Hello, and welcome to another “Get to Know” interview! This one is all about your HR lovely, Angela Ajay. Grab a drink and snack and read on.
Angela Ajay hails from Chennai, India. She completed her education in ECE engineering and PGDM in HR in India. She worked in a multinational automotive manufacturing company named Ashok Leyland as an HR for 5 years, and later, she moved to the US and started work with CloudQ. She’s been with the team for a long time and takes care of back-end administration, onboarding, and matters related to benefits and payroll. She is a warm and friendly individual and a great asset to our company. Being one of the oldest members of the CloudQ family, we were excited to hear her inspiring views on personal and professional life.
What do you enjoy most about working with CloudQ?
I have great managers and great colleagues. Here we have a great team which I enjoy the most. On the work front, I have been here for a few years, and I was able to learn about different areas in Human Resources. In the US, HR operations are different from those in India. So CloudQ has also been a wonderful learning ground for me.
How long have you been with the company?
I have worked with CloudQ for 5+ years now.
What prompted you to apply to work with CloudQ?
When I moved to the US, I was looking for jobs. CloudQ had an opening in HR, and I applied and got recruited. Back then, the company was small, and over the years, we have grown together as a team into this wonderful workspace.
How do you prefer to start your day?
I start my day with coffee and prayer. At work, I start with my to-do list. It decides how my day shapes.
What’s your go-to productivity trick?
I would say my brain gets clogged with many things regarding personal and work-related things. So, it is mandatory that once or twice a day I do a brain dump by writing everything that needs to get done on paper or any device. It takes about 5 minutes to do that. Then I take another 5 minutes to prioritize them. This process helps me out and keeps me productive.
Are you an early bird or a night owl?
It depends on the day. Sunlight drives me. If it is a bright, sunny day, I prefer to work during the day, and if it is gloomy, then I opt to work late into the night.
Who has influenced you most when it comes to how you approach your work?
My mother and father have influenced me the most. They have worked very hard through their life and instilled pretty high standards of work ethic in me. I understand there is no replacement for hard work. You need to work towards your goals and put in the work to get amazing results.
What behavior or personality trait do you most attribute your success to, and why?
I would say I have a “NEVER-GIVE-UP ATTITUDE.” It is ingrained in me. Even in bad situations, I try to move on and take the lessons learned with me. It’s all about doing your part until you get the results you envisioned. That drive is important.
What was your first job?
HR at Ashok Leyland.
What led you to this career?
I felt that HR fits my personality. So, I did my PGDM in HR, and I am very happy with the decision I made.
What energizes you at work?
When I complete the tasks on my to-do list, it makes me feel happy. It gives me a sense of achievement and energizes me further to do more.
What’s a work-related accomplishment that you’re proud of?
I was awarded the best HR in CloudQ in 2019. It is one of my proudest moments, and I love that CloudQ appreciates its employees for their work.
What’s the biggest misconception people have about your position?
I don’t think people have any misconceptions about my job role. Back in the day, HR positions were considered just administrative jobs. It didn’t get its due importance. However, when I graduated and joined Ashok Leyland, the HR field had already undergone major changes and was considered a strategic role in the company. So, we could say I joined the HR field at the right time.
If you could add one thing to the company’s office, what would it be?
I work from home. I am happy with what I have. And also, I believe our offices both in the US and India have a great environment. Keeping true to my observations, CloudQ was recognized as a TOP WORKPLACE by the AJC in 2021 [#61 out of 150].
How does this role contribute to larger company goals?
Everybody would agree that people are the most important resources or assets of the company. They need to work at their best to grow the company to success. We as the HR department manage the people so that they are satisfied and thus contribute towards larger company goals.
What are some of the challenges or roadblocks one might come up against in this role?
The main challenge I face is multi-tasking as I work on multiple areas. With experience, multitasking has become easier for me.
As an HR Manager, how will [you] drive results?
The foremost thing any employee, and HR, needs to understand is the company vision. Only then can one work to drive results that are in line with the vision. Also, I try to execute things cost effectively.
What do you like least about the world of human resources?
I don’t have any. I love my job.
What trends will shape Human Resource departments over the next five years?
Since Covid, working remotely has become a trend and will become further expansive in the coming years. The technology to manage remote employees will be something that will gain a lot of importance. Real-time data monitoring will be another huge trend that will shape Human Resources.
Do you have any advice for aspiring HR professionals?
I think the main reason HR professionals are sometimes not successful is that their work may not align directly with the vision of the company. It is mandatory to understand the company vision and work meticulously towards the goal. HR professionals also need to be excellent at multitasking, which comes in handy in many tough situations. Also, you need to be optimistic and keep learning any new trends in the field to stay up to date with technology.
How do you prefer to end your day?
I try to ensure all my priority tasks are completed for the day, and I also plan my to-do list for the next day. I unwind by spending time with my family.
Thank you, Angela, for being such a sport and being part of this wonderful series. We hope our aspiring HR recruits will find great inspiration from your interview.
If you enjoyed this article, check out some of our others, and get to know our employees (or your coworkers).
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