Here’s this week’s edition of our Coworking series, in which we chat 1:1 with an HR Brew reader. Want to be featured in an upcoming edition? Click here to introduce yourself.
There’s not one tried-and-true path to HR. Many pros who speak with HR Brew about their work have had experiences that uniquely led them to their current position. For Abby Bartlett, the path from high school chemistry teacher to HR manager at Larissa Loden Inc., a Minnesota-based jewelry manufacturer, is unique.
After leaving education to raise her children, Bartlett began nannying for the jewelry company’s owner. She initially provided Larissa Loden with HR and admin work while the kids were napping or on the weekends as “sort of an internship.” Bartlett eventually took on more and more HR and bookkeeping responsibilities, while earning both a train-the-trainer certification through the Minnesota’s displaced homemaker program and an HR generalist certificate.
Through “a lot of grit and a lot of desire to learn,” Bartlett built out the company’s HR department from the ground up. Lately, she’s really relied on ChatGPT to help her out. She’s used the tool when recruiting, and even relied on it for constructing a Dr. Seuss-style poem/memo about a policy prohibiting dogs at the office, which had “everybody laughing, even though it was kind of bad news.”
What’s the best change you’ve made at a place you’ve worked?
I encouraged the leadership team to dig deeper on what was blocking one of our great employees from wanting to be full time and level up. After I asked the employee a few questions, leadership determined we could easily overcome her obstacle, and she is now part of our executive leadership team!
What’s the biggest misconception people might have about your job?
Some of them may think I only wait around for employees to ask questions and not understand what I do day to day.
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What’s the most fulfilling aspect of your job?
Supporting the owner and her visions by supporting employee relations. I enjoy helping people have what they need and also what they want, if I can.
What trend in HR are you most optimistic about? Why?
The use of AI in recruitment. I have already seen AI cut my applicant screening process time in half.
Tell me about how you're using AI, and how it's changed the way that you are hiring.
We did a lot of hiring earlier in the year. Instead of initially having to read through all the cover letters and resumes, I was able to copy my job description and job posting, put that into ChatGPT, and then just said, “Okay, here's an applicant, so based on this job description and posting, is this applicant qualified?” ... I would get a summary from ChatGPT.
I also would [use ChatGPT] when I was making the posting…just put it in ChatGPT…and I was like, “make this more badass or whatever,” and then it just gave me all these ideas, so then I could spruce it up and make it enticing, engaging, and grab the attention of the reader. I got a lot more response from a lot more people applying or reaching out with interest.
What trend in HR are you least optimistic about? Why?
With so many boomers exiting the workforce, I see challenges ahead with staying competitive in attracting and retaining top talent.
Tell us one new or old HR tech product or platform that’s made your life easier, and why.
GUSTO! Works great for our small but mighty company.