In this episode, I sit down for a conversation with Brent Pollington, the owner of a successful and award-winning recruitment firm in Vancouver, BC, called Express Employment Professionals. With a company track record of placing over 15,000 people with more than a thousand companies, Brent brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to The HR Mentor that will enlighten new grads and seasoned HR professionals alike. During our conversation, Brent shares what a recruitment company does—and perhaps more importantly, what it does not do. We also discuss how to effectively work with a recruiter to enhance your career prospects. Plus, Brent will share some valuable advice for job seekers about refining their resumes, optimizing their LinkedIn profiles, and much more. If you’re interested in understanding the true role of recruitment firms in your job search or seeking tips on how to navigate the job market, this conversation will be well worth your time.   Helpful Links for this Episode: Connect with Brent Pollington on LinkedIn Visit Express Employment Professionals LinkedIn Page HR Doctors Podcast Check out the Express Employment Professionals Website Join The HR Career Cafe on LinkedIn Join the HR Career Accelerator program and go from Job Seeker to Job Offer! Use the code HRMENTORPOD for a special listener discount! Sign up for the Newsletter and get monthly motivation and inspiration. If you are feeling 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: Apple Podcast Spotify Podbean

I am so thrilled to kick off Season 5 with a very special guest. Sheryl Brown and I connected on LinkedIn years ago and have been sharing HR stories, parenting and work memes and inspiring empowering messages ever since. I finally convinced her to join me on The HR Mentor to talk about her career journey and it was truly worth the wait.  Sheryl's extensive experience in human resources is a testament to her adaptability and expertise across various sectors.  With a career spanning over 15 years, she has honed her skills in both non-profit and for-profit environments, dealing with unionized and non-unionized settings, and has adapted to the unique challenges of service, manufacturing, and mining industries to name a few. Her commitment to continuous learning is evident in her pursuit of an ICF Coaching certification and her plans to further her education with a master's degree. Outside of her professional endeavours, Sheryl finds joy in the simple pleasures of life, cherishing moments with loved ones, exploring culinary arts, and embracing the great outdoors. Her well-rounded lifestyle and dedication to growth in all aspects of life assist her in her role as HR Manager with Hudbay Minerals, Copper Mountain Mine. Sheryl currently holds the following designations: CPHR, SHRM-SCP, CTMP and RPR.     One of the things I love about Sheryl is her commitment to continuous growth and development. She is an inspiration and a role model for how to stay open to opportunities and to challenge and push yourself to live your best life.  I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did.   Helpful Links for this Episode: Connect with Sheryl on Linkedin  Read “Fearless Leadership: How to Overcome Behavioral Blindspots and Transform Your Organization” by Loretta Malandro Join The HR Career Cafe on LinkedIn Get on the waitlist for The HR Career Accelerator and remember your discount code HRMENTORPOD Sign up for the HR Mentor Career Newsletter  If you are feeling 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: Apple Podcast Spotify Podbean Intro Background Music by Playsound from Pixabay 

In this episode, I am talking about something that I don’t see talked about enough: the uncertainty and anxiety that naturally comes with graduating from University or College. While it is a natural and normal experience, the fear and trepidation that comes with graduation can have negative impacts on students and it can impede their ability to move forward. This episode covers four actions or tips soon-to-graduate students can use to help make this exciting transition much more enjoyable.  There are also links to several resources below, so keep scrolling and check them out. Thanks for listening! Here are the four actions you can take to help manage uncertainty: Start Before You Finish Double Down on Connections Access Supports Coping Strategies and a Self-Care Routine Helpful Links for this Episode: Episode 54: The Inside Scoop on Job Boards & Entry-level Recruitment with Steven Rothberg Breathing Exercise Instructions Episode 6: How To Deal With Rejection In Your Job Search Anxiety Canada - lots of resources and information Join The HR Career Cafe on LinkedIn Get on the waitlist for The HR Career Accelerator Join The HR Mentor Fan Club and get instant access to my Courageous Conversations Audio Lesson. Sign up for the Newsletter to get notified of the HRCA Launch and remember your discount code HRMENTORPOD 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 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: Apple Podcast Spotify Podbean

