Anne Spargur Testimonial

1. How did you hear about this program? What drew you to enroll?   

When I moved back to Santa Barbara several years ago, I began working as support staff in Human Resources for a very knowledgeable and skilled Human Resources Manager.  I was interested in moving forward in the field and she recommended the UCSB Program to me. She had previously gone through the Program and spoke very highly of the quality of the instruction she received. 

2. What have you enjoyed most about studying at UCSB Professional and Continuing Education?

The most enjoyable aspect of the Program for me was getting to know the amazing instructors and learning from their expertise.  All of my instructors were established working professionals and were truly dedicated to our progress.  Most of them were generous in sharing their career experiences and I found it valuable learning of their career journeys, successes and how they overcame challenging obstacles.  I received lots of individualized attention and valuable, honest feedback.  I would even consider a few of them as mentors. 

I also enjoyed working with the other students, who represented a wide variety of ethnicities, cultures, ages, and professions.  I learned so much from listening to others’ experiences and expanded my understanding of the many perspectives on organizational functioning.  I also gained competence and confidence working with work-groups, including putting together and making presentations, which has also helped me in my current job. 

3. How do you think this course will benefit you the most in your career goals?

The Program has already benefited me in my career goals.  After I completed the Program, I took and passed the SHRM-CP exam.  I found that having completed the UCSB Program and SHRM-CP certification put me ahead of other applicants when applying for new jobs.  The Program was comprehensive and covered so many areas of Human Resources, it gave me a theoretical and practical foundation in all aspects, something my on-the-job training did not provide me with.  I now have a foundation in Recruitment, Selection & Retention, Employee Relations, Mediation, Benefits, Legal Aspects, Finance for HR, Compensation, and Organizational Behavior.  This has made me more valuable to my organization and has helped me move beyond my Generalist role into a more specialized position.

4. Are there any additional comments you would like to add about the course, the instructor or the service provided by UCSB PaCE?

This Program was so incredibly valuable to me in terms of applying new skills and knowledge to my day job.  It gave me the opportunity, resources and support to develop intelligent, well-developed and effective solutions to challenges I faced at work, both in my immediate unit, as well as my organization as a whole.  The Program kept me up-to-date on the latest trends and research in best practices, which helped me to improve/modernize processes at work.  I developed a higher-level perspective in organizational functioning and began to recognize connections between areas I had not previously connected.  And, finally, it helped me to become a more effective professional by recognizing and improving techniques, habits and characteristics that may have previously held me back.  This Program was not always easy, but it was one of the most valuable steps I have taken to move my career forward.