Jessica Beltran

Name
Jessica Beltran
Grad Year
2004
Degree
BA
Program
French
Industrial Relations
Sociology
Role / Title
HR Generalist
Organization
Carlson Marketing

“As an HR Generalist, I oversee two client groups located in Toronto and Montreal. My main responsibilities are to ensure that my team's requirements are being met as it relates to recruitment, employee relations, training and development, onboarding, progressive discipline, and performance management,” says Jessica, who has a post graduate certificate in human resources.

“Because my groups are remote (I work out of the corporate head office in Mississauga), it is difficult for me to have a handle on everything that is happening at both locations. My position is rewarding in that I am able to help people find the right training and development required for them to progress in their current career. It is also rewarding to hire someone and have them bloom within their career.”

Jessica says personal characteristics required for success in her line of work include being a people person and having good listening skills.

“You will need to give plenty of sound advice to your client groups so you need to have a good ear. You also need patience when it comes to recruitment as the ‘right’ candidate does not always come knocking on your door for the job that you have posted,” she says.

Upon graduation from Humber, where Jessica obtained her post graduate certificate, she got a job as HR Coordinator with Husky Injection Molding Systems.

“I learned a great deal in two and a half years there. While at UTM, during my second year it was a course called Organizational Behaviour that lead me to consider a career in HR. That course taught me about the different dynamics within an organization and the different aspects from which you can build a career in HR,” she says.

“I first applied for a co-op program which allowed me to gain first hand experience into the world of HR. I was able to join the HRPAO as a student and therefore had access to various HR postings directed towards internships and co-ops for students. It is probably the smartest thing that any student can do, as they are privy to postings that they would otherwise not be.”

If she could do anything differently, Jessica says she’d have tried to get more exposure to the various positions available in the HR discipline.

“The keys to my success have been being unafraid to try new things, getting involved in the many facets of HR and not being afraid to ask to be involved. Learn as much as you can, ask as many questions that you can think of, for learning is truly a life long process,” she says.