Tell me about your current role at Yale University?
I currently support the Yale New Haven Hiring Initiative as a Program Manager. The New Haven Hiring Initiative is a program that creates pipelines and provide training opportunities to the local community, in partnership with hiring managers, local organizations such as New Haven Works and our University bargaining unions. Ultimately, our goal is to hire New Haven residents into permanent positions at Yale.
What are your main responsibilities?
I think many of us can relate with the fact that positions at Yale are very diverse within its own scope: every day is different. In my role, I perform a wide range of responsibilities around the areas of community engagement and support, candidate management, and planning of new initiatives. Most recently, I have also been involved with aspects of data analytics, not only to track successful hires, but also to identify trends in departmental needs to drive training initiatives, or just to find talent through previous applications!
What do you like most about your work?
In this role I realized how much I enjoy working in the community and for the community, whether it is participating at a community event, meeting candidates 1:1, or thinking about ways in which we can increase our hiring efforts.
How did you begin your career?
I had just moved to New Haven as a recent graduate and searched for entry-level jobs at Yale. My career here started as a Sr. Admin Assistant supporting the Employee Relations team at Yale School of Medicine.
What steps would you recommend one take to prepare to enter this field?
If you are interested in entering the field of Human Resources I would recommend taking initiative at your own workspaces to promote a positive culture, respect and inclusion. Meeting these metrics have direct impact to retention at Yale, professional growth, and a more collaborative, result-driven environment. Also, get involved with the Workplace Survey committees within your own departments, and connect with your recruiter or HRG to learn more about a career in HR. If you are interested in learning more about the New Haven Hiring Initiative, and ways that you can support our commitment, please do not hesitate to reach out to me!
What skills, abilities, and personal attributes are essential to success in your job/this field?
Teamwork, collaboration, listening skills, empathy and because the success metrics of the work that we do are measured in the long-term, my job requires organizational skills, long-term planning, and patience.
If you could do it all over again, would you choose the same path for yourself? If not, what would you change?
Absolutely. My past roles have been conduits to what I consider today my passion and what will lead to my future career goals. Sometimes we think we are not heading the right direction, but many times those steps are preparing us to become stronger candidates for the next chapter in our professional lives.
What does YLNG mean to you and how have you contributed as a member of the Steering Committee?
I think YLNG brings together a group of people that recognizes the importance of helping the Latinx community in overcoming social, economic and political challenges. Whenever I think of YLNG, I think of New Haven, and it may be because of the extensive work that YLNG does in support of the community. Coming from the Dominican Republic, it is also comforting to see how many different nationalities (beyond Hispanic groups) sit at the table to discuss shared goals and priorities.