The HR Mentor

#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!

#25: How You Can Help Shrink the Gender Gap

The statistics are shocking: according to UN Women Data, at the pace we are going it is still going to take 130 years to reach global gender equality in the highest positions of power. According to other research, women continue to be outnumbered, outranked and out-earned by men in the Canadian public service and we all know that this is much worse for Black women, Indigenous women and women of colour. So in recognition of the work that we all still need to do to create balanced and equal workplaces and International's Women's Day (March 8th), I am sharing five things that I believe any HR professional (or anyone for that matter) can do on their own and within their own organization to help shrink the gender gap.
I reference a number of documents and incredible women in this episode so you will want to check out the show summary on my website to learn more. You can find them at www.unicorngroup.ca/episode-25. 

#24: Boundary Setting for Success

At the start of 2021, I set an intention that reflected how I was going to show up in the world. It boiled down to one word, Focus. I set this intention because it aligned with my values and it supported the goals I want to accomplish in 2021.
 
As I live this intention each and every day and I reflect on the progress I am making I have come to realize that there is another critical element that drives success; boundary setting. Setting boundaries is important for anyone to be successful, but even more so for people like me (and likely many of you) who enjoy helping and supporting others. In this episode, I share my thoughts on why setting boundaries is critical to career and life success and how you can tell if you need to set a boundary with someone or something in your life. You can check a summary of this show as well as an archive of past episodes on my website at www.unicorngroup.ca/episode-24

#23: Is an HR Career Right For You?

The other day, my daughter, who is in grade 11, asked me what I wanted to do for a career when I was her age. And for the life of me I couldn’t remember, but it certainly wasn’t HR. I’m not even sure I knew what HR was when I was sixteen years old, in fact I’m certain I didn’t. So, how did I know that HR was the right career for me? The short answer is, I didn’t. In many ways, HR found me.
 
If you are wrestling with the next steps in your career and wondering if HR is a good path for you to pursue or continue pursuing then this episode is for you! You will learn eight questions you can ask yourself to help you determine if an HR career is the right path to pursue.
Here is a summary of what we talk about in this episode:
[00:40] - I begin with a story about my parent's business which we lovingly called, 'the store.' It was my first exposure to an operating business, but HR was not my dad's focus in his business and even after years of working there and watching it become a successful way of life for our family, it didn't really reveal any hints that I would find a career like the one I have today.
[04:02] - The first question I would ask myself if I was considering an HR career many moons ago is, 'are you interested in and genuinely curious about people?'
[06:57] - The second question I would ask my younger self is, 'do you enjoy solving complex sometimes messy problems?'
[08:45] - The third question I would ask myself is, 'do you like influencing others and trying to improve people’s lives?'
[11:14] - The next question I would ask is, 'do you need the spotlight or getting a lot of credit for your work?'
[12:55] - The fifth question to consider is, 'do you have tact and can you keep a secret?'
[15:14] - The sixth question I would ask myself is, 'are you comfortable with change and can you be flexible?'
[18:14] - The next question to consider is, 'are you approachable and good at building relationships?'
[20:37] - The eighth and final question I would ask myself is, 'do you have an interest in and appreciation of how businesses and organizations achieve success?'
[23:14] - I close this episode where I started, with the final chapter in my conversations with my Dad about his business and the lasting career lesson he taught me.
If you listen to this episode and don't say yes to many of the questions, take some time to consider what interests you about an HR career. You may discover that it is not the right path for you and that is ok! The best advice I can give you is to follow a road of passion and interest wherever it may take you. It is never too late to pivot and chart a new course. I have done it many, many time.
 
Here is a helpful link from this episode:
Listen to Episode 16 How to Build Trust in an HR Role.
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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!

#22: Interview with Ivana Borojevic

Welcome to my first interview of Season 2! In this episode, I have an engaging conversation with an amazing emerging HR Professional, Ivana Borojevic.
 
