A day in the life of... an Administrative and HR Officer

Something people don’t know about me…

is that I'm left-handed. Also, I don't always enjoy talking very much, but when I’m around people, I do tend to talk a lot. I like to spend time alone where I can think and plan for the future (both personally and professionally).

I chose this career path because…

Administrative and HR Officers do a little bit of everything so I’ve had the chance to explore many different areas. That’s why my career path may look like a winding road with many different branches and forks. For example, some may find they have a love for budgeting and branch off the administrative path to pursue finance, or if they like the organizational side, they could decide to manage the office to ensure it functions smoothly.

I describe my job as…

planning, managing, scheduling and promoting office events including meetings, conferences, interviews, orientations, and training sessions. I also collect, organize, and store information using computers and filing systems. I oversee special projects and track progress towards company goals.

My friends and family describe me as…

a detail-oriented team player.

I start the day by…

I’m working from home at the moment due to COVID-19. The first thing I need is a cup of tea (with milk and sugar), I enjoy these minutes, then check my to-do list, plan my day, and make sure that the most urgent work gets done first. I ensure I start my day with a positive mindset.

On a typical Monday morning, I begin by going over the list from the previous week. This way I can set my priorities. I review the status of the tasks that I’m currently working on and I try to finish any pending work if present. I try to make sure that all the work assigned to me is moving forward and without any glitches.

An ordinary day at work goes like this…

To be honest, it doesn’t really exist! I look after Admin and HR so interacting with team members, vendors, and candidates keeps me busy all day. It’s important for me to understand what’s going on with their current projects as well as address any issues or concerns they may have.

I know it’s been a good day when…

I wake up in the morning having had plenty of sleep, I freshen up, have a nice cool bath, have a good breakfast with a cup of hot tea and then head towards the office. When I’m working in the office, it’s when I end my day completing most of my given tasks and my boss is impressed with my work. Also, from an HR perspective, I love it when a new member of staff is happy in their new role or when someone smiles when they have just found out that they have been promoted.

The best piece of advice I’ve been given is...

• Do good to others and good will happen to you
• Try until you succeed, or you’ll regret not trying
• Never give up!

Outside of work I like to…

spend time with family and friends, go out for walks, go shopping, or watch movies. I also like listening to music while cooking and doing household things.

A song that gets me in the zone is…

Aashayein from the Bollywood movie Iqbal. It means, “Tear apart the storms and snatch your goals, let the desire in your heart bloom, let the hopes in your heart smile. Nothing is difficult; absolutely nothing.”

I am passionate about…

everything, especially things that give me inner peace! I get bored and tired doing the same things every day, so I try to do something new daily. One area that I'm passionate about is self-development and self-improvement in my personal life. I'm always looking to challenge myself.

To me, the definition of success is…

It’s a state of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best that you can be.

I’m excited about the future of…

It excites me when I think about all the new places that I will visit and all the people I will meet.