Established in 2008, Huggs Coffee started its humble journey with a commitment to provide exceptional specialty coffee and delectable treats at everyday prices. Besides brewing smiles every day, Huggs aims to uplift and inspire cultures and the people - one cup, one experience, one community at a time.

As a company, Huggs is steadfast in its ethos - building a people-first culture that includes its staff, partners and the local community it finds itself in.

For Ruimin, being one of the first HR hires means an opportunity to grow a rapidly expanding brand and team, establishing its culture and processes. What else drew her to the role of a human resource executive at Huggs, besides the waft of exceptional specialty coffee and fresh bakes? We hear from Ruimin on her career search journey, aspirations and goals.

Tell us about yourself (where are you from, your major in school and/or your career speciality)

My name is Rui and currently, I am in a transitioning phase of my life where I am completing my Honours degree in Psychology at University at Buffalo while serving Full-Time as the Head of People and Culture (Human Resource Executive) at Huggs Coffee Pte Ltd. On top of that, in relation to my field of study, I am also serving as the Director of Events at Singapore Psychological Society Youth Wing (SPSYW) and volunteering at Singapore Association of Mental Health.

Aside from all these “commitments” which some may label it as, I do consciously make time for things that I enjoy such as working out. I am very adventurous and especially passionate about anything related to food and swimming. Hence, I do coach swimming on the side as well and during my free time, I like to research nutritional knowledge.

What was the experience like while you were looking for a job on Wantedly?

I found my current job via Wantedly through a link that was sent into my university’s telegram group chat. It is user-friendly for someone who is new to the platform and most importantly, it is very detail oriented. I am someone who likes to research things that I am going to invest myself in, so when I was looking through the job posts, not only did it have the basic job descriptions and requirements, it also had the company’s vision and history. This is especially beneficial for the potential employees as they can learn more about the company’s background before deciding to commit.

What do you look for in a career?

I am in my early 20s, hence, as much as financial offering is a concern, an average salary will satisfy me especially for my first job. My main goal is to try as many new things as possible and learn various different skill sets while I am still young so that I will be better equipped with experiences that will propel me further ahead in life. I believe in planning ahead by looking at the bigger picture.

What was the job search process like for you?

It was pretty confusing because my degree allows me to venture into a broad range of industries. Some of which require further studies, so it was a huge decision on my end. However, when I came up with my ultimate dream and retired plan in life and started planning backwards, things got easier with a clearer vision in mind.

Why did you join Huggs Coffee?

Two main reasons. Firstly, as Huggs is a local SME, it is a good stepping stone to bridge me from the student life into the official working society. Additionally, with the new branding phase taking place and that Huggs is in the F&B industry, the learning curve is very steep. Being in a fast-paced environment as well as being their very first and only Human Resource personnel, I had a huge gap to fill. With such responsibilities, it gave me an opportunity to learn more than what some of the more established companies would.

Second, upon speaking to the managing director during the interview and observing the way he works, I believe he is a leader I would want to follow. More so than being in a “well known” company, I personally feel that it is the human interaction and the leader that matter. He / She has the power to change the dynamics of the work internally which will indefinitely create a ripple effect that has an effect on how the company will propel forward in the future. Aside from the knowledge that I will take away from my position, it is the leadership, communication, and execution skills from the managing director that I want to instil in myself. Investing in yourself will always be worth it.

What advice would you give to someone who is looking for a job now?

If I were to share all the tips and experiences I have, it would be an hour-long speech! So I shall not be too long winded and summarise into 3 points:

1) Never rush into accepting a job just because they offered you a position. (Unless it is your dream job then please do)

2) Always research thoroughly on the company before committing or deciding if you want this job position / join the company. (Know what you are investing your time and self in, so you are prepared at all times. This will help you to be clear of what you want to get out of it and why you started.)

3) It will not be easy, in fact it should be tough, frustrating, and confusing but it will get better for sure. Just always trust yourself and the process. Everything that you are doing now will help you in the future. 

Aligning your goals, passion and values with that of the company’s is a crucial step in your career search, which allows you to make an informed decision before applying for a role. At Wantedly, our mission is to create a world where work drives passion, and we encourage both companies and candidates to feature extensively what drives them, as organisations and individuals.

Like Ruimin, we hope that you too can meet companies you’ll love working for, with people and culture that allows you to grow and thrive. Kickstart your career search with Wantedly, sign up and complete your profile here, and start browsing for your next opportunity here. Good luck!

Connect with Ruimin on Wantedly.