Beginning Your Human Resource Career

Interview with a recent graduate of a human resources degree program

Resource Center Home | HR Career Resource Guide Home | Find HR Schools

Interviewee

Nina R.
Graduate of the University of Washington and HR Professional at Amazon.com

What made you decide to pursue a career in HR?

HR is a great place to start out right after school, regardless of where you want to end up. It allows you to understand the hiring process of most major companies, and how to market yourself in the future.

You learn a lot about yourself and the hiring process, and you learn skills you can take elsewhere. Communication and organizational skills are really honed in this position, and there is a lot of room for growth.

What does a typical day on the job involve for you?

Calling and speaking with candidates about positions they might be interested in, scheduling interviews, working with the hiring managers and interview teams to make the process as streamlined as possible. I’m on the phone a lot, sending emails, and checking schedules. In this position, you interface with many different teams and people. You are the pinnacle of the hiring process.

What do you enjoy most about your work? What are some challenges you face?

At times my daily tasks may be repetitive, so you have to challenge yourself to do better everyday and be as effective as you can be. It can be stressful at times, when interviewers or candidates miss their interview. But, with a cool and collected head on your shoulders, you should be fine.

What are your plans and goals for the future?

I’ll be going back to graduate school and I hope to end up managing economic development projects overseas. Recruiting is a great place to start your career, since it’s really a universal role and the skills you learn can be applied elsewhere.

What advice do you have for students and graduates interested in pursuing a career in HR?

At companies like Amazon.com, you have a lot of autonomy, more than working for an agency, I’ve heard. You get your work done, you work as a team and are rewarded for your hard work. I would say that networking is a huge advantage you want to have. Cultivate your relationships. It will pay back in dividends later.