Background:
I majored in Psychology, Communication and Classical Studies and completed the Organizational Studies certification. On campus I was involved in Pi Beta Phi sorority (VP of Member Development) and Women in Business (President). I was a Peer Coach in the Knowlton Center, a Graphics and Communication Assistant in the Office of Student Development, and a Psychology Tutor. In participated in the Arcadia London Internship Study Abroad program in Fall 2018 and the Rome Art and Archeology Seminar in Summer 2019.
Current Role:
I work for T-Mobile as an Analyst, HR Data in Bellevue, WA.
Some of my duties:
- Understand and represent critical HR system foundational data and employee lifecycle data processes and programs, executes data transactions and corrections, and provide instructional support to employees, managers and partners on how to complete and correct self-service transactions.
- Assist with individual and mass entry of critical HRIS data, such as confidential salary data, job attributes, org structures and employee feedback.
- Execute regular and periodic audits by interpreting data and validating entries to ensure the accuracy of HR data and work authorization compliance.
- Build and retrieve reports, analyze results and monitor workflow of HR transactions to ensure timely completion and correct or prevent errors.
- Collaborate with cross-functional HR and business teams to administer HR data and lifecycle programs.
- Analyze data to reach conclusions and offer recommendations/solutions to customers and management. Suggest and implement adjustments to processes as business, systems, and regulations dictate. Participate in process improvement efforts for HR Operations programs. Prepare and update process documentation for HR Data and HRIS processes.
What did your career exploration look like at Denison and how did you decide upon your chosen industry or current role?
I was always interested in pursuing HR after doing an industrial psychology job shadow in high school. At a liberal arts college, there was no business major, so I opted for psychology as my major, but quickly picked up communication and classical studies.
I leveraged the Knowlton Center during my sophomore year to get help building out my resume to provide to my abroad program. I completed the Arcadia London Internship program during Fall of 2018. I worked as an HR Intern at Simon & Schuster UK and became more confident in my choice to pursue HR.
I applied for the Organizational Studies program my junior year, and spent the month after spring semester hearing from Denison Alumni in Granville, San Francisco and New York. During the summer after my junior year, I was selected for an HR Operations internship at a Biotech company, Zymergen Inc. back home in the Bay Area.
I was able to leverage the Denison independent study program to create a curriculum for myself to take a course senior year specifically oriented towards HR through the Communication program. I had a schedule conflict with Dr. Russell’s Organizational Communication course, but still wanted to try to leverage some of the course content. This was a great way to have a “class” that was relevant to my career aspirations.
During my senior year, I was a Peer Coach in the Knowlton Center, assisting other students with career advice and resume help. I also served as the President of Women in Business. I combined these two roles to create a partnership between the programming of both entities. It was at the Knowlton Center that I was connected with a Denison Alumni at T-Mobile who happened to be visiting campus. I was able to schedule one on one time with her, and later she provided me with a referral for the T-Mobile internship program which jump-started my career.
How did Denison, or your liberal arts education, prepare you for your career?
Denison provided me with the opportunity to have a broad foundation in terms of education instead of being confined to one particular major. All my courses had a strong emphasis on reading and writing, which helped contribute to being an effective communicator. The small class sizes encouraged me to speak up and ask questions, which has only benefited my process improvement mindset in my current role.
Being able to complete an internship for class credit during my abroad semester was extremely beneficial as I previously had no professional work experience. Additionally, my experience through Organizational studies and the Knowlton Center stressed the importance of networking and connecting with individuals who have careers that reflect your interests. I’ve been able to bring this into my post-grad professional career by not being afraid to schedule 1:1 time with other individuals in the business.
Advice you have for students when it comes to career exploration?
Go to the Knowlton Center! Early, and often. Building relationships with the coaches there helps to voice your interests and preferences, so that you can be tapped if an opportunity comes along that is a good fit. The Denison network is small but strong. Don’t be afraid to reach out to alumni for an informational interview if you have interest in their role, company, or industry.
For seniors – don’t shy away from a post-grad internship! You are still eligible to apply as a graduating senior. You might even have internship experience from the previous summer that makes you a more viable candidate. This is a great way to try out a city or industry that interests you without committing to a full time job. And the best part is, if you love it and it’s a good fit, you don’t have another year of school preventing you from staying at the company.
