“The USPTO provides a plethora of training opportunities that always allow me to learn more about my field.”
A natural passion for serving others
Meet Sydney ‘Syd’ Williams, a Human Resources (HR) Specialist serving the Trademark and Corporate (TMCO) business units as well as the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO). Originally from Waldorf, Maryland, she is also a graduate of Bowie State University and University of Maryland University College.
Syd has a natural passion for serving others. She is a licensed cosmetologist and elected to major in Child and Adolescent Studies for her undergraduate degree. After graduating, she became a Lead Child and Youth Program Assistant, creating lesson plans and leading a classroom where she cared for children of military and civilian families of the Department of Defense Army and Navy. She eventually became an Assistant Director.
A customer-service based culture
This experience in serving families motivated Syd to continue to grow her career in the direction of service to others. Her mother worked at the USPTO, and began to tell Syd why she believed the agency is a wonderful place to work. Syd ultimately decided to apply.
In her HR Specialist role, Syd engages with hiring managers from the Information Technology Transformation Office (ITTO) regarding Information Technology positions in the 2210 series. She also facilitates the onboarding process for new employees, ensuring they have everything needed to transition smoothly into their new jobs.
“The best part of my job is being able to help my OCIO Business Unit (ITTO) find employees that will best fit their division,” Syd explains.
“My division and branch also have a customer service-based culture. We answer questions for employees that affect not only their work role, but their personal life as well. There’s a lot of information we must know, understand, and relay to customers, hiring managers, employees, and even other HR specialists and HR assistants. The USPTO provides a plethora of training opportunities that always allow me to learn more about my field.”
Finding community at work
In fact, the process of finding answers to questions is how Syd has found community. “Being able to reach out to my team members when I have questions or need help with tasks has developed strong working relationships,” she explains.
The most important skills Syd uses at work are communication, creativity, and adaptability. Overall, she credits her success to the mantra: “Keep trying, keep pushing, keep learning.”