Carving Paths for Colleagues‘ Success at INVENSITY – An Interview

Marty: Hi, Rachel. Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to interview you. Let’s jump right into things and discuss how you got your start in HR.

Rachel: Actually, I never really planned to work in the private sector. As a Political Science graduate, the usual path is working for the government or pursuing law. But when I graduated, there wasn’t really a clear way as to how I could do this, so I decided to take whatever opportunities were available.

Things weren’t easy. My career had a humbling start where I worked at a hardware store. Before I became part of their HR, they requested me to be a Sales Assistant since they needed this more. At the time, I was asking myself, „How can this help me in my future career“, especially since the work was more hands-on like checking inventory and assisting customers. Later, I realized it helped me to handle small, day-to-day tasks and develop important values like discipline, responsibility, and hard work.

My next job was already HR-focused, but it was doing employee relations at a logistics company.

Marty: What do you mean by employee relations? What was the work?

Rachel: The position was about making sure that employees were following the rules or code of discipline and the company handbook. Think of your usual company rules for things like attendance, leave policies and workplace behavior.

To be honest, I didn’t see myself focusing on disciplinary actions and employee termination as a long-term job since I felt like it carried too much weight. I was more interested in supporting colleagues and contributing to a positive work environment.

Marty: And this is where INVENSITY comes in?

Rachel: Yeah. Unlike my old job where it was more on enforcing company policies and workplace rules, I got to handle tasks related to employee development and growth. Here, I was also exposed to a broader and more dynamic experience, including areas such as administration and finance.

Also, what’s amazing is that I get to work with a team of competent people and learn about how to make businesses more efficient. I know we work in a fast-paced environment but at least we operate with a flat hierarchy and have the flexibility to work on the things we like.

Marty: Since we’re on the topic of things we like, what do you find meaningful about your work?

Rachel: I’ve read a lot of articles online that say that HR only sides with the employer and not the employee. I know HR has that kind of reputation, but for my work and how we do things, I try to be the voice of colleagues when they want to address challenges with the management and find solutions for them. I also want to make sure that employees are happy and fulfilled since it leads to the business doing well too.

When I work with competent and talented people, I’m pushed to constantly improve. I feel a sense of perfectionism not just from our technical consultants but also other departments like M&A and the Communications Department. Everyone has high standards and there’s a direction they’re moving towards that they want me to know about.

Basically, I’m in an environment that allows me to be hungry for learning and growth.

Marty: That’s really nice to hear, Rach, and a great compliment to our departments! Alright, before we end this interview, I want to know what advice you have for those who are looking to become HR professionals like yourself.

Rachel: I would say:

1. Focus less on having everything figured out early. Be willing to learn and to adjust or adapt to changing situations.
2. Don’t be afraid to start in roles that you’re unfamiliar with even if it’s outside of your long-term plans. You’ll learn a lot from this.
3. Be consistent and build on your current skills by showing up even when it’s hard.

Rachel Ascaño currently works as a Senior HR Officer for INVENSITY’s Manila Office. Her work involves driving improvements for HR processes, overseeing daily operations within the Manila office, and caring for employees.

Aside from her professional responsibilities, she loves karaoke, spending quality time with friends and family, and trying out new hobbies like rock and mountain climbing.

Interested in working with the people that make things happen? Check out our career website and start your career journey with us!