Leah Dixon has recently completed an internship here at Veolia Water Technologies and is now a full time member of the team. Leah has a Business Degree from the National College of Ireland is in the final stages of her Masters degree in Human Resource Management. Leah really enjoyed her internship here at Veolia, meeting lots of fantastic people and gaining great experience in her field. Leah's hard work and dedication to her role has seen her become an important member of a busy HR team.
Describe your current role at Veolia Water Technologies?
My current position at Veolia Water Technologies is HR Administrator. My main duties consist of updating and maintaining personal records, managing the administration of HR documents such as employee records and onboarding of new employees. Since the lifting of covid19 restrictions, sending employees to training courses has returned I assist with researching and booking relevant courses alongside the HR Advisor. Training & Development is a huge part of HR and is an area that I thoroughly enjoy. Being involved in creating Development Plans for new joiners is something that I really enjoy doing.
I also assist the HR Team on any projects that are being undertaken and even some events for example our Team Building day in the Killashee Hotel earlier this year, International Women's day in March at the office and Tea Day in May to raise awareness for The Alzheimer's Society.
How did your internship at Veolia help benefit you, your studies or your career?
When the pandemic hit I was working as a supervisor in Supervalu deciding whether or not to continue my studies from Business to HR. I started looking locally for some experience in HR to see if the area was something I would be interested in and my internship at Veolia really didn't disappoint. I joined Veolia Water Technologies in June of 2021 in the middle of the pandemic. I gained an insight into all aspects of HR from Recruitment, Training and Development, Maintaining Company Culture, Career planning and many more. Gaining such a 360°insight into HR throughout my internship prompted me to do my Masters in HR.
I was fortunate enough to be offered a part time position whilst undertaking my Masters and it has certainly had a positive impact on my grades. Being involved in day to day HR tasks and hearing terms that I learned through modules in college helped me gain a better understanding. The flexibility and guidance throughout my studies has been incredible and I am very thankful for it!
Describe any challenges you had to overcome during your first year with Veolia?
I started my internship with Veolia in June 2021 during the peak of social distance and mask wearing. Whilst this was difficult I was fortunate enough to be able to work in the office alongside the HR team. Other than the pandemic I have settled into Veolia very well with tremendous support from management and colleagues.
What was your biggest takeaway from your internship year?
I gained more from my internship than I had anticipated. I discovered my areas of strengths and weaknesses in each field, which helped me figure out areas that I enjoyed and didn't enjoy. One of the biggest takeaways from my internship is the knowledge I have recently acquired, including the ability to perform HR tasks. In addition, I have spent time improving and refining the skills I already have.
What does a typical day look like in your current role?
As a HR administrator no day is the same. However I would say that I always work to keep up with my emails in order to make sure I am aware of what is happening each day. If there are any urgent queries or tasks I ensure they are completed as soon as possible. I check in with the HR team to see if I can be of any assistance to them before continuing on with administration duties such as paperwork, updating drives and job descriptions to name a few.
What is your favourite part about working with Veolia Water Technologies?
There are many things that I enjoy about working with Veolia. The opportunity to develop, flexible work arrangements, training opportunities and most importantly the people. Working at an organisation where everyone works together and are there whenever you have a question makes going to work enjoyable!
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