Her Story
About Mellissa
Mellissa Smith serves as HR Manager for Recruitment at the Office of Administration in the State of Missouri. She began her 24-year career with the state in customer service at the Department of Revenue, where she developed a passion for customer service that led her to human resources. Starting her HR career in 2020 during the COVID period at the Missouri School for the Deaf, she gained comprehensive experience across recruitment, employee relations, FMLA, workers compensation, and payroll before advancing to her current recruitment leadership role. In this position, she oversees a team of recruiters, manages talent acquisition strategy, attends community events, and supports candidates with resume guidance. Mellissa holds a high school education and attributes her success to being driven and seeking additional duties that opened doors from customer service to HR. She is a member of the Public Service HR Association and received the OA Cares Award for going above and beyond in customer service. She also participates in community outreach, including resume building workshops for Boys and Girls Clubs.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Mellissa
01What do you attribute your success to?
I am a very driven person. I stay very busy at work and at home. As I would finish my work, I would ask if there was anything else I could help with, and that helped me get training outside of just my role. Asking for additional duties opened doors from customer service to HR.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Always assume good intentions. Because sometimes when something happens and it's not how we want it to go, it's like they're doing it on purpose. Maybe just be, it's just not for time. Assume good intentions. It may have not had anything to do with you.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Always go into a job thinking of what possibilities it could be. It may be a placeholder job or something you don't want to do, but it may also open up so many doors to other opportunities that you never thought were possible. If you do decide to do the college and get a degree, definitely take those internships. Make those connections, make sure you're taking every opportunity you get and going through every open door that you're given.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Budget cuts, inflation and the cost of living going up. We need people but can't pay accelerated levels of salary because we are state government and have to be good stewards of taxpayers' money. Struggling to recruit top talent at the cost we can afford. Also implementing a new HRIS system rolling out in March, feeling pressure of training staff.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.