Ivana is an HR Specialist with Insight, a global technology company that was just named one of Fortune's 2021 Most Admired Companies. She is also the co-founder of an exciting new non-profit organization called mentorWIT, which is an Edmonton based group designed to support women working in the technology sector.
 
Here is a little bit more about Ivana:
After earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Belgrade in December 2013, Ivana made a life-changing decision to leave her country in search of a better life. Three long flights and one lost suitcase later, she arrived in Canada, ready to embrace the challenges and begin a new journey.
While studying Human Resources Management at MacEwan University in Edmonton, she worked part-time in retail and sales. It was not easy finding a job without HR experience, but Ivana persisted.
In March 2019, she landed an HR role with an IT company called PCM Canada. Since then, Ivana had a chance to take part in a year-long acquisition of PCM by Insight, which proved to be very interesting, but was also accompanied by re-learning and adapting.
In her role as an HR Specialist, Ivana gets to work with so many great professionals in the technology field and provide HR support to 900+ employees across five provinces in Canada.
Her dream is to grow into a trusted advisor and business partner to build and nurture a culture of high performance, inclusivity, and engagement.
Here is a summary of what we talk about in this episode:
[03:33] - Ivana shares the story of how we met. If you listen to this podcast or follow me you know how much I encourage HR grads and professionals to engaging in networking and Ivana is living proof of how important building connections can be.
[06:05] - We talk about Ivana's career path and how she shifted from a degree in Social Work to a promising HR career as well as some of the continuing pressures COVID-19 is putting on organizations, employers and employees.
[11:56] - Networking comes up in our conversation many times, but Ivana shares a great example of how your connections can help you as an HR professional throughout your career.
[14:00] - I ask Ivana about her job search after she completed her HR degree. She shares her success tips and what ultimately landed her the job at Insight.
[28:26] - Mentoring and supporting others is a passion of Ivana's and she is an incredibly generous person. She talks about how that passion fueled the creation of mentorWIT and how the organization will support women in technology. She also talks about how you can get involved with mentorWIT.
[37:02] - Ivana has achieved what many of you are striving for and she offers you all some great advice.
[40:00] - I ask Ivana five speed round questions and we get the answer to a key question for any budding friendship or relationship; coffee or tea?
I sincerely hope you enjoy listening to this conversation as much as I enjoyed having it. Please reach out to Ivana to build your network and to learn more about her work and mentorWIT if you feel that would be a fit for you.
 
Here are some helpful links from this episode:
Connect with Ivana on LinkedIn.
Read The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas - it's going to be on my 2021 reading list!
Read Never Eat Alone, by Keith Ferrazzi - recommended by Ivana to build your networking skills.
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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!

#21: How Intentions Can Improve Your Life

Welcome to the first episode of Season 2 of The HR Mentor and 2021!
 
In this show, I am helping you kick off the new year with a brand new practice that can change your life and improve your chances at success!
Intention setting is powerful and can result in lasting behavioural change.
 
I encourage you to consider how this practice can dramatically improve your life and your success as I explain how intentions are different from goals, I share some examples of the difference between goals and intentions to illustrate why setting goals alone doesn't work, and I share my personal practice for setting an annual intention.
 
