Keeping an Open Mind: Kaitlyn Finds Her Passion for HR in the HRRP

Kaitlyn R. | Senior Analyst, HR Generalist | Austin, TX

Originally Published: June 14, 2023

Could you share a fun fact about yourself?

I have met six astronauts, including the second man on the moon Buzz Aldrin, after whom the Toy Story character Buzz Lightyear was named. Curious to know more? Schedule a 1x1 with me! 

Why did you decide to join Dell Technologies, and what experiences in your career path led you to the Human Resources Rotation Program (HRRP)?
I was sitting in my office at a previous employer when everything clicked, "I could be doing this thing that I love on a bigger scale, making a broader impact, and, boy, does the world of HR excite me! It's time to go back to school." I enrolled in a master's in HR and landed an internship at Dell, intending to secure a rotation in the HRRP with the Global Mobility & Immigration team. I wanted to explore the corporate side of immigration to complement my previous experience working with international students. I love that Dell's HRRP opened the door for me to dive into a niche area of HR and broaden my skill set.

What is your favorite part of the HRRP?
My favorite part of the HRRP is how quickly I built a network across multiple functions, not just my own organization, through meaningful projects. Walking through the halls of Round Rock 1, I know team members from HR, finance, marketing, sales, and more. Being part of a formal development program is a enormous advantage for exploring career areas and getting to know the business.

What advice do you have for potential candidates interested in joining the HRRP?

My advice for potential candidates joining the HRRP:

• Remember that the program is designed to stretch you and expose you to areas that you don't have experience in.
• You might end up LOVING something you thought you wouldn't or didn't even know existed.

This is exactly what happened in my HRRP journey. From the start, I always said that I wanted to land a HR specialist role and that I didn't see myself as a generalist. Then, the HRRP placed me as an HR Business Partner (a generalist role) for my first rotation! By the end of my rotation, I didn't want to leave my clients, and I learned that I love working directly with leaders on their stickiest HR situations. The HRRP lets you try multiple areas before you decide what you enjoy most.

My advice: Don't knock it until you try it!

Outside of work, what do you enjoy doing? Outside of work, I love to disconnect from my phone and spend time reading on my balcony, doing yoga in the park, or playing board games with friends. Dell's flexible work schedule allows me to fit in the things I love, including volunteering with an after-school program called Girls on the Run, where I can lean into my love for confidence-building in young girls (and let's admit it, the playground is fun no matter how old you are!) This is the first time in my career I haven't had a side job at a jewelry store - I'm a salesperson at heart and sold engagement rings for 10 years. Ask me about diamonds or my life as a new plant mom!

To learn more about rotation programs and life at Dell, please visit graduates and our stories.