Entering my last semester of college, I was still unclear on what I wanted to do with my degree. Professors insisted that although internships were not required for our major (Communication Studies), we should never leave college without first having that experience. Like many other students in my senior level classes, I was still lost and anxious about my uncertain career path.
Over the course of my final semester as an undergraduate, I finally discovered the field that I wanted to pursue: Human Resources. The epiphany-like event was due to a combination of course work that related to HR (E.g. Interviewing, Conflict Management, etc.) along with witnessing first-hand how important HR was in the workplace during my seven years of working at the same restaurant.
After figuring out the direction I wanted to go with my career, I had to find my path to get there. I started by looking at career search engines, such as Indeed and LinkedIn, and found that even entry-level Human Resources positions required years of HR experience.
With only two months until commencement, I took the advice of our career center counselor at Cal State Fullerton and began networking. IT WORKED! After expressing interest in Human Resources to my former GM, Karen Edwards at Avila’s El Ranchito, she invited me to attend an Anti-Harassment Seminar. She knew this was a great event to attend because Sonya Kemp, President of Every Business HR Essentials (EBHR) would be hosting the training. Karen, who hired me at 17 years old, knew that our personalities would match, and that an introduction could at least help me get pointed in the right direction.
I was fortunate enough to get introduced to Sonya, and was given the opportunity discuss my interest in HR with a professional of 30 years! Our introduction led to exchanged emails, which then led to a part time internship. Following graduation (and European travels), my internship was extended for the rest of the summer. After hours of collaboration and hard work between Sonya, the rest of the EBHR team, and myself, I am proud and honored to have been offered and accepted a full time position as a Human Resources Generalist!
I get excited when I look at an EBHR business card with my name on it because it is almost like a trophy for never giving up on my education along with building great relationships with those I worked for and with. To think that just earlier this year, I was so uncertain on the direction that I would take with my career. I have found my track, and am so humbled to have been offered the opportunity to work and learn with such an awesome team and to be supervised by such a great leader!
