WebDevStudios (WDS) is evolving. Our website projects are getting bigger and our team is expanding beyond international boarders. As such, we found our website design and development agency in need of someone to work with our Director of Operations to further shape and maintain our company initiatives and goals by maintaining a safe and inclusive workplace and recognizing where we can improve. That person turned out to be Julie Sarnik, WDS’ first-ever Employee Experience Coordinator.
Julie Sarnik, Employee Experience Coordinator
With a Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Graphic Design and Glassworking, Julie’s career has had many paths, from web designer to owner of a personal chef company. She recently became SHRM-CP certified and uses those skills to support us.
“I wanted to be more knowledgeable about laws, best practices, and competencies so I could be a better resource to my employer and the employees I was working with,” Julie explains her certification. “I took a three-day intensive class and studied for months. It was a lot of work, but worth it. Having the certification makes me more confident when speaking about laws and HR topics because I know the why behind them now. I understand the reasons and can provide real data for my suggestions for initiatives.”
Being the first person to establish a job role for a company that’s been around for more than a decade can be intimidating and overwhelming, but Julie isn’t letting any of that stress her out. In fact, she’s pretty excited.
“I think being the first Employee Experience Coordinator allows me to implement a variety of different strategies that just haven’t had an advocate for them yet, but have been on the radar of the leadership team,” says Julie. “Being that we are fully remote, I think it is really important to create an engaging culture so we don’t miss out on that social aspect of being in an office.”
People often wonder what it’s like to work at WDS and go through the interview process. Julie clues us in.
“It all happened so fast!” reports Julie, saying, “I applied and then a few weeks later received an email from April [Williams, Director of Operations]. We had a call like two days later. It did not feel like an interview at all. It felt like I was chatting with someone I had been friends with for years. After that call, April set up another call with Lisa [Sabin-Wilson, COO]. Again, it didn’t feel like an interview. We discussed ideas about engaging employees and were just on the same page about everything! The next day I was offered the job.”
The onboarding process seems to being going well for Julie, too. She’s taking the time to get to know our team and fitting in as though she’s been here for a while.
“I love that part of my job is to get to know everyone, find out what makes them happy and look into ways to keep them happy,” she says. “I think I’ll be getting some of the ideas I have out the door within the next two months. It’s refreshing working for a company whose leadership team recognizes the employees are the heart of what makes them great and are dedicated to making sure they know that. I am super excited to be a part of that!”
The excitement never ends when you are a part of the WDS team. We are elated to have Julie on board. Would you like to join, too? Take a look at our current career opportunities and take some time to apply today.
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