A job can feel like a hamster wheel if there is no direction or purpose. The daily grind of responsibilities and meetings can be exhausting if it doesn't fulfill a purpose and produce results that matter to you. Training and professional drive ignites an employee to jump off the wheel and thrive in their career, and Seaboard Foods cultivates more than a career for their employees. They foster a culture of leadership and professional development focused on actively developing their people through organized trainings and one-on-one direction.
“Without professional development, individuals do not continue to move forward," says Minda M., production manager. “You get stuck in the monotony of your daily routine and do not continue to grow. Without that stimulation, individuals lose interest and move on, which affects employee longevity. If an individual feels that they can learn more, do more and be more involved, they are more likely to stay engaged with the company."
Management trainee positions
The management trainee program allows recent graduates to collect building blocks for their career by experiencing areas within Seaboard Foods' connected system and honing their skills.
“The purpose of the management trainee program is to help individuals become acclimated to Seaboard Foods and what we do, not just for their specific role," says Ryder C., load and inventory balancer. “They will gain knowledge about all aspects of the company, and they can work with their manager to set a career path that might be right for them."
Regardless of a person's background or experience, there are a variety of jobs and career pathways for individuals. The management trainee program is designed to offer flexibility to build a career and advance into new positions.
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Meet Colin. He had zero experience in pork production when he started, but he learned about the business and was able to connect the dots with the help of mentors and the management trainee program.
Leadership Training
Seaboard Foods' farm operations teams organize 12-week trainings for new farm managers, assistant farm managers and department team leads. These classroom-style sessions prepare them for managing teams and refining Seaboard Foods' culture. The training includes lessons from Stephen Covey's
7 Habits of Highly Effective
People.
“This training is consistent across all cells because people can change locations, but their leadership training stays the same," says Andy A., operations manager. “Every manager connects with a certain habit more than others, and most people have found how much the leadership training also helps in their home or personal life during and after they finish the training."
“I encourage managers to grow personally and professionally by pushing them out of their comfort zones," continues Minda. “For example, I have managers who are talented and skilled in managing a sow farm but lack self-confidence, so I ask them to teach training to gain experience talking in front of a group and answering questions. Likewise, Ian M. pushes me to focus on areas of my job I do not enjoy as much and do not come as natural to me."
On-the-job training
People won't know everything when they step into a new role, and that is okay. Seaboard Foods' culture maximizes learning and retention by people understanding why they do what they do through hands-on instruction and sophisticated computer training programs.
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Meet Dustin. Seaboard Foods has given him the tools pertaining to his specific responsibilities through on-the-job training and teamwork, and he will use those tools throughout his career.
No matter their role in the connected system, more than 5,000 individuals bring their unique skillsets, personalities and work ethic to their job each day to produce food for families around the world. The binding agent for all employees is a culture that drives everyone toward a common goal.
“You create culture from the top down, making sure people who work for you promote what the company represents," says Pete F., shipping warehouse manager. “Seaboard Foods' culture optimizes opportunity for employees to work and better themselves with several avenues for growth in multiple career paths. The company encourages people to chase passion and explore other departments because it betters the person and the company."
No matter where you work or how long you have been with the company, jump off the hamster wheel and pursue the many learning opportunities the company offers for personal and professional development.