Here is a summary of the episode:
[01:50] - What are intentions? They are guiding principles and they reflect how we want to be and show up in the world. They can help you dramatically improve your life.
[05:53] - There are some key differences between intentions and goals. They are:
[06:00] - DIFFERENCE #1 - Intentions are more focused on the present rather than the future.
[06:50] - DIFFERENCE #2 - Intentions are more focused on behaviours rather than a product or outcome.
[07:36] - DIFFERENCE #3 - intentions are ongoing and fluid; they are always a work in progress. Once goals are done they are done.
[08:16] - DIFFERENCE #4 - goals naturally shift our focus to what we don't have and get us caught up in the "how."
[09:15] - DIFFERENCE #5 - intentions come from the heart.
[15:47] - Here is an example of how an intention can have an impact on your life in the long-term and enhance your goal setting.
[19:26] - Here I talk about a powerful form of self-questioning to stay true to your intention! It wasn't my idea, credit goes to James Clear who wrote Atomic Habits. A book I recommend you read.
[20:21] - I share my 2021 intention in a single word - FOCUSED. (wild! I said that at 20:21 in the episode!) I also share three reasons why a single word for your intention is helpful.
[22:01] - I share my process for setting my annual intention. It breaks down to eight small steps:
Dream big about your future.
Attach an important why to your dream.
Get brutally honest about why you are where you are.
Bridge the gap with behaviours.
Prioritize those behaviours.
Write yoru intention statement.
Choose your single word.
Live your intention every day in big and small ways.
Here are some of the resources I talked about in this episode:
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans.
Principles by Ray Dalio
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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!

#20: Q & A Part 2

Welcome to the finale for season one of The HR Mentor!
 
In this final episode of season one I answer four listener questions related to your job search. I also share a number of resources to support you through the entire process.
 
Here are the four questions I answer today as well as links to related episodes and resources.
 
1. If you were given fifteen seconds to introduce yourself what would your introduction be like?
Consider your audience and focus on your values, passion and interest in HR.
Check out Episode 3: How Your Values Can Impact Your Career and Job Search
Keep your pitch/answer career related and keep it high-level
Be succinct and to the point
Be prepared for the "Tell Me About Yourself Question"
Check out Episode 4: How to Market Yourself for Job Search Success
2. How and what should I talk about to the Employer or HR Department when I see a job posting on their website?
Don't wait for a job posting to make contact.
Research and connect with potential employers. Set up informational interviews.
Check out Episode 8: The Importance of Making Connections
Determine how you fit in the role. What makes you a great candidate?
Come up with relevant and potential questions you could ask this employer about this role or organization?
3. I'm graduating in December from an HR program. Where should I start my job search?
Begin by getting to know yourself.
Identify your knowledge, experience, skills, accomplishments and strengths.
What are your interests, passion and values.
Identify which areas of HR you should focus on and center your search there.
Again, check out Episode 8: The Importance of Making Connections.
4. I was recently laid off from my job and I have lots of anxiety about my job search. What advice do you have for managing anxiety during my job search?
Focus on your self-care. Get lots of sleep, move your body and try to eat healthy foods.
Work on shifting your limiting beliefs.
Check out Episode 2: Three Steps to Shift Your Limiting Beliefs and Improving Your Job Search.
Reach out to others for support and advice.
As this is the end of Season 1 I want to extend my incredible appreciation for everyone who listened to this podcast over the last twenty weeks! You have been incredibly supportive and I am grateful for your time and feedback.
 
I also want to extend a huge thank-you to my editor, Lorenzo who has been an incredible partner in producing this podcast. He offers and incredible service and has added so much value and advice to make this podcast better. For an example, just listen to the difference in sound quality between the first couple of episodes and everything that followed. That was all Lorenzo and his amazing $20 fix!!
 
If you have a podcast, are thinking of starting one or need any audio editing, connect with him on Fiverr. You can check out his profile here: https://www.fiverr.com/share/NWL7N8
 
Finally, and probably most importantly, I want to thank my dear family. This podcast has been part of fulfilling my passion and living up to my values, but it is also time consuming. My family is incredibly supportive of all my wild dreams and ideas, but they also give up time with me so I can give my time and attention to you. And for that I extend incredible gratitude to my two beautiful children and my dear mother for creating space for me to do what I do!
 
The HR Mentor will be back in January with all new episodes! If you have topics you want me to cover or people you want me to interview, don't hesitate to message me on LinkedIn or send me an email at melanie@unicorngroup.ca
 
Love the HR Mentor? Become a super fan and get access to exclusive monthly content and help keep the podcast ad free.
Sign up today!
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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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Spotify
Podbean
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!