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Sarah Thomas

What does a “day in the life” of a Director of Human Resources consist of?

One of the best things about my job is that no two days are alike. There are some things that happen on a consistent basis, but usually no one day looks like the next. My days consist of anything from benefits administration, attending leadership meetings, internal and external, providing council to both management and employees, and/or lots and lots of paperwork.

What advice would you give someone considering this career?

I would say go for it. It is a really rewarding job where you get to make positive impacts on people’s work life. It is a position that often gets called into difficult situations and problems, make sure you take care of yourself. Having hard honest conversations, being able to advocate for yourself and others, and having backbone to stand up for what you believe is right are all essential parts of the job. If you can’t do those things, HR is probably not the field for you.

What is a book or movie that has inspired you?

Working Girl. I love this movie. Tess does all the background leg work before anything even happens. Then when the opportunity comes, she takes it. It may not have been the normal path, but showing initiative works. Success comes when preparation meets opportunity. All luck is earned in the end.

Do you or your company offer internships or job shadowing opportunities to high school, if so how would they go about applying for one of those?

We do not currently. As a small fast growing company that is 3 years old we don’t have the support structure at this time. However, I encourage anyone who is looking to build their network, to get great career advice, and/or to find support for your goals to  join The Riveters community. Plus it is free! I wish something like this existed when I was just getting started.

Website: www.theriveter.co

Community: https://community.theriveter.co/

Sarah Thomas

Sarah Thomas (she/her) is the Director of Human Resources for The Riveter. Sarah has spent the last 15 years working in operations and human resources. Small companies, non-profits, and startups are her passion because they allow her to get her hands dirty. She now lives in Knoxville Tennessee with her partner Scott, who is a chef, and their dog Essie.