From Intern to Benefits Coordinator: How One Early Career Professional Found Her Path

Starting your career can feel like following a mapped-out plan, until the best opportunities take you in an unexpected direction. That was the case for Kirsten Murphy, whose journey at Hitachi Energy began as a Learning & Development intern before evolving into a full-time role on the company's Compensation & Benefits team.

Rather than staying on the path that most closely matched her academic background in communications, Murphy embraced the chance to broaden her understanding of human resources. Along the way, she discovered that building relationships across the organization, staying curious, and stepping outside her comfort zone could open doors she hadn't anticipated.

Today, as a Benefits Coordinator, Murphy helps support employees across the U.S. while continuing to grow her expertise in HR Operations. She credits mentorship, hands-on experience, and the people around her for giving her the confidence to make an early career pivot.

Today, her work includes processing employees' benefit changes, supporting benefit-funding processes, ensuring data quality between HR and various benefit systems, and overseeing employee service awards. She also partners with other teams, such as Master Data and Onboarding.

"Learning how to take greater ownership of my day-to-day work was my biggest takeaway as an intern at Hitachi Energy," she tells us of her early experiences. "In an academic environment, expectations for assignments and projects are often clearly defined. My internship at Hitachi Energy taught me how to set my own standards, navigate ambiguity, and hold myself accountable when the path to success was not always predetermined."

We spoke with Murphy about transitioning from intern to full-time employee, the other lessons she learned during her internship, and why she encourages every intern to connect with people beyond their own team. Here's what she had to say.

Where did you start your career journey, and what were your previous roles and experiences like?

I started my career journey at Hitachi Energy in May 2024 as a North American Learning & Development (L&D) intern.

My previous role in L&D aligned closely with my academic background, as I graduated from North Carolina State University (NCSU) with a Master's in Communication in 2025. I tracked employee engagement within our company's L&D trainings, ensured our presentations were compliant with our branding standards, and advertised L&D programs through internal communication efforts. This role aligned with my communication experiences—specifically, when I served as an Instructor of Record for Public Speaking at NCSU while I pursued my master's degree. I was responsible for creating and delivering original lectures and grading students' speeches according to the rubric criteria.

What made you decide to pivot your current role?

I decided to pivot to my current role because I feel Human Resources Operations provides a more holistic view of HR. It presented an opportunity to deepen my understanding of how HR functions across an organization, including processes, systems, and the overall employee experience.

I was excited to expand my knowledge and gain broader insight into how HR supports both employees and business objectives.

How did you make this switch, and how did your company support you?

I was able to build strong connections across the HR organization during my internship, including with our U.S. HR Operations Manager. She informed me about the opportunity to join the HR Operations team, which ultimately led me to my current role.

Throughout my transition, I have been fortunate to receive tremendous support from the Compensation & Benefits team. My manager and closest colleagues have been patient mentors, providing guidance, sharing their expertise, and helping me build confidence as I continue to grow and develop professionally.

How have you benefited from the skills and experiences gained through your career pivot?

One of the biggest benefits of my career pivot has been the opportunity to build on the autonomy and ownership I first developed as an intern. In HR Operations, I've strengthened my problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration skills while gaining experience managing processes that directly impact employees. These experiences have helped me grow both professionally and personally, and they have prepared me for future opportunities regardless of where my career path takes me.

What do you find most rewarding and most challenging about your work?

I have the same answer for both: our growth. Hitachi Energy is rapidly expanding through new products and services, exceptional talent, and overall global presence. Being a part of this growth is amazing, but it can also be challenging at times to support from an HR Operations perspective. Successfully sustaining our rate of growth is integral to the employee experience and success of the company.

What's your favorite thing about working at your company?

I am a firm believer in the saying "the people make the place," and I'm glad to say this rings true for Hitachi Energy. Our culture is growth-oriented and employee-focused, and it strives for continuous improvement.

I also value Hitachi Energy's commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace and creating opportunities for women and underrepresented groups to grow, lead, and succeed. Being surrounded by supportive colleagues who genuinely want to see each other thrive makes it a great place to build a career.

Can you share one of your most memorable experiences as an intern at Hitachi Energy?

One of my most memorable experiences as an intern at Hitachi Energy was visiting our South Boston, Virginia campus, which features a facility that produces large power transformers. Touring the site gave me a firsthand look at how transformers are manufactured and helped me connect the work on the factory floor to the broader business. It was a unique opportunity to see how the work our teams do every day contributes to delivering power to communities, businesses, and critical industries across the country. I walked away with a deeper appreciation for our transformer technology that plays an essential role in supporting our electrical grid.

What advice would you give to new or current interns at Hitachi Energy?

My advice to new or current interns at Hitachi Energy would be to step outside your comfort zone and build connections beyond your immediate team. Some of the most valuable experiences and opportunities can come from conversations with people in different functions or business units. Not only will you gain a broader understanding of the company, but you may also discover career paths and opportunities you hadn't considered before. In my experience, those connections played a key role in leading me to my current position.