Sometimes, the career you’re meant for is the one you never planned. For Efren Pabaya, a seasoned HR Business Partner and CHRP-certified professional, his journey into Human Resources didn’t begin with a grand vision—it began with a simple “yes” to the first internship offer he received.
“I didn’t choose HR, it chose me,” Efren shares in an interview with Financial Adviser PH. “Greenwich Pizza Corporation offered me an internship, and I accepted. That one decision led to everything else.”
That unexpected internship opened the door to his first job as an HR Officer at a local manufacturing company. And over the years, it became clear: this wasn’t just a job—it was a calling.
From Internship to International HR Career
After his first role at Filipino Metals Corporation, Efren continued to grow in the HR field. But his biggest leap came when he joined Almarai, the largest FMCG company in the Middle East, where he worked for nearly a decade.
He began as an executive assistant to the Chief HR Officer and later became part of the corporate recruitment team, helping to hire up to 11,000 employees annually from across the globe.
“Almarai was life-changing. It taught me how HR can be both structured and deeply human—especially when you’re working with over 40 nationalities,” he says.
The Power of Saying Yes to the Unknown
Efren’s story is a reminder that career paths don’t always begin with clarity—sometimes, they start with courage and openness.
He never dreamed of becoming an HR leader. In fact, he almost pursued a different track in financial planning. But time and again, HR kept finding him—even when he wasn’t looking.
“Even when I was working outside of HR, I kept getting tapped to help with recruitment. That’s when I knew—I belong here,” he tells Financial Adviser PH.
Turning a Random Start Into a Purpose-Driven Career
Today, Efren is an HR Business Partner and Senior Project Manager for a US-based company, leading remotely from the Philippines. He supports everything from recruitment to performance management to organizational development—while staying true to the values that first drew him in: serving people and making workplaces better.
What began as a random internship has turned into a 15+ year career marked by global experience, professional growth, and personal transformation.
Advice for Aspiring HR Professionals
Efren’s message for others who are still figuring out their career path?
“Don’t stress too much about having it all figured out. Sometimes, saying yes to the first opportunity opens a door you didn’t know existed. Trust the process—and be excellent wherever you start.”