In this milestone 80th episode, I am thrilled to have my friend and colleague Joel Peterson on the show. Today, Joel shares all his advice and guidance on how job seekers can make the most of LinkedIn. He explains how to optimize your LinkedIn profile and shares the insight scoop on how recruiters are viewing your profile. If you are in a job search or using LinkedIn to network you don't want to miss this conversation! Helpful Links for this Episode: Check out Arbutus Search Group Connect with Joel on LinkedIn Join The HR Career Cafe on LinkedIn Get on the waitlist for The HR Career Accelerator Join The HR Mentor Fan Club and get instant access to my Courageous Conversations Audio Lesson. Sign up for the Newsletter to get notified of the HRCA Launch and remember your discount code HRMENTORPOD If you are feeling 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: Apple Podcast Spotify Podbean If you are serious about building your HR career and want to support the HR Mentor, consider getting a membership. The HR Mentor Fan Club is a virtual space where you can access special bonus episodes of the podcast, resources, and free downloads, as well as a chance to access special discounts on future programs.  If you join today, you will get instant access to my decision-making tool to help you say no to activities that aren’t aligned with your values and goals. 

Sukhpal Kaur or Sukhii as her colleagues and friends know her is an HR Coordinator at Great Canadian Entertainment at the Chances Casino Dawson Creek. Prior to moving to Dawson Creek, Sukhii attended Thompson Rivers University joining the university in 2018 as an International Student. As she describes it she has been on a beautiful journey since then making the transition from International HR Student to HR professional and permanent resident. I have known Sukhii since 2018 when she was my student and I can attest she is an amazing person with the kindest heart. I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did. Helpful Links related to this Episode: Connect with Sukhii on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sukhpal-kaur  Join The HR Mentor Fan Club and get instant access to my Courageous Conversations Audio Lesson. Sign up for the Newsletter to get notified of the HRCA Launch and remember your discount code HRMENTORPOD If you are feeling 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: Apple Podcast Spotify Podbean

Today, I want to talk to you about a trend or scenario that is causing concern for both employers and job seekers and share some thoughts on what I think you can do about it. This trend is workplace flexibility.  Everyone wants it and employers are scrambling to figure out how to offer it and still run their business or organization. In this episode I am going to offer a few suggestions for both sides of the employment relationship; employees or potential employees and employers. Because when it comes to this item in the negotiation I believe there are some win-win options even without working from home.  Here are five options that I believe job seekers and employers can negotiate to address the flexibility desired by employees without working from home: Flexible start and end times Banked over-time for extra leave Compressed workweeks Expanded and flexible leave plans Other creative ways (pets, clothes, longer lunches, nap rooms) Helpful Links for this Episode: City of Merritt 4-Day Work Week Pilot  Microsoft Japan 4-Day Work Week Episode 56: Where are all the Workers Episode 57: Quiet Quitting - What’s all the Fuss? Get The HR Interview Question Guide Instantly! Join The HR Mentor Fan Club and get instant access to my The HR Interview Question Guide Sign up for the Newsletter to get notified of the HRCA Launch and remember your discount code HRMENTORPOD And if you want to share your positive emotions about The HR Mentor I would love to hear from you! Please leave a review and a rating on Apple Podcasts, Podbean or Spotify 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: Apple Podcast Spotify Podbean And if you are serious about building your HR career and you want to support the HR Mentor, consider getting a membership. The HR Mentor Fan Club is a virtual space where you can get access to special bonus episodes of the podcast, resources, and free downloads as well as a chance to access special discounts on future programs.  If you join today, you will get instant access to my decision-making tool to help you say no to activities that aren’t aligned with your values and goals and much more.  Now you will also get instant access to The HR Interview Question Guide. Before your next HR Interview make sure you get your copy!

