Hiba (she/her) is a product designer in our Grapevine, Texas, office. Her Paycom internship helped prepare her for a full-time position in product design. Read how Hiba has grown her skills, confidence and community as a new grad.
From intern to full-time employee
I was weighing two internship offers my junior year, one with Paycom and another with a company that was closer to home. I chose to pursue Paycom because the team and the culture seemed better suited for a student. I really wanted to develop my skills and work at an organization that truly supported my growth.
Looking back, I’m most grateful for my manager’s feedback. It was very specific to me, my strengths and the things I needed to work on. I took that back with me my senior year and was able to strengthen my skills so I could have more confidence and be even more prepared for a full-time position.
The biggest factor that brought me back to Paycom after graduation was the people. I experienced the friendly culture and welcoming workplace firsthand, and I knew Paycom would continue to support my growth.
Developing as a young professional
As a new grad at Paycom, I’ve been given the opportunity to work on large, complex projects, which is a huge deal! I think it takes both trust and confidence from leadership to give younger professionals opportunities to exercise their skills and judgment, and it’s really helped accelerate my development.
My team has always supported me in my designs, and they never limit me because I’m new. The leadership at Paycom is really supportive and provides opportunities to grow into leadership positions, give presentations and build new skills. It’s been a great place as a new designer to work on a complex product and solve expansive problems.
Collaboration and teamwork
People tend to think of pretty pictures when they hear the words “product designer.” But really, our job is to solve problems. You can’t take everything at face value, and you can’t get attached to the first solution you think of.
A typical day at Paycom starts with a team huddle to discuss what’s on our plates. Depending on the project, I might meet with developers or project managers to talk through my progress and ensure we’re all moving in the same direction. Product design is a very social role, and you get to work with a lot of other people. To me, that’s the fun part. It really helps to talk with someone about the problem, and then I love having some quality heads-down time to explore solutions and work through design iterations.
I also have a really great team, so we usually eat lunch together on the patio to enjoy the beautiful weather. I like to grab the $4 catered lunch Paycom offers because I’m always running out the door in the morning!
My co-workers have brought me so much joy, whether it’s grabbing lunch, taking coffee trips or playing a board game in the cafe. Paycom really feels like a place for everyone, and I love the diversity of the team and the fact that we celebrate holidays throughout the year. I’ve already joined the Interfaith Employee Resource Group and plan to join more.
Accelerating young careers
I’ve met several professional and personal goals since starting a little over a year ago, and Paycom has supported me every step of the way. Product design is still a fairly new field, so the ability to work on large, complex projects and exercise my independence has helped fill in gaps in my education. I’ve also been given the opportunity to teach others, which I think is one of the best ways to learn. My personal goal is to travel more, and I’ve been able to do that because I have financial independence.
If you’re interested in meaningful work and unlimited possibilities for growth, apply to Paycom today!
