Building a career in HR with purpose and people at the center

Jasmin Smith graduated from CMU in 2017 with a degree in human resources management and earned her MBA, also with an HR concentration, online in 2020. Today, she’s the Human Resources Business Partner for the Michigan Senate, where she's part of a growing team and brings a people-first approach to her work. 

“I’m here for you,” Smith said. “Granted, my job is to make sure you’re following policy and we’re prepared, but I truly am here to make sure you have the best experience. [As an HR professional], you get to experience the best days and the worst days for everybody, and it’s a space I really enjoy being in.” 

Finding her path

Smith’s career didn’t start with a clear plan. After taking a few gap years, she enrolled at CMU and found her way into HR through classes and connections with faculty, including Dr. Amy McGinnis. 

Early on, she learned the value of thinking long-term and seizing opportunities that might not look perfect at first. 

“People sometimes get really hung up on titles and salary. I came here [to the Senate] to earn a little bit less money with a lower job title, knowing the trajectory is much higher in the long run. It’s paid off.” 

Her advice? Picture where you want to end up, then work backward. 

“If you want to be a CEO, go talk to a CEO. You don’t have to do all these other little things first.” 

Why office hours matter 

Smith credits much of her success to building strong relationships with professors—and she encourages students to do the same. 

“The worst thing that’s going to happen is they say no,” she said. “Even if you’re not struggling, it sets you up for success moving forward. You’re going to have a better experience if you make it a better experience.” 

Those connections paid off when she applied to graduate school. “They all wrote me letters of recommendation,” she said. “Even today, five years later, I still interact with these professors. We see each other at conferences and talk as peers.” 

Earning an MBA online 

When Smith decided to pursue her MBA, she chose CMU’s online program for its flexibility. 

“I’m a self-starter and I want to work when I want to work. If I wanted to do homework at 2 a.m., I could. If I wanted to do it at 1 p.m., it didn’t matter,” she said. 

She recommends the program for people who are motivated and organized, noting that graduate work is a different kind of challenge compared to undergrad. 

“Undergrad is heavy on knowledge base. The master’s was more application—writing papers, team projects, applying what you know. Both are heavy lifts, just different.” 

Advice for future professionals 

Smith’s guidance to those starting their careers is simple: stay flexible, keep your pride in check, and don’t be afraid to try. 

“If you don’t try and you don’t put yourself out there, you’re never going to know,” she said. “The answer is yes, no, or maybe. If it’s a maybe, then how do you make it a yes?” 

For her, the right opportunities have come from making the most of the doors that opened—and creating new ones when they didn’t.