College Experiences That Helped A Senior Human Resources Manager At Precision Construction Services Succeed
Stephanie's experience as sorority president provided invaluable leadership and management experience, giving her "a large sense of responsibility for other human beings" and forcing her to have "tough conversations" early in her life. This unexpected training directly translated to a successful career in human resources, where similar interpersonal and management skills are paramount.
Leadership, Management, Human Resources, Communication Skills, Problem-Solving
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Stephanie McDonald
Sr. Human Resources Manager
Precision Construction Services
Cal Poly - SLO
Communications
Architecture, Construction & Design
Human Resources (HR)
Honors Student, Greek Life Member, Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. Develop strong leadership skills early on through activities like student government or club leadership roles. Managing a team and navigating interpersonal dynamics will provide valuable experience for an HR career.
2. Build your communication and interpersonal skills. The ability to have difficult conversations and understand people on a personal level are crucial for success in HR.
3. Seek opportunities to gain experience in conflict resolution and team management. These skills are highly transferable to HR and are valuable in any professional setting.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
The greatest learning experience of my college career was being president of my sorority. That might sound trivial, but it gave me a large sense of responsibility for other human beings.
I was legally responsible for over 90 women in college. That provided me with management experience and the necessity of having tough conversations very early on, even before I was in the workforce.
It also made me get to know people on a personal level and apply what I learned to help them get along. I believe that's what led me into HR. Navigating the dynamics between sorority sisters is wonderful, but not always easy. Because I took on that responsibility in a leadership role, it really set me up for success in the sense that it's what I do now on a day-to-day basis.