At EAE, I have the sensation of constantly being learning", María Rojo
03 de April de 2019
03 de April de 2019
You work at Hupity, a startup incubated at the EAE Lab incubator. Tell us about your position and duties at the company.
I currently work as a Human Resources technician. As it is a startup, my day-to-day work is a continuous learning curve. Each day that goes by, I have to take giant steps outside my comfort zone. Although I am an intern, they make it clear that the decisions I take are just as important as those of any other member of the team. I am really pleased with the way they deal with me. They make me feel like part of the company.
How did the opportunity to join Hupity arise?
Through EAE's Employment Exchange. Taking the Master in Human Resources on a full-time basis means that there are fewer opportunities for getting an internship. So, when I saw the flexible timetable offered by the startup, I didn't hesitate and applied for the offer.
What was the selection process like?
It is always important to know what the company that you are contacting does to have a general overview of its activity and the sector it operate in. I investigated its policies, culture and achievements so that I could be more focused when they asked me questions.
Did you prepare in any particular way?
The selection process consisted of, firstly, a telephone interview in which they asked me about my professional experience, Bachelor Degree and achievements at both a professional and personal level. They asked me some very focused questions about the startup sector. They were all open questions to identify how I work and, in short, how I behave and deal with conflicts.
A couple of days later, they called to schedule a face-to-face interview, look around the facilities and get a more in-depth overview of what my future role would entail. The interview lasted around an hour and we covered everything from the interviewers' professional careers to open questions about the sector, my plans for the future, why I had chosen EAE Business School, etc.
How did you feel when they told you that you were the selected candidate?
I felt like the luckiest person in the world, as I had been looking for an internship that fitted with my timetable for a month and a half. After several interviews and not being an eligible candidate because of the timetable on many occasions, the day had come. After a week waiting to find out whether I would be the selected candidate, they let me know by email that I was one of the successful applicants and would join the Hupity project in Byld Startups. It was an indescribable feeling of achievement. That day, I felt really calm and I realised that efforts have their rewards. I felt a great deal of satisfaction about the work I had done in terms of the constant search for an internship, which enhanced my self-confidence considerably.
Why do you think you are the ideal person to hold this position?
I have a background in the social sphere. In fact, I studied Social Education at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. I consider myself a woman whose passion is helping others. I have worked with people with all kinds of socioeconomic profiles, so I feel very confident dealing with people. I think that I am the ideal person for this position because I am an outgoing person with good people skills. However, my path is now based on three principle, empathy, active listening and consistency.
What experience do you think you can gain on your internship at Hupity?
It is giving me a great professional experience with respect to my employment future in the Human Resources area. Startups combine innovation and new technologies that are now considered essential for adapting to the highly competitive and changing environment that we live in. At a personal level, it is making me more independent and more confident when making decisions. It is showing me that, despite only having been here a short time, that my decisions are just as important as anyone else who has been here for however long. The people who work in this organization are keen to listen to my ideas and value propositions and include them in their work.
What contribution can you make to Hupity?
I can contribute new ideas, different points of view, as the team is so varied with such a range of different experiences and knowledge. I bring my optimistic approach and motivation to work, consistency, empathy and active listening, a lack of which can often be the cause of disputes that arise in work teams.
Are you putting into practice the knowledge acquired on the Master in HR Management?
Of course, everything I bring to the company is a blend of my knowledge from the Bachelor Degree, my professionals experiences and what I am learning on the Master.
What are Hupity's strengths?
The company has a great working atmosphere. The relationship with my colleagues is really good and that makes the workload more enjoyable. The good atmosphere and the flexible timetable make people more efficient and autonomous with respect to their duties. Moreover, the company is constantly adapting to change, which is really important nowadays.
What impact do you think the experience you are gaining at the Hupity will have on your professional future?
I hope that it will have a positive impact in terms of improving my personal brand and that all the insight I am gaining will attract new companies searching for young talent. I am learning how to start a company from scratch, observing the creation of business structures and all that is entailed.
Why did you decide to take the Master in HR Management rather than another program?
I chose this Master because I have always been interested in the world of business and being in contact with people, which was directly related to my Bachelor Degree. Over the course of my career, I felt frustrated because I knew that I liked working with people but I didn't want to do it on such a social basis as my degree had prepared me to do. I realized that I was limiting myself and that my aspirations were very different from my undergraduate classmates'. So, I started searching and getting information, until I realized that Human Resources could be the ideal path for me.
What aspects of the knowledge and skills you acquired at EAE would you highlight?
All I it. I appreciate every day, every class, every minute of the Master because, as it so different to everything in terms of being related to the business sphere, it is practically all new to me. As a result, I have the sensation of constantly being learning, as well as benefiting from the enthusiasm with which the lecturers explained the subjects, the different dynamics used and the real case studies presented, preparing us to be able to tackle the real world in the best possible way with the short term.
Besides the academic side of things, what other experiences have you had at EAE Business School?
The entire Master is a real experience, right from the first day with the Afterwork session, when I met my classmates and had the chance to talk to lots of people from lots of different cultures and backgrounds. Students who, like me, had chosen to do a Master at EAE Business School, with the same passion.
What is your opinion of the teaching team at the School?
I have had the opportunity to study with excellent lecturers who work in leading companies in the country. Learning from them, their words and professional experiences is a gift that unfortunately we do not all have the chance to enjoy. Therefore, you can't let a single opportunity pass you by. Over the year that the Master runs, every minute is worth its weight in gold for our future.
Would you recommend EAE Business School? Why?
Yes, I would recommend the School. The service you receive is excellent from the Admissions stage right through to Graduation. EAE not only gives you the opportunity to train as a professional in the field of the Master that you choose, but there are also countless talent programs, employment opportunities, personal guidance to improve your personal brand and make a greater impact when looking for work. In addition, they help you to resolve any occasional issues that may come up. For EAE, the students' wellbeing is paramount.