Career Path Of A Personnel Analyst At County Of Ventura
Erin's career path began with a communications degree and student newspaper work, followed by a master's in public policy and administration after graduating in 2020. Their journey from a County of Ventura internship to a Personnel Analyst II position showcases a strong upward trajectory, fueled by initial roles in university marketing and "moving up through the ladder" within the HR department.
Career Development, Communication, Public Policy, Entry-Level, Overcoming Challenges
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Erin Niemi
HR Business Partner
County of Ventura
Cal Lutheran University
Cal Lutheran University - Master's of Public Policy and Administration
Communications
Government & Public Sector
Human Resources (HR)
Video Highlights
1. Internship experience is valuable: Erin's internship at the County of Ventura led to a full-time position and subsequent promotions, highlighting the importance of internships in career development.
2. Diverse skill set is beneficial: Erin's background in communication and marketing complemented her public policy and administration master's degree, demonstrating the value of a diverse skill set in HR.
3. Career progression is possible: Erin's journey from office assistant to personnel analyst two showcases the potential for growth and advancement within an organization, emphasizing the importance of hard work and dedication.
Transcript
Aaron, could you walk me through your career path? Please start with your experiences in college, any internships or jobs you've had before your current role.
Yes, absolutely. Great question. I graduated from Cal Lutheran in 2020 with a bachelor's degree in communication. Throughout my time in college, I worked on the student newspaper, which was my first experience doing something a little more professional outside the classroom.
Once I graduated from CLU in 2020, I was a COVID graduate. It was a little difficult to find a job at the time, so I went back to school right away and earned my master's degree in Public Policy and Administration in 2023. This educational background helped set me up for my career.
Professionally, I worked part-time in my university's marketing office before being hired in my current role at the County of Ventura in Human Resources. I started with an internship at the County of Ventura before I was hired. So, timeline-wise, I was working in the marketing office and doing an internship at the same time.
After that, I was hired full-time as an office assistant in the HR office at the county. I totally fell in love with it. I didn't see myself getting into human resources at first, but I believe my education and prior marketing experience helped equip me for that role.
As I work in human resources now, I've been promoted through my organization. I went from an office assistant to a personnel assistant, where you can start doing your own recruitments and take on more complex assignments. From there, I was promoted to an analyst one, a personnel analyst one, and now I'm a personnel analyst two.
It was great. My career unfolded by starting as an intern and moving up the ladder within my organization. I believe all the skills I learned at Cal Lutheran and my education provided the foundation to build on my professional skills once I graduated and entered the workforce.