CPaCE News

Like many people, Jenn Pham had a difficult 2020. Her busy schedule of freelance work in the bridal beauty industry came to an abrupt halt when the pandemic hit, as weddings were cancelled and the market became saturated with fellow professionals who were also suddenly out of work.

“I went from hardly being home to being home all day long for nine months,” Jenn explained. “I talked to countless people, reached out to all of my alma maters for assistance, and listened to the wisdom and advice everyone had to give me.”

While she scored several job interviews, Jenn got passed over on each one at first. She wanted to enter the Human Resources (HR) field, but her past experience didn’t match the opportunities she was seeking. So she made the “no-brainer” decision to enroll in CSULB’s HR Management course in August 2020.

In just a few months of evening classes, Jenn learned a new set of skills, including advice on how to benefit from every job interview—even if she didn’t eventually get the position. The course also helped her identify and insert key words within her resume to optimize search results. At the same time, Jenn made important networking connections with colleagues in the industry. One of them was HR program instructor Trent Bryson, CEO of Bryson Financial, who was recently featured in the Los Angeles Business Journal’s “Thriving in Their 40s” profile.

“After listening to Trent speak, I absolutely loved his perspective on business practices and life, so I chased after him for a few weeks to get coffee together,” Jenn said. “We talked about my hopes to transition into an administrative HR position.”

By the end of the year, she graduated from the program and scored a new job. Trent had forwarded information to Jenn about a few companies that matched her skills and interests, and after a positive interview process, she was offered a position in December 2020 as a Sales Administrator at Dastmalchi, which operates a collection of lifestyle, beauty, and wellness brands including Vanity Planet. Among other duties, Jenn prepares sales reports for the company’s line of skincare, fitness, and hygienic products. While not exactly the position she was originally aiming for, Jenn’s boss made it clear that he hopes to eventually move her to the organization’s HR team once they grow big enough to start one.

“I really give my appreciation to Trent for taking time out of his day to speak to me, listen to my story, and connect me to the right company who not only believes in my abilities, but also sees my potential for growth,” Jenn explained. “I’m so thankful for the invaluable knowledge and connections the HR program has offered!”

Click here to learn more about the HR Management program.