Claire is Sprout’s Compensation and Benefits Associate. This month she tells us how she triumphed over personal hardships and finding herself in Sprout’s People Operations.
How did you begin your journey before getting into Sprout?
I began learning about human resources back in 2014 as a psychology student at the University of Perpetual Help Las Piñas, but after my first year I transferred to Adamson University to finish my degree.
Counseling initially motivated me to pursue a degree in psychology. Forensic psychology also became one of my interests, as I love to watch crime- and investigation-themed documentaries and shorts. But things changed towards the end of my studies when I got attracted into industrial psychology. I didn’t expect that I would excel in this area of psychology, which also driven me towards the field of human resources.
I attended lots of free events about human resources, such as events by the Philippine HR Group as well as the free HR and Payroll Tech Trainings hosted by Sprout, because I wanted to learn more about industrial psychology.
During one of the Sprout’s HR and payroll tech trainings, I met Robbie, who was one of the HR associates in that event. I tried my luck to ask if there were opportunities for fresh graduates like me. I sent my résumé later that day, and the rest was history.
Tell us about how you got yourself into Sprout, and how you launched your career.
I was hired by Sprout in May 2018 as a reliever for a Comp&Ben Associate who will be taking her maternity leave. My first three months into the job was the toughest, because I had to learn everything on my own.
My work outputs suffered during my first three months. Luckily, things started to turn around in my favor after that, thanks to the support of my colleagues and the lessons I’ve learned from my mistakes.
Before landing a job here in Sprout, I faced the harsh realities of job-hunting as a fresh graduate. I took many job interviews in the morning and attended HR events in the afternoon to maximize my day.
I planned my day ahead because I don’t want to waste my money on commutes for nothing. Sometimes I had to skip lunch or dinner, because I didn’t have enough money at the time. I was lucky enough to eat something at events that offered some food and drinks.
Many companies I’ve applied to rejected me over and over just like everyone else. But here’s what I learned: never give up because you just need to discover the right opportunity. What it takes to discover that opportunity is to keep on trying, and never feel discouraged about interview rejections.
Going back to where I am right now, I’m proud that all my hardships in the first year of my career were all worth it. Praying also gave me the strength to tackle any challenges that come my way. I’m very thankful and lucky that Sprout opened its doors for me to grow as a human resources professional and become successful in helping others.
You started your career in Sprout in a reliever post. What are your major takeaways in your transition from being a reliever to a full-fledged HR associate?
I’ve learned to stay focused on the people I’m working with – not only to those who mentor and support me but also to those who judge and criticize my work. It’s also important to give yourself due credit from time to time as a way to reward yourself. I also went through learning the concept of ownership the hard way. Don’t be afraid to heed advice from other people and learn to predict or anticipate the outcome of your actions.
Here’s my advice to people who are looking to succeed in whatever job they want: Don’t lower your standards. Always be prepared physically, mentally, and socially. Look for people who will give their unwavering support to you. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone, but also know your boundaries.
What are the next steps in your career?
I’m actively exploring the field of training and development. A new on-boarding initiative for new hires called Sprout University allows me to explore this side of human resources. I believe that it’s the perfect springboard for me to grow my career in human resources even further.
Being a training facilitator is completely different from being in compensation and benefits. It lets me step out of my comfort zone, because I’m naturally shy and introverted. Training sessions help me face my fear of public speaking. I believe that I can learn so many things while also interacting with different types of personalities.
The post Claire – From Reliever to Rockstar (Sprout Rockstar of the Month) appeared first on Sprout.
source https://sprout.ph/blog/claire-sprout-rockstar-may-2019/
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