“I couldn’t have asked for more. It’s been vital
to understand the complexities of laws in HR
along with cultural and behavioral variations.”
As a human resource manager in a Silicon Valley startup, Meliza Xavier considers herself extremely fortunate. She secured an internship at a top organization during her first month in the Human Resource Management Certificate program, a position where she could directly apply her new knowledge from the classroom. Initially she was responsible for creating an HR analytics dashboard that portrayed hiring data for the recruitment team and recruitment scheduling.
“It was a dream come true,” she says. “This was my first step into human resource management in the U.S.”
Xavier was not new to HR when she enrolled in the Extension program. She holds a master’s degree in Personnel Management from the University of Pune in her native India and had a few years of experience in the industry before coming to the U.S. After moving to the U.S., she earned a Professional Human Resource (PHR) certification from the HR Certification Institute and enrolled in the Extension HRM program to better understand legal and cultural variations in the U.S. workforce. Just as important, she wanted to build her professional network.
The course stressed student participation and the practical application of new skills.
“I couldn’t have asked for more,” she says. “It’s been vital to understand the complexities of laws in HR along with cultural and behavioral variations.”
A year later, she is a human resource manager in the same company. Because it’s a startup, she has been able to help shape the company in its early growth stages.
“I love my job,” Xavier says, noting the complex human dynamics and legal issues that arise. “There is no scope for boredom.” She hopes to get her Senior Professional HR certification next year and to keep growing her network. “The market is so competitive. I want my name to be known in the HRM community in Silicon Valley.”
Learn more information about the UCSC Extension HR Management program.