Bronco Spotlight: Amanda Pastroff
HR Generalist/Assistant at Wightman
In my current role I work closely with our HR Director supporting our 3 office locations throughout Michigan. I am responsible for the following functional areas: HRIS implementation and administration, benefits administration, employee relations, training, performance management, onboarding, policy implementation, recruitment/employment, and employment law compliance.
What is the most rewarding and the most challenging part of your job?
The most rewarding part of my job is seeing employees excel in their career and achieve their professional goals. I would say the most challenging part of my job is managing employee鈥檚 expectations and educating staff on Human Resources as a whole. HR is a constantly changing field so it is imperative to keep all staff educated.
If you had a campus job or internship, how did they impact your career development?
Having relevant internship experience is crucial for finding full-time employment. I was lucky enough to obtain a HR Internship at a local hospital the summer before graduating. This allowed me to really grow my HR knowledge, technical ability, and also relationship building skills. My internship experience also helped me create a great network of HR professionals who I still stay in contact with. I would highly recommend completing an internship before graduating college.
What advice would you offer students to help them decide on a career path?
The advice that I would offer to students who are deciding on a career path is to take a wide variety of classes throughout college. This will open up your exposure to different fields of study. I would also recommend taking advantage of office hours to talk to your professors about possible career paths. Some of the best advice I have ever received was from my college professors. Additionally, I would recommend job shadowing professionals who are in a role you may be interested in.