Michelle, Resource Manager at Mercer: Advize Career Interview
A career journey starting with public relations internships led to a Resource Manager position at Mercer, a multinational company.
The role involves managing staffing for the US and Canada Workday digital practice, requiring strong communication and organizational skills to juggle multiple projects and teams.
A typical day includes extensive communication, collaboration, and data entry. Success in this fast-paced, high-pressure environment demands multitasking, creative problem-solving, and collaboration.
The most rewarding aspect is being a central point of contact, connecting colleagues with necessary resources and contributing to team productivity. The biggest challenge is managing diverse personalities and competing priorities.
Working in the HR tech industry with Workday software is highlighted as a significant advantage. Aspiring professionals are encouraged to be self-advocates and network extensively.
Entry-level positions like project coordinator offer valuable experience.
Michelle's career path demonstrates that diverse undergraduate experiences, including internships and part-time jobs, are vital for building valuable soft skills and setting the stage for career success.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Michelle Reid
Resource Manager
Mercer
University of Texas at Austin
NA
Advertising, Public Relations
Consulting
Human Resources (HR)
Took Out Loans, Greek Life Member, Transfer Student
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Career Path of a Resource Manager at Mercer
Michelle's career path began with public relations internships in college, which helped determine what career paths were not a good fit; after a year of technical recruiting that Michelle describes as "a start" but "not very much liked," a seamless transition occurred from a small startup to a large multinational company, Mercer, allowing for diverse experiences within one employer.
Main Responsibilities Of A Resource Manager At Mercer
Michelle, a Resource Manager at Mercer, oversees staffing for the US and Canada Workday digital practice, "managing at a high level all the projects" and ensuring consultants have necessary resources. This includes collaborating with international resource managers and supporting project managers by "helping them keep track of their hours," forecasting, and budgeting within ServiceNow.
A Day in the Life of a Resource Manager at Mercer
A Resource Manager's day at Mercer involves significant communication, acting as "the go-to-point" through many emails coordinating between various company departments. This role also includes weekly staffing calls for collaborative resource allocation and some data entry within their project management system.
Most Important Skills For A Resource Manager At Mercer
Michelle, a Resource Manager at Mercer, emphasizes the critical need for strong "written and verbal communication" skills to effectively translate information between diverse teams, such as salespeople and accounting. The ability to "organize and prioritize" the numerous requests from twenty concurrent teams, ensuring timely responses and follow-up, is equally vital for success in this role.
Favorite Parts of Being a Resource Manager at Mercer
Michelle, a Resource Manager at Mercer with eight years of experience and four years in the current role, most enjoys being "that go-to person" for colleagues, providing reliable information and efficiently connecting them with the right resources to complete their tasks. This highlights the value of a central point of contact within a large organization, and the career satisfaction derived from contributing to overall team productivity.
Biggest Challenges Faced By A Resource Manager At Mercer
Michelle's biggest challenge as a Resource Manager at Mercer involves navigating diverse personalities and communication styles across multiple teams, making it "difficult...managing people and managing work." The need to prioritize competing demands from various stakeholders, each viewing their issue as "the most important problem," requires skillful expectation management.
Favorite Parts of Working in the HR Tech Industry as a Mercer Resource Manager
Michelle enjoys working in the HR tech industry because Mercer's team works with the "extremely helpful" and "booming" Workday software, placing the team "at the forefront" of industry innovation. This allows Michelle to see "both sides," contributing to client needs while collaborating with Workday leadership on product development, enjoying the constantly evolving nature of the field.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Consulting Industry, According To A Resource Manager At Mercer
Mercer's Resource Manager thrives in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment, requiring "multitasking" and "creative problem-solving" to address constantly emerging issues and client needs. This role necessitates strong collaboration skills, as the work is "fully collaboration," demanding the ability to navigate diverse personalities and find solutions that benefit the majority.
What a Resource Manager at Mercer Wishes They Had Known Before Entering Tech
Michelle, a Resource Manager at Mercer, advises aspiring professionals to "be your biggest advocate," especially as a young woman in tech, actively promoting their accomplishments and ensuring their voice is heard to avoid being overlooked. This self-advocacy, Michelle explains, is crucial for career advancement, securing raises, and recognition within the company, a lesson learned throughout their seven-year journey from entry-level project coordinator to their current role.
Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Resource Managers at Mercer
Michelle, a Resource Manager at Mercer, started as a project coordinator, a common entry-level role in consulting firms supporting resource management offices; this involved "data entry, reporting," and other assistant tasks, which allowed Michelle to gain valuable business knowledge and ultimately advance to higher levels.
Significant Career Lesson From a Resource Manager at Mercer
Michelle's significant career lesson is that networking and building relationships are crucial for job success; "every job that I have gotten...was through people I know," with a current role secured simply by casually mentioning a job search to a friend.
College Experiences That Helped A Resource Manager At Mercer Succeed
Michelle's undergraduate success stemmed from diverse work experiences, including internships and part-time jobs, emphasizing that "anything that gets you out into the workforce" is valuable. These experiences provided invaluable soft skills, like communication and professional etiquette, and broadened Michelle's understanding of various work environments, ultimately shaping their career path at Mercer.
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