The HR Mentor

#35: Level-up Your Career Alignment

Do you ever get that feeling that the role or organization you are in is just not quite a fit? It may be painful or uncomfortable or perhaps you just feel some apathy or a general lack of satisfaction. Maybe you love the organization and the industry, but you feel you have accomplished all you can in your current role and you’re ready for more?
 
This is a normal occurrence on many career journeys. I have been there a couple of times myself over the last twenty-plus years. First of all, I want to assure you this doesn’t mean you picked the wrong career or that you have to even leave your organization, but what it might mean is it is time to level up your career alignment.
 
Whatever the reason, if you aren’t feeling a level of joy, excitement, or “let’s get this done” attitude you could be ready for a new challenge, a new opportunity, or a new path for your career. Ultimately, maybe its time to level-up your career alignment!
 
To help you navigate this, I have a mashed-up process you can follow. It's a combination of gap analysis, self-awareness, and positive visualization. Yes, I like to use all my tools to tackle big challenges!
 
Here are the five steps I recommend:
Know what’s important to you (really important)
Imagine how changes in your professional life could create greater alignment to what is important for you?
Consider what’s not working for you right now - what are you accepting that you shouldn’t and that’s holding you back from what you want?
Brainstorm all the ways you can bridge the gap.
Make a plan with deadlines and slay it!
 
You can find the show notes for this episode and helpful links at www.unicorngroup.ca/episode-35 
 
Thanks for listening!

#34: 6 Common Mistakes HR Job Seekers Make

As an HR educator I am often approached by new graduates or soon to graduate students for advice. And one of the most frequent questions I get asked is, "can you tell me what I am doing wrong with my job search?"
 
This usually comes after they tell me that they have been applying on HR jobs for months, they have tried literally everything and they are getting nowhere. And worse, they are now feeling depressed, frustrated and overwhelmed and they are doubting whether or not they have chosen the right career path.
 
Sound familiar?
 
If it does, then this episode is for you.
 
In this episode I share 6 common mistakes that HR Job Seekers make, especially when they are just starting out. Speaking from personal experience and countless conversations with HR grads, I know that you are putting in the effort, but I also know that all that effort focused on the wrong actions will only lead to more frustration rather than what you really want, you first HR job!
 
You can find some helpful links and a summary of this episode at www.unicorngroup.ca/episode-34
 
SPECIAL OFFER:
 
If you are looking for your first HR role and you would like some help with the process you may want to check out my brand new HR Career Accelerator program. It is a rare opportunity to attend a LIVE Virtual Workshop with me with a ton of support to help you find that first HR role. 
 
You can learn more and register as well as receive a complimentary three-part video lesson called 4 Essential Strategies for an HR Job Search using this link. 
https://unicorngroup.kartra.com/page/hrcaform
 
I hope to see you there!
 

#33: Building Successful Relationships

If you are a regular listener or you follow me on social media, you know that one of my strong beliefs is that building solid relationships is absolutely essential to a successful and fulfilling HR Career. When I look back over my twenty-plus years as an HR professional, I can honestly say that 99.9% of my success and happiness with my career has come from building strong, positive relationships.
 
My knowledge, my technical skills, and my ability to problem solve, write, present, etc. are all important, but when it comes to success and fulfillment, all the credit goes to relationships.
 
Yes, it is important to do good work. But, in order to really be successful in this profession, we also have to be human. Sometimes I think that is lacking in many organizations and sadly HR departments. What’s worse is that it's often the HR professionals who lack this human perspective that wonder why people won’t work with them or hate HR.
 
Showing interest and genuine care for other people goes a long way, but being interested in others in a sincere way and really caring is what is needed. I don’t just build relationships to get ahead in my career, but I do it because it feels good and I generally like people. Plus I know that in order to my job well, I need to get to know what the real issues are, and that means getting to know people, the humans doing the work. Without that understanding how can I possibly come up with real solutions?
 
In this episode I share five things you can do today, regardless of where you are in the org chart, to help you become a better relationship builder. Let's face it, work is way more fun if you work with people you like and respect, and the only way to like and respect people is to build relationships with them.
 
Here are the five actions you can take to build better relationships today:
Become more self-aware
Be interested rather than interesting
Look for ways to collaborate
Take initiative
Be a positive force
Learn more, find the show notes and check out some helpful links on my websites at www.unicorngroup.ca/episode-33

#32: Your Wellbeing Matters with David Trawin

Did you know that 1 in 2 Canadians have or will have a mental illness by age 40 and that a lack of mental wellbeing is the leading cause of workplace disability keeping some 500,000 employed Canadians from attending work each week? I think that’s a staggering statistic. And it’s not just in Canada. The estimate worldwide is that 450 million people are currently struggling with their mental wellbeing.
 
