NAME: Vicky Turk

OCCUPATION: Human Resources

I love my job—and I think I’m pretty good at it, thanks in part to the skills I gained as an undergraduate Communication major. I’m currently a human resources professional at a global financial data and media company, and I handle everything in an employee’s “life cycle.” From hiring to relations with coworkers, relocation, flexible work arrangements, immigration, and even separation from the company, I am the employee’s go-to person.

You might think that people in this high-intensity environment arrive with the communication skills they need to succeed. Sadly, this isn’t true; just because you’re a manager doesn’t mean that you effectively negotiate conflict with a subordinate. Or just because you’re an incredibly successful accountant doesn’t mean that you’re a natural at leading a group toward a particular goal. The fact is that communication isn’t common sense; I spend a good deal of time helping people navigate stressful work/life situations that could be alleviated or improved with better listening, nonverbal, intercultural, conflict management, and group work skills. Much of the time, I find myself reaching for these very tools!

For example, when I’m mediating a manager–employee conflict or one between colleagues, I remind myself that people—regardless of professional status—like to feel that someone is truly, actively listening to them when they’re sharing their perspective, particularly in a heated situation. I’ve found that I can defuse all sorts of problems by hearing the parties out, not showing what I feel or think internally (monitoring my nonverbal behaviors), and modeling how to navigate a way through differing perceptions without threatening any of the individuals involved. Once people feel that I’m on their side, they listen less defensively and we usually find a resolution.

I remember my college professors stressing that competent communicators need to be agile and adjust their behaviors rapidly to meet the needs of intense and quickly changing situations. Being able to do this confidently is essential when working in Human Resources. (This is also true of other people-oriented professions, such as teaching, counseling, and consulting.) After all, verbal and nonverbal behavior that might be effective and appropriate with one individual in one situation at one particular moment in time might not be effective and appropriate elsewhere—and you don’t always have a lot of time to sit and think about it.

I consider myself extremely fortunate to have a wonderful and interesting job that constantly challenges me to refine my skills and learn new ones. Some people may have questioned my decision to major in Communication because it “doesn’t produce direct job skills.” Clearly I’ve proved the naysayers wrong. I can always take a course or a workshop to learn a programming language, improve my Web design skills, or learn other equally important skills in today’s economy. But I rest assured and reflect gratefully that I spent four years studying the ins and outs of human communication. I would not be where I am today had my studies taken me in a different direction.