As a teacher, Jeannine Jaramillo taught all ages and disciplines, honing an ability to pivot constantly to meet her students’ needs. “You have to be flexible as a teacher,” she says. “You go where they need you.” 

That versatility has also served her well in her HR career -- in both phases. “When I graduated from college, my first job was at an actuarial firm calculating pensions and benefits and managing 401(k) plans,” Jaramillo recalls. She went on to become a payroll and benefits manager but switched to teaching to match her children’s schedule. After 15 years, she was ready to return to HR.

Here is how she made the switch, earning two HRCI certifications along the way.

From HR to the Classroom and Back to HR

After 15 years as a teacher, preparing for her Associate Professional in Human Resources™ (aPHR™) certification helped refresh Jaramillo’s knowledge regarding employment and labor law. “There had been a lot of changes in 15 years,” she says. “Getting the aPHR caught me up on current regulations and how things had changed.”

For other teachers who find themselves at a career crossroads and interested in working in HR, Jaramillo recommends investing in an HRCI certification. “The aPHR can get you up to speed on what you need to know to become an HR professional,” she says.

Supporting Soldiers and Civilians on the Base

Jaramillo, a military spouse, left teaching behind when she moved with her husband to an Army base in Italy. She already had a few years in the federal government system and wanted to continue accruing time. “A job opened up as a human resources assistant at the dental clinic on post in Italy,” she says. “I managed to get into that interview, and they hired me.” 

Jaramillo says she loved the role. “I was in a human resources position that helped the soldiers.” Her enlisted employees came to her for help with career planning or even bringing their families over from the United States. “That part of the job was a good fit with my teaching experience,” Jaramillo says. “I enjoyed letting them know what their opportunities were in the Army and how they could grow and better their careers.”

Navigating the First Waves of COVID-19

The pandemic struck Italy during Jaramillo’s stint at the dental clinic. She and her colleagues had to deal with staffing and leave questions long before the Families First Coronavirus Response Act was in place. At that time, there were no provisions for pay. Jaramillo and her team had to work out options for paid leave for the civilian employees while planning to safely return employees to work, following strict protocols in the dental clinic.

Their challenges included how to best support contract dental hygienists who wouldn’t be paid while the clinic was closed. “We worked with the contracting company and clinic management, and they took over some of their responsibilities,” she says. Jaramillo was able to find work for them sanitizing dental equipment during the hiatus.

All of this kept her busy during the day, so Jaramillo studied for a second certification, the Professional in Human Resources® (PHR®), at night. Her preparation for the PHR exam helped her handle the front lines of COVID-19, she says. “Certification helped me understand what the laws were regarding safety and what we could or couldn’t require of employees,” Jaramillo says. “It helped me understand subtle differences between employee types.” 

Today, Jaramillo lives with her husband at his new assignment at Fort Hood. She is looking for work, and she hopes to continue serving the Army as an HR professional.