In this episode of The HR Mentor we have a fantastic guest! Heenle Turner is the Vice President of Content and Consulting at the ALL IN Company, and a certified HR Professional passionate about finding creative solutions to help businesses succeed. She has provided consulting services to more than 200 businesses of varying sizes and industries. This extensive experience in sales, customer service, and people management uniquely positions her to collaborate with entrepreneurs when it comes to recruiting, hiring, and retaining 5-Star Employees: committed candidates who share the company’s values and go above and beyond to achieve results. During our conversation, Heenle shared her career journey, tips for hiring 5-Star Employee, insight on how to retain those fabulous employees and a whole lot more! We also talk about the hit-show Severance, quiet-quitting and how Steve Jobs life and design philosophy might help you. Heenle also offers a free gift to anyone who listens. You can find that and more in the helpful links below: Here's the link to the litmus test: https://www.5staremployees.com/hireright Connect with Heenle via email or on LinkedIN Listen to Episode 57 - Quiet Quitting - What's All the Fuss? Read Steve Jobs: A Biography by Walter Isaacson Join The HR Mentor Fan Club and get instant access to my Courageous Conversations Audio Lesson Sign up for the Newsletter to get notified of the HRCA Launch and remember your discount code HRMENTORPOD And if you are enjoying The HR Mentor podcast I would love to hear from you! Please leave a review and a rating on Apple Podcasts, Podbean or Spotify 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: Apple Podcast Spotify Podbean And if you are serious about building your HR career and you want to support the HR Mentor, consider getting a membership. The HR Mentor Fan Club is a virtual space where you can get access to special bonus episodes of the podcast, resources, and free downloads as well as a chance to access special discounts on future programs.  If you join today, you will get instant access to my decision-making tool to help you say no to activities that aren’t aligned with your values and goals and much more.  You will also be eligible for an exclusive discount on the HR Career Accelerator program! As always, thank you so much for listening!

Many of us are uncomfortable talking about ourselves, especially at events and during networking opportunities. As a shy extrovert, I used to find engaging with people I didn't know and talking about what I do and what I am passionate about very uncomfortable. But I also learned over the years, that being able to do this is critical to career success. This episode is for those of you that have the same experience.  Because to be honest, connecting with other professionals, potential employers and mentors is one of the best ways to find that first HR role or level up your career to a new opportunity. So it is imperative that you get better at speaking with ease. Building your personal and professional network is a critical component of a successful HR career so embracing the skills and tools that make it easier earlier in your career will help you get better over time and help boost your confidence. In this episode, I am sharing some tips to help you get over the awkward moments and learn to promote yourself and speak with ease. Key points in this episode: There are two aspects to speaking with ease. First, there is what you say, second, there is how you say it. Developing an elevator pitch that highlights the value proposition you offer and the employer as well as where you are and where you are headed helps you prepare in advance of an event or networking opportunity. The elevator pitch can be used for networking, answering the Tell Me About Yourself interview question, or when you are setting up informational interviews. Preparation is half the battle. Prepare your elevator pitch and some possible questions to ask the people you are talking to. You should also prepare answers to questions you might be asked. How you show up physically also matters. Demonstrate confidence through your appearance, eye contact, smiling, and physical demeanor. Practice makes perfect! Conclude with a thank you that is short, sweet, personal and polite. :) Helpful links in this episode: Episode 5: Be Prepared and Ace the Interview Episode 41: Prepare for your HR Job Search Episode 4: Market Yourself for Job Search Success Episode 8: The Importance of Making Connections Episode 52: Why Job Targets Matter and How to Identify Them Sign up for the Newsletter to get notified of the HRCA Launch and remember your discount code HRMENTORPOD If you are feeling 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: Apple Podcast Spotify Podbean And if you are serious about building your HR career and you want to support the HR Mentor, consider getting a membership. The HR Mentor Fan Club is a virtual space where you can get access to special bonus episodes of the podcast, resources, and free downloads as well as a chance to access special discounts on future programs.  If you join today, you will get instant access to my decision-making tool to help you say no to activities that aren’t aligned with your values and goals and much more.  You will also be eligible for an exclusive discount on the HR Career Accelerator program launching July 2022.

