HR staff member enjoys welcoming new employees to THE NEST
As the Sr. Employment Coordinator in UNF’s Human Resources department, Christie Ellis keeps track of different queues and email inboxes throughout the day. She says making a daily “To-Do” list helps her stay organized and on top of the various requests that come across her desk every day.
Describe a typical workday for you?
Constantly looking at my different queues and email inbox to keep up with all the different requests we receive in a day. The employment team is responsible for postings, hiring proposals, applying EPAFs to Banner, keying in new employees, interview pool requests and network access forms. There are different queues for each type of employee, so I have approximately six different queues to keep track of and that’s not including emails.
What led you to this opportunity at UNF?
We relocated to Jacksonville for a new employment opportunity for my husband. My youngest son was just entering high school, which is not a great time for a move. I was looking for a part time job that would allow me to be available to help him with the transition and the perfect opportunity came up at UNF. I started as a part-time Office Assistant for CIRT before moving to Human Resources.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I truly enjoy assisting the campus community in getting new employees hired for their departments. New beginnings are always exciting and to be a part of someone’s next employment journey is rewarding.
What do you like most about UNF?
It still feels small and inviting, even though we are growing.
What energizes you at work?
I often start the day with a list of “To-dos” that seems insurmountable. I start working and checking off items, which motivates me to keep going. The feeling of accomplishment of getting things done and/or resolved for the wider campus community energizes me.
What’s a work-related accomplishment you’re proud of?
Earlier this year, I passed the test to get my Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM-CP) certification. I decided to study on my own rather than take classes and was able to pass the test on my first try!
What is your role as a member of the OspreyRising Implementation Team?
I am a team lead for Recruiting. I am helping with configuring and testing all aspects of recruiting.
What will this new project mean to UNF?
It will be a huge boost to Human Resources by simplifying how we bring new employees into the University, which in turn should help departments in hiring. It’s a lot of work getting Workday configured and tested, but I am very excited for July 1.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I love to travel. I wish I could do more. I am an annual passholder for Disney and I try to visit as often as my schedule allows, which isn’t enough.
What was your first job?
The campus bookstore at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
To keep setting goals for yourself and not become complacent.
Who inspires you and why?
My husband. He’s very optimistic and always looks for the good in any situation. It reminds me to keep a positive outlook.
What’s your favorite thing to do on weekends?
Sleeping in. I am not a morning person, so a nice leisurely morning on the weekends sipping my coffee is wonderful.
What’s the top destination on your must-visit list?
I love to travel and have lots of places I want to visit. First up is a trip to Geneva, Switzerland to visit my son next summer. We will more than likely add a stop to Milan and London as part of this trip. One day I would love to go to Australia. I really want to climb the Sydney Harbor Bridge.
What is one thing about you that others may not know?
I was a director of the local news station right out of college. My degree was in television production. I absolutely loved it, but after a while the hours you must work in that field gets difficult. That’s when I decided to leave television and go into Human Resources.