Event planning, Business Operations and Human Resources all have in common Oana’s passion for working with people. Keep reading to discover Oana’s take on the most important skills for the position, its challenges and perks and the importance of being adaptable while working with many people with different personalities.
Tell us more about yourself
I graduated from the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, in 2013, and then I worked in a travel agency for 2 and a half years. After that, I started working in the events industry, for the next 5 and a half years, as an event coordinator.
I joined the Business Operations and now HR department in the IT bubble last year.
I consider myself as people’s person. I was always passionate about working with people and being surrounded by them. I feel like their energy charges and motivates me.
In my spare time, I like to read a good book, watch a movie or go on a hike. But, I am a summer person, so the hike applies only during warm seasons.
What does your usual working day look like?
Every single one of my days, either a working day or weekend, starts with a big cup of coffee. I usually drink my coffee at the office, while reading my emails and messages. Once I get my daily dose of caffeine, I check my TO DO list and start prioritizing tasks. Since most tasks are time-sensitive, everything has to be very well organized.
I then attend my meetings for group discussions with the HR management, to keep track for new hires, terminations, or any other updates. And then, I let the day begin!
What made you choose a HR position?
I didn’t choose HR, HR chose me!
But seriously, I like to believe that Human Resources is the heart of a company, and working within this department you get to see it grow every day with every new employee. I am convinced that people are one important essential for a business to succeed.
What do you enjoy the most about your job?
The PEOPLE!
HR is the job where you are working with people and for people. You also get to meet so many amazing personalities, you learn that everyone is unique and you have to mold yourself according to every individual.
This for sure is one field where you learn something new every day. No two days in HR are ever the same.
What are some of the challenges of the job?
Challenges are definitely present in every field and I think that are essential for our professional growth and development since they provide motivation to learn more and become better.
For me personally, time management for daily activities is one of the most challenging so far. You always have deadlines for most tasks, but you still have to solve situations that pop up during the day.
What have you learned during your time in Business Operations?
I am very grateful for my time spent in the Business Operation department, because it really made it clear that Human Resources is the field for me.
Business Operation is a mixture of both financial and HR related tasks, and even though I am the proud owner of a diploma in economics, when I had to work on my financial tasks, everything became blurry. However, it helped me a lot to improve my financial skills.
What I learned while working with people in this department, is that if you go that extra mile, you’ll inspire confidence.
What skills do you believe are the most important in HR?
There are some skills that are incredibly important when it comes to working in HR. You have to be a good listener and a trustworthy person because people come to you with a variety of matters, some more personal and sensitive.
Apart from that, I think communication and time management skills are some of the most necessary. This field is a delicate balance of supporting the people and supporting the business. While you are helping every employee that reaches you, even if you are busy doing something else, you still have to keep your documents such as employment contracts, managing payroll, etc. ready in time to be processed.
Something that you tell yourself when you’re having a stressful day.
Remember that you make a difference, every single day.
