Human resources people on Ann’s very first job interview made her realize that one day she wanted to work in HR. That staff was friendly and knew how to help people achieve their career goals. She just saw herself in that kind of role; but how would she get in the door, when all of the open jobs seemed to require having HR experience?

Ann took an assortment of other positions. She was a loan processor. She was a collector. When she came to Wells Fargo four years ago, it was as a technical operations processor. Those jobs had little to do with an HR path. But Ann knew she was gaining experience from them – they would all benefit her eventually. She also chose business management as a college degree program.

When an opportunity finally arose, Ann grabbed it. Having won the Sales and Service trip to Hawaii last year, she found herself seated at a dinner table with a senior HR manager. Taking the initiative, she spoke up to ask how to get into an HR group without any experience.

The answer for Ann was to move to an HR Specialist role and get training once there. Within a short time, her networking led to an open position, where both her new manager and HR manager helped her select courses to add detail to her new field.

“Networking is the best thing you can do,” Ann shares. She also advises: “Get experience. Have your eyes wide open for any opportunities. Absorb everything you can in any job you have. Eventually it will lead you somewhere.”

Is her new HR role a good a fit? Her manager, Greg Benzon, thinks so. “She’s one of the best people I’ve hired in 20+ years of managing, and she’s part of our small team because she was given the opportunity to change career paths without leaving Wells Fargo. Ann’s story… illustrates the fact that a career path doesn’t have to be perfectly straight,” he said.

How about you? Do you want to look for a bend in the road? Explore the many different possibilities at Wells Fargo.

Polly suggests that everyone identify their own strengths, as she did, and then focus on those instead of on their weaknesses. She offers this advice: "Look at your goals, and don't be afraid to step out of a comfort zone to stretch."

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Or investigate other career possibilities by visiting the Teamworks Jobs site.