There are a lot of opportunities in Human Resources at Mayo. It is so specialized -- you can work in compensation, benefits, recruitment, or employee relations and policy. If you work hard and show that you are a valuable employee, opportunities will come.

My day is full of variety, from contacting managers about job openings to discussing the best methods for advertising jobs and reviewing applications. I also work directly with job applicants to let them know how the process is going and what the next steps are, because we want to keep the candidate informed. In the job posting and interview process, working around managers' calendars sometimes creates a situation where a couple of weeks are needed before a decision can be made, and those details need to be communicated to the candidates. I conduct screening interviews by telephone or even by video conference. I'm involved in the development of the interview panel and the interview process for each position, which requires a lot of coordination. I meet with candidates to go over the benefits and try to get a sense of who they are and how they feel about Rochester. Communication is done through the use of phone calls and emails, as well as face-to-face. I also spend a fair amount of time in meetings.

I have always loved human resources; it is ever-changing. There are a lot of things going on, and it is fast paced and demanding -- that is what I love about it. You never get bored. You meet many different people and have lots of face-to-face interaction. I think if you have a sense of ease when communicating with anyone, regardless of position, you can succeed in Human Resources. You need to be confident about making decisions that managers may not agree with. Your communication and listening skills are key in developing a respectful relationship which will lead to a winning team effort.

I will always remember what it was like to begin working for the Mayo Clinic; it is an honor to work here. There is such a family environment and people respect this organization. To say that I work for Mayo is pretty awesome.