Yen

Principal Compensation Analyst

CVG
Mounds View, MN

Describe a typical day in your position.

I am a compensation consultant for three regions in the CVG Central Area. The primary focus of my role is to provide support to the CVG Field group. On a daily basis, I work with district managers to model various compensation impact scenarios for individual employees. I help provide answers to pay-related questions and consult on how to structure individual compensation packages for new hires and transfers.

Why do you enjoy working at Medtronic?

When I became a new hire in April 2012, I was initially attracted to Medtronic's Mission. Shortly after, I found that in addition to a meaningful Mission, this company also has a very intelligent and diversified workforce. I have learned a lot from people on the team and everyone has been great to work with. Medtronic is also further along with having a more flexible work environment than companies I have worked for in the past. Employees are provided with the necessary technology to work in the office or in a telecommuting setting without feeling disconnected from everyone.

What do you love about your job?

I have been in Compensation for over twelve years and this is the first position where I feel like I am learning something new every day. There is enough variety in my job to make it interesting and keep me challenged. The interesting thing about my current position is that I am close to the business. With the support the Total Rewards team provides to our CVG Sales group, I feel that I have a more day-to-day impact on the company performance by helping our district managers structure competitive pay packages to attract and retain key talent.

What is challenging about your job?

The biggest challenge is prioritizing and managing various competing deadlines. The workload is heavier when compared to previous employers. In addition, certain things could come up last minute in the field and managers could ask for a same-day turnaround. At times, it can be difficult to balance everything.

What advice would you give to job candidates?

Be flexible and patient. Medtronic is a large company and changes do occur often. Therefore, even if you have been in your profession for a long time, there will still be a lot of information to learn. The company has a comprehensive portfolio so there are multiple divisions with numerous products. If you are new to the medical device industry, it may take a while to get a solid understanding of the business model.

What is your favorite quote?

"Failure is the mother of success" – I grew up in a traditional Vietnamese culture and have been given this advice over and over... the good lessons learned from failures will help you succeed in the future.