And while many people feel comfortable talking about their mental health, one group of people who are more likely to suffer in silence are men. Men often avoid talking about their mental wellbeing because they feel a strong need to demonstrate emotional stability and not show weakness. This is especially true for leaders who are expect to keep it together regardless of the pressure or personal challenges they may face.
 
My guest in this episode of the HR Mentor lived through these stigmas. David Trawin is the Chief Administrative Officer at the City of Kamloops. He is an Urban Planner by profession and before taking over the top job at the City, David was the Director of Development Services at the City of Kamloops. David holds a Master's Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Florida Atlantic University where he attended on an NCAA Scholarship.
 
David is a father to two adult boys, an avid fisher, an artist, a wine connoisseur, and a really generous and kind human being.
 
I worked with David for almost four years in my role as an HR Advisor with the City and he has always been someone I admire and enjoyed working with. In this episode, David and I talk about some significant health issues he experienced over the last year, what he has learned about himself and how this has affected him as a leader. We also talk about the role of HR in supporting employees and how HR professionals can build trusting relationships with leaders.
 
Regardless of where you are in your career, I think you will get a lot out of our conversation; I know I did.
 
Here are a few links to connect with David and check out the books we discussed in this episode:
Connect with David on LinkedIn
Learn about the City of Kamloops
Read The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson
Read Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emilie Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski
Here are helpful links to resources to support your mental health and wellbeing:
If you are in crisis and need to talk to someone, please call the Canada Suicide Prevention Service at 1-833-456-4566 (24/7) or text 45645 (4 pm to 12 am ET).
Public Health Canada - lots of links and resources
Province of BC Mental Health Supports
Canadian Mental Health Association of BC
World Health Organization (WHO) Mental Health Supports Page
Checkpoint.org Provides a list of Resources in many countries
If you are feeling extra generous and want to send some love my way, I would be so very grateful for a review and a rating on Apple Podcasts or a recommendation on LinkedIn. And if you haven't yet, don't forget to subscribe to The HR Mentor so you never miss an episode on the following platforms:
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If you love this episode (or any of the others) feel free to leave a like, comment or rating where you are listening. Chances are, I will read your comment on a future show!

In Solidarity

As most, if not all of you listening to this are aware, on May 27, 2021, Chief Rosanne Casimir of Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc announced the discovery of the remains of 215 children buried on the grounds of the former Kamloops Residential School.
 
As an uninvited guest who lives, works and plays on the traditional, unceded territory of the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc people, I extend my deepest condolences, regrets and respect for all the people, families and communities directly, indirectly and inter-generationally affected by this discovery and the loss of these children. These acts of genocide against Indigenous people and communities are reprehensible.
 
In an effort to amplify Indigenous voices rather than my own, I am going to use any space that would have been Episode 31 of The HR Mentor to share resources on how you can educate yourself on Canada’s treatment of Indigenous People, how you can support Indigenous People in their healing and protection of their land, how you can amplify Indigenous voices through art and how you can implement employment practices that help create truly equitable employment opportunities.
 
This list of resources and suggestions is in no way complete or all-encompassing. I have compiled it on my own based on my own research. I encourage you to take this as a starting place and to engage in your own discovery, learning and unlearning.
 
I am not an expert in any of this. I am merely a fellow learner on a journey to do better.
 
Today I invite you to join me.
 
www.unicorngroup.ca/in-solidarity
 
The discovery of these children's remains is very upsetting and traumatizing. If you need support with grief or processing this information please reach out:
 
A national Indian Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support for former students and those affected. Access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour national crisis line: 1-866-925-4419.
 
Support is also available for anyone affected by the lingering effects of residential schools, and those who are triggered by the latest reports. The Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS) can be contacted toll-free at 1-800-721-0066
 

