant Engineer in the Indianapolis, IN branch. I was able to utilize my skills in other avenues of our business to deliver on Network Security, Enterprise Campus Networking and Enterprise Data Center designs and implementations. CDW allowed me to grow towards the light that shined the brightest in my areas of interest.
What do you look for in an Associate Consulting Engineer candidate?
JG: I look for someone that has a passion for technology - it’s their hobby, and they are constantly learning new things about technology. Communication skills are important as well - someone that understands that in a consulting role they’ll be working directly with customers. They will take the time to understand their needs and issues and will be able to help solve their issues and articulate how their specific technology can solve their business problems.
RL: Candidates that standout in the interview process have an unfulfillable desire to learn and grow, a competitive spirit and the ability to be adaptable to an ever and quickly changing technology world that we live in. They possess the ability to apply lessons and skills they have learned and are able to accept coaching and mentoring.
What makes a successful Associate Consulting Engineer?
JG: A successful Associate Consulting Engineer is one that’s motivated to achieve in an accelerated, continuous learning environment and has a good balance of technical and consulting skills. This individual is self-disciplined, organized and can effectively manage their time to progress through the curriculum and achieve certifications. They should be able to comprehend and apply technical information, concepts, and processes. Communication is also key - someone successful can communicate well and is able to communicate their needs and knows when to reach out for help. There is so much support in this program and it’s about knowing that it’s okay to reach out and ask for help!
RL: The most successful Associates are the those who are always looking for an opportunity to improve and directly apply the technical and consulting skills learned at each step in the program. They are humble and vulnerable at times and not afraid to ask questions about things they don’t fully understand.
What advice would you give to candidates pursuing the role?
JG: The ACE Program is a cultivator of talent. It is a wonderful opportunity to start and grow your career in the technology industry. You’re getting paid to learn in an accelerated program where you can learn from and work with industry professionals, build your professional network, and work on meaningful customer projects. One of my favorite quotes I’ve heard over the years is “at CDW, we don’t make products. We build people.” I truly believe this to be the case with the ACE Program.
RL: Don’t be afraid to take that first step. You’ll never know what you’re truly capable of until you do.
Anything else you’d share?
RL: I’ve worked in the IT industry for nearly 25 years and have spent time in working in both corporate and consulting environments. The second-best decision I made was to transition from a corporate IT role to a consulting IT role because it allowed me to focus my learning and understanding in very specific topics that interested me the most. The best decision I made is the one I made a little over 8 years ago to join CDW.
CDW has allowed me the opportunity to grow technically and professionally, providing coaching and mentorship at each and every step in my journey. I was able to work with the industry’s best and brightest talent and learn directly from them from a technical perspective. When I decided that I wanted to learn more about how we ran our business, I was able to work with some of the brightest and highly skilled business professionals to foster my growth and understanding.
Explore the Associate Consulting Engineer program at CDW.
At CDW, our Associate Consulting Engineers (ACE) work on meaningful projects with cutting-edge technology that bring value to our customers every single day. Our ACE program is designed to provide access to the best resources and knowledge in the industry to develop technology professionals to support strategic customer outcomes. Jocelyn Guiwan, Sr. Manager, Associate Engineers and Rick Long, Manager, Associate Engineers are two leaders at CDW who provide encouragement, support, mentoring, and access to a world-class consulting education that enable Associates to master key consulting and technology concepts.
Read on to see how Jocelyn (she/her) and Rick (he/him) began their careers at CDW and what they look for in candidates.
How did your career start out at CDW?
Jocelyn Guiwan (JG): I started my career at CDW in 2007 as a technician contractor in Configuration Services and gradually worked my way up to a senior management role. I held different positions within Configuration Services, gained skills and experience, and developed relationships that helped mold me into the servant leader that I am today. After 14 years in Configuration Services, I decided to pursue a new opportunity as a Sr. Manager of the Associate Consulting Engineer (ACE) Program. I am super excited to be working with our ACE coworkers to help them build their careers here at CDW!
Rick Long (RL): I started my career at CDW in 2013 as a Unified Communications (UC) Consultant Engineer in the Indianapolis, IN branch. I was able to utilize my skills in other avenues of our business to deliver on Network Security, Enterprise Campus Networking and Enterprise Data Center designs and implementations. CDW allowed me to grow towards the light that shined the brightest in my areas of interest.
What do you look for in an Associate Consulting Engineer candidate?
JG: I look for someone that has a passion for technology - it’s their hobby, and they are constantly learning new things about technology. Communication skills are important as well - someone that understands that in a consulting role they’ll be working directly with customers. They will take the time to understand their needs and issues and will be able to help solve their issues and articulate how their specific technology can solve their business problems.
RL: Candidates that standout in the interview process have an unfulfillable desire to learn and grow, a competitive spirit and the ability to be adaptable to an ever and quickly changing technology world that we live in. They possess the ability to apply lessons and skills they have learned and are able to accept coaching and mentoring.
What makes a successful Associate Consulting Engineer?
JG: A successful Associate Consulting Engineer is one that’s motivated to achieve in an accelerated, continuous learning environment and has a good balance of technical and consulting skills. This individual is self-disciplined, organized and can effectively manage their time to progress through the curriculum and achieve certifications. They should be able to comprehend and apply technical information, concepts, and processes. Communication is also key - someone successful can communicate well and is able to communicate their needs and knows when to reach out for help. There is so much support in this program and it’s about knowing that it’s okay to reach out and ask for help!
RL: The most successful Associates are the those who are always looking for an opportunity to improve and directly apply the technical and consulting skills learned at each step in the program. They are humble and vulnerable at times and not afraid to ask questions about things they don’t fully understand.
What advice would you give to candidates pursuing the role?
JG: The ACE Program is a cultivator of talent. It is a wonderful opportunity to start and grow your career in the technology industry. You’re getting paid to learn in an accelerated program where you can learn from and work with industry professionals, build your professional network, and work on meaningful customer projects. One of my favorite quotes I’ve heard over the years is “at CDW, we don’t make products. We build people.” I truly believe this to be the case with the ACE Program.
RL: Don’t be afraid to take that first step. You’ll never know what you’re truly capable of until you do.
Anything else you’d share?
RL: I’ve worked in the IT industry for nearly 25 years and have spent time in working in both corporate and consulting environments. The second-best decision I made was to transition from a corporate IT role to a consulting IT role because it allowed me to focus my learning and understanding in very specific topics that interested me the most. The best decision I made is the one I made a little over 8 years ago to join CDW.
CDW has allowed me the opportunity to grow technically and professionally, providing coaching and mentorship at each and every step in my journey. I was able to work with the industry’s best and brightest talent and learn directly from them from a technical perspective. When I decided that I wanted to learn more about how we ran our business, I was able to work with some of the brightest and highly skilled business professionals to foster my growth and understanding.
