December Alumni Career Profile

Name:  Leslie Bridges                  

Class Year:  1995

Major:  Speech Communications

Current Employer:  Johnson & Johnson; Codman Division

Describe your career path since graduation.
The first position I held after graduating from Bridgewater State was with a high technology company in the Accounts Payable department. I was an Accounts Payable Representative responsible for obtaining credits and resolving invoice issues with the company's vendors. I wanted to obtain a career in Human Resources and tried to apply to the company's Human Resources department, but they needed someone with human resource experience. I decided that I needed to make a change to begin the career path I so badly wanted so I joined a temporary search firm as a Staffing Manager. In this role I was responsible for sourcing, screening and placing accounting and finance professionals in temporary positions. I did this for three years and then decided that I needed to begin searching again for a corporate human resource position. It was at that point in time that I interviewed for and got hired at a company called Giga Information. I was a Staffing Specialist with the company for a year and was then promoted to a Human Resource Generalist role. In the generalist role I was responsible for staffing, employee relations, compensation, benefits and payroll. I was in this role for a about a year and half and knew that the company was going to be downsizing. I contacted a recruiting firm that specializes in Human Resource professional placement. This firm introduced me to Johnson & Johnson.  I was hired in as Human Resource Consultant where I focused on staffing and supporting our sales organization with employee relation issues, compensation and organization development. About a year ago I was promoted to a Manager level position within HR. I have a staff of one and more autonomy to make business decisions for my areas of responsibility.

What is your current position and how long have you been with your employer? 
I have been with Codman for 4 years. The position I currently hold at Codman is Human Resource Manager.

Describe the main responsibilities of your position. 
I am responsible for overseeing the employment function at Codman as well as supporting our Sales organization with their general business needs.

What do you enjoy most about your job? 
I enjoy the variety of responsibilities that I have at Codman.  This position keeps me challenged on a daily basis.

What do you find most challenging about your job? 
The biggest challenges that I face on a daily basis have to do with supporting the Sales Organization. As the business changes we need to ensure that we continue to keep our sales force engaged and motivated. Developing retention programs for the Sales organization continues to be an ongoing challenge.

Describe your typical work week.  (How many hours you work, your work environment, etc.) 
I tend to work about 50 hours a week. I  work in a fast paced, ever-changing work environment that I thrive in. The company that I work for is one where as an employee you are recognized for your hard work and achievement. The organization focuses on the development of each employee. This is an organization you develop a career with.

What job search methods did you use to obtain your current position?  
I used a headhunter that specializes in placement of Human Resources professionals.  A headhunter is a firm that specializes in a specific area of business. The headhunter/recruiter develops relationships with companies so that when they have an opening for a specific specialty they will contact the firm and have the firm source candidates for them. Search firms typically place experienced professionals. There are many avenues people can take to assist them in finding a new job or their first job including responding to a job advertisement, the internet (ex. Monster.com, Bostonworks.com), networking, applying to an on-campus job advertisements and attending job fairs.

What advice could you give to students interested in your field? 
Find something you love to do and success will follow.

 

 

 

Last Modified: December 2, 2004