In this episode, Ricot Aladin welcomes Kellie Carlson to discuss how young professionals can proactively partner with HR departments to unlock career opportunities within their organizations. Kellie shares her own nontraditional career journey into HR, emphasizing the importance of mentorship, self-advocacy, and ongoing personal growth.
Key Takeaways:
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🛤️ Career Journeys Aren’t Linear: Kellie’s path from customer service to VP of HR involved mentorship, returning to school, and continuous learning. She encourages professionals to embrace nontraditional paths and stay focused on forward movement.
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🤝 The Power of Mentorship: Kellie highlights how finding a good mentor (hers was an HR director) helped shape her career. She urges professionals to seek guidance and not be afraid to ask others for help or advice.
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🏢 HR Is a Resource, Not Just Policy Enforcers: Many employees view HR as the “rule enforcers,” but Kellie stresses that HR is there to support employees’ growth and career ambitions. Employees should reach out for career conversations and development planning.
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🌱 Visibility Without Self-Promotion: Getting involved in volunteer opportunities, mentorship programs, or internal committees is a great way to stand out and connect with HR in a positive, productive way.
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🗣️ Approaching Tough Conversations: When facing challenges (e.g., with a supervisor), HR can help coach employees on how to navigate conversations effectively, rather than simply stepping in to "fix" things.
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📈 Career Pathing & Development: Kellie explains how her company offers structured career paths, employee resource groups, and opportunities like shadowing and training to help employees grow and feel a sense of belonging.
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📚 Advice for Young Professionals:
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Always research a company thoroughly before applying or interviewing.
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Take time after onboarding to revisit benefits and development opportunities.
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Don’t be afraid to network with leaders—even executives.
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Keep performing well in your current role while expressing interest in new opportunities.
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