Interested in a career in the human resources field, but couldn’t make it to the Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) networking event held at the Abbotsford campus U-House on Feb. 5? Or maybe you didn’t hear about it? No worries, we’ve got you covered. There were four panel members who attended the event: Ms. Marnie Wright, associate vice president of human resources, UFV; Ms. Sofia Arisheh, principal, UpSkill Consulting; Ms. Kirstin Zehnder, human resources director, Otter Co-op; and Ms. Caitlin O’Donoghue, human resources coordinator, TYCROP Trailers, who each answered a series of questions that were posed by two UFV HR student representatives, Revine Gill & Sharisse Birk. If you’re interested in what they had to say, then continue reading.
Common challenges experienced when entering the field of HR
A common challenge experienced when entering the field of HR is trying to figure out the career path options that are available. You don’t need to have a business degree to branch out into HR. This is where networking can be helpful, as well as keeping in touch with past professors. If networking is something that makes you nervous, then seeing a professional coach is something that may be helpful.
Recommendations to build HR experience while still in school
Building HR experience while still in school can be very beneficial to get a jump start on your career. These experiences could be gaining skills in customer service, training, joining a mentorship program, or volunteering, such as with New Student Orientation. However, a strong recommendation is to take the National Knowledge Exam (NKE). In Canada, the NKE is a certifying exam administered by the Canadian Council of Human Resources Associations. It is the first step that an individual must take in order to obtain their Certified Human Resources Professional designation. This can help to give you a baseline on your knowledge, as it confirms what you know.
Helpful skills in HR
It comes as no surprise that conflict resolution skills were one of the most cited helpful skills in HR. There was laughter among the panellists as they agreed that they love a hot mess! However, not all hot messes are fun. Knowing how to navigate political minefields is helpful, as well as finding balance between the business side and the people side. This is also where having confidence in yourself and your abilities comes into play.
Challenges when working with a team
There are always challenges when working with a team. One of the panel member’s personal challenges when she started out in HR, was that it felt like a man’s world. She had to find her inner strength and insert herself in the workplace. Others compared it to working on a group project, and how there is always one or two people who don’t contribute. In this case, it is important to learn how to navigate that, and find what everyone can offer. (Maybe there is a purpose to the dreaded group projects after all.) Other advice that was given was to understand your own role, recognize boundaries, be respectful, and pick up on cues.
How business automation and artificial intelligence will impact the workplace and what HR professionals are doing to prepare
The panel of HR professionals felt that AI could actually assist them to perform their jobs more effectively. In fact, there is actually AI operating right now that helps to predict better hires that will bring long-term value. Even though there is this fear of losing human interaction, the panel felt that there will always be a need for face-to-face interactions, as there is no replacement for picking up on social cues. Some HR professionals feel that bringing in more AI for tasks such as payroll would actually free up some time to engage in more face-to-face interaction.
How to find jobs in HR
Finding jobs in HR may come from connections made while gaining experience in school, which is also a way of networking. The panellists recommended volunteering as a way to get work experience, as transferable skills are very valuable, as well as gaining interpersonal and communication skills, learning to be a team player, and getting a well-written resume and cover letter. Other very important recommendations were to include a “Highlights of Qualifications” section on your resume, to join an auxiliary pool, and to take temporary jobs as a way to break into the field of HR.
How to stand out with automation
Standing out with automation isn’t as difficult as you would think. As previously mentioned, the panellists recommended including a “Highlights of Qualifications” section at the top, and to be concise with it. Another way is to pick out frequently used or keywords from the job ad. The Career Centre at UFV (third floor of SUB) can help with your resume and cover letter, as well as job search skills, work experience, interview skills, and more.