#30: Your Career is a Journey with Donna Hall

If you’ve listened to this podcast before or follow me on social, you will have heard me refer to a career as a journey. And if you know me or have attended any of my HR career workshops, you also know that my career has been a windy road of ups and downs. And I think this is the case for many professionals, yet this is not the expectation of a lot of people just starting out in their career. They want a clear path, with set milestones and they want to know that what they decide to do out of University is what they will always do. Unfortunately, the problem with that is that it leaves so much space for disappointment when your career doesn’t progress in that upward trajectory and it doesn’t allow for you to accept the changes and growth that ultimately come over time and with experience and greater knowledge.
My guest in this episode knows all about windy paths and is an expert in helping other people navigate their own career journey.
Donna Hall is a career coach based on the unceded territory of the Squamish and Sechelt Nations, known today as BC’s Sunshine Coast. Donna has had a diverse career and brings the lenses of a Chartered Professional in Human Resources, Certified Executive Coach and career development practitioner to her coaching practice. With a focus on supporting early to mid-career professionals with career challenges and changes, Donna is on a mission to empower others to take control of their career journeys.  
In our conversation, we talk about Donna’s career path and how she made decisions and she shares some fantastic advice about how you can best determine which career path to start your journey on as well as how a career coach can help you along the way. Donna is an extremely positive, generous, and engaging person to talk to. I think by the end of this episode not only will you have more clarity on how to navigate your career, but you will also want to go kayaking and then curl up on the couch to watch Elf!
For the show notes and helpful links please visit www.unicorngroup.ca/episode-30. 

#29: New Grad to HR Professional

This episode features an engaging and fun conversation with two of my former HR students; Himanshi Patel and Nikita Kumar. During our conversation, they talk about their experiences with landing their first HR role. Both of these remarkable people were International students who are new to Canada and both have secured their first HR roles less than a year after graduation. They have some incredible advice to share with other new grads about what they believe made them successful so far. If you are looking for your first HR role or looking to level up your career, you will definitely want to listen to what they have to say. We also talk about what they love to read, watch and sip and how they are managing their stress in a COVID world. You can find some helpful links as well as show notes for this episode at www.unicorngroup.ca/episode-29. 
Thanks so much for listening and being a part of The HR Mentor community. 
If you are a recent HR graduate or new professional, you may want to also join my free online community called The HR Career Cafe. We hang out on LinkedIn and you can request to join using this link: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13971041/ I'd love to connect with you there!

#28: The Benefits Of Being A Beginner

So many of us are learning how to do our jobs in a new way right now. Like me, you may be working from home and doing what you normally do face to face in a virtual format. You may be in a situation where your work routines and requirements for health and safety are also changing constantly. And some of you may be starting a brand new role and are truly a beginner; in the organization, your specific role and your HR career.
 
This might feel overwhelming and frankly a little daunting. You might feel like you should know more or be able to “hit the ground running”, but before you start putting a ton of pressure on yourself listen to this episode. Here I share some of the benefits of being in this beginner’s space that you can leverage and lean into at this exciting place in your career.
 
Because believe it or not, being a beginner and adopting a beginner’s mindset can have huge benefits throughout your career, regardless of how much experience or knowledge you have.
 
If you want to check out the show notes and some resources that support this episode please visit www.unicorngroup.ca/episode-28.

#27: Choosing The Right Job Offer

Congratulations! You have a job offer to consider, maybe even two! It’s wonderful to be in this position after all the hard work you put into getting noticed and making it through the whole hiring process. But now, you are having doubts about accepting the offer. What if there is something better around the corner? What if it’s not the right opportunity for your career? And if you have more than one offer, which one should you choose?
 
Take a deep breath. I've got you.
 
This is all very normal when you are starting your career or seeking new opportunities and it is a question I am asked all the time. Which offer should I take? In this episode, I share some things to consider when you are evaluating a job opportunity as an emerging HR practitioner and offer some resources that will help you make the process of accepting your new role exciting and fun!
 
And be sure to check out the show notes at www.unicorngroup.ca/episode-27 for a show summary and links to resources. 

#26: Career Confidence Boosters You Need Now!

Feeling kinda meh and blah about where things are at in your HR career or job search? Not exactly in the right frame of mind to market yourself or tackle that next big project? Or perhaps you are just feeling a bit defeated and deflated due to rejection or some negative feedback.
As we continue the global battle against COVID-19 so many of us are feeling tired, overwhelmed and fatigued. And honestly, one little bit of bad news is probably going to be enough to set many of us into a bit of a spiral. It’s not exactly the best frame of mind or mood for selling yourself to potential employers or feeling optimistic and positive about what lies ahead, is it?
In this episode, I share a few of my favourite confidence boosters that will help you at any point in your career journey. Because confidence in your abilities, your decisions and what you offer a potential employer or your team is so essential to how you show up and the results that you generate. Plus, a little confidence can go a long way in helping you embrace the badass HR star you are!
If you would like to see a summary of this show and some helpful links, head on over to www.unicorngroup.ca/episode-26. And if you are enjoying this podcast and you are feeling generous, head on over to Apple Podcasts to leave a review. I just may read your comment out in a future episode!