Featuring: Kate Ihetu, MSHRM, SHRM-CP

Kate Ihetu completed the SHRM program here at KSU’s College of Graduate and Professional Education in May 2020. Despite the difficulties during the pandemic, Kate desired a better life for herself by furthering her career in Human Resources as a contractor with various top companies like UPS and Home Depot.

Kate received a degree from KSU in human services prior to registration for the SHRM program. She accepted a job in Human Resources, but after working in the same position for some time, she wanted to explore options to further her career and differentiate herself from her colleagues. Kate then decided to enroll in the SHRM program to become certified and receive her “stamp of approval” in the HR business after discovering the program through her friends and colleagues. Since Kate had already attended KSU, she was confident that this was the best choice to advance her career.

Although COVID-19 posed challenges for Kate at first due to the migration of classes from in-person to online, she found that one of the most valuable parts of her time in the SHRM program were the connections that she made with her classmates. Kate’s classmates had online study sessions that helped ensure a passing grade on the final SHRM exam. Since the test was also online, Kate said that the migration of class encouraged her to get out of her comfort zone, network, and study online, making her more comfortable taking the test.

Upon completion of the program, Kate passed the SHRM exam, received a pay raise, increased her competitiveness in the job market, and began doing freelance HR work where she now has ground to negotiate the salary she deserves given her new title.

Kate gives the following advice to future SHRM students:

1. Form a study group
2. Don’t read so deep into certain pieces of information. Instead, understand what you’re reading and know how to apply it.
3. When studying for the SHRM exam, utilize your classmates and study together.