Name: Claudia Michelle Rodríguez
Age: 22
Major: Human Resource Management
Year: Fifth year
Favorite food: Pasta
Status: Single
HC: When did you know that Human Resources was what you wanted?
I initially wanted to study Graphic Arts, but I also knew I wanted something Business-related. I had never heard of the HR concept before, but after an aunt of mine who works in HR spoke to me about it, I found this field appealing enough to apply for it.
HC: Have you done any internships? If yes, where?
Luckily, throughout my college years I’ve had the chance to do 5 internships, all in diverse industries. The companies where I have worked as an intern are St. Jude Medical (now Abbott), Embassy Suites, Lilly Del Caribe, The Boeing Company and Cardinal Health Puerto Rico.
HC: Which one has been the most gratifying?
Although each one has been unique, my favorite two have been Lilly and Boeing. Lilly is one of the best pharmaceutical companies that we have left on the island and working here was a very gratifying experience, in part because of the organizational culture. I had a great work team which treated me like an actual employee, not just as an intern. And Boeing was my first experience living abroad, away from home, therefore it was a new challenge which helped me become a more independent person. Plus, it’s not everyday you get to work inside the world’s 3rd largest manufacturing factory and walk around gigantic airplanes while they’re being built!
HC: Have you ever had a tough time balancing your school work, extracurriculars and social life?
All the time. This is a constant struggle for me. I’ve always taken my extracurricular roles very seriously and this takes up a lot of my free time, as well as it often interferes with my class schedule. On the bright side, it has helped me to learn how prioritize tasks.
HC: What do you recommend people do if they’re searching for job or internship opportunities?
There’s 3 things I’ve learned that I’d like to share:
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If you are interested in doing a summer internship, especially in the US, begin your search around September or October. Most companies have already selected their summer interns by January, and a lot of people miss out on good opportunities because they aren’t aware of this timeframe. Same thing happens with jobs.
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Don’t get frustrated during your job search process. We live in a very competitive world but you can’t allow that to scare you from applying to as many opportunities as you want. You’ll never know what you can achieve if you don’t try. And yes, you’ll get rejected in a few. That’s totally normal. Just make sure you don’t let that stop you from going on to the next one.
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Don’t be picky! Any experience is better than no experience and we all have to start out somewhere. You can’t achieve success without starting from the bottom. Good opportunities require hard work and take time.
HC: What is the one thing you can never leave your house without?
Definitely my cellphone.
HC: Now that you’re graduating, what would you like to say to fellow graduates as you embark towards “real life”?
That I wish them all the best and that I hope they end up working somewhere where they feel content and fulfilled. And of course, to stay in touch!
HC: What would you like to say to the ones that stay at UPRRP? Any inspirational messages?
I would like to tell them to take good care of our Alma Mater, and now more than ever with all the challenges the institution is facing and what still awaits. But most importantly, to not lose hope and to not give up on our beloved IUPI. They can’t forget that the UPR continues to be the best institution of higher education in our country.