One of the best things about being a University professor is getting to meet up-and-coming professionals. I get to see them when they are figuring out what they want to do and how they see themselves contributing. And in some cases, I have an opportunity to play a small role in their thought process. Every once in a while I meet students who I just know are going to make meaningful contributions no matter what path they chose to follow. Today on the HR Mentor I am sharing a conversation with one of those students.  Sarah Wade is an HR professional with a passion for helping others in their careers. She completed a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in Human Resource Management in early 2021 and then moved to Toronto to start her HR career. Since then, Sarah has worked as a Campus Recruiter, and as a Campus and Diversity Events Coordinator.  One of the things I have always admired about Sarah and I admired even more after this conversation, is her passion for whatever she does. I believe that your career path should inspire a sense of joy and meaning in your life and Sarah definitely embodies both. Not only has she been able to pursue roles and a location that was aligned with what she wanted to experience she has a deep desire to help others realize the same and wasted no time doing so when she recently started her own podcast to help students and young professionals in their careers. Jumpstart Career Cast is an incredible resource for anyone looking for advice on how to start their career and engage in the wild west of job searching. In this episode, Sarah shares some incredible advice and some inspiring stories about finding success with your job search and career. You will learn about the serendipitous moment that helped her land her first HR role, but also the strategy she used and practiced to help her be in the right place at the right time doing the exact right thing! Sarah also shares some wonderful wisdom about life, career, and how to keep it all in balance. So much wisdom for such a young person! I am so proud of Sarah and all that she has done and I hope you enjoy listening to us talk as much as I enjoyed the conversation. Here are some helpful links to support this episode: Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahfwade/ Read Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert Read The First 90 Days by Michael D. Watkins Listen to the Jumpstart Career Cast today! If you are feeling 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: Apple Podcasts Spotify Podbean And if you are serious about building your HR career and you want to support the HR Mentor, consider getting a membership. The HR Mentor Fan Club is a virtual space where you can get access to special bonus episodes of the podcast, resources, and free downloads as well as a chance to access special discounts on future programs.  If you join today, you will get instant access to my decision-making tool to help you say no to activities that aren’t aligned with your values and goals and much more.  As always, thank you so much for listening to this episode. Your time is greatly appreciated.  

A lot of HR professionals and new grads shy away from job opportunities in smaller or more remote communities. But my guest in this episode, Justin Hardy, did the opposite and as a result, has been able to gain some incredible experience early in his career. Justin is from a small town in the Interior of BC called Logan Lake with a population of about 2,000 people. He achieved his bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) in 2017.  A major academic accomplishment during his studies was presenting the results of a large research project that he had conducted with a group of his classmates at the TRU 2016 Undergrad Research and Innovation Conference. After receiving his degree he found his passion in human resources and has enjoyed both studying HR and working in the field. An achievement Justin is proud of in his professional career is developing, designing, and facilitating the City of Nelson’s new employee orientation program. During his time working for the City of Nelson Justin also fell in love with the Kootenays and is happy to work for the people of the Basin on a daily basis at Columbia Basin Trust. In his free time, he enjoys creative writing, reading, exercise, and technology. He also likes playing board games with friends, spending time with his Nieces, as well as video games, animals, music, and movies. In this episode, Justin and I discuss his career path, how he found HR, and life in a small town. Something this girl knows a little about. It was a great conversation that I am proud to share with you. Here are some helpful links related to this episode: Learn about the Columbia Basin Trust Read "Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds" by David Goggins Connect with Justin on LinkedIn If you are feeling 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: Apple Podcasts Spotify Podbean And if you are serious about building your HR career and you want to support the HR Mentor, consider getting a membership. The HR Mentor Fan Club is a virtual space where you can get access to special bonus episodes of the podcast, resources and free downloads as well as a chance to access special discounts on future programs.  If you join today, you will get instant access to my decision-making tool to help you say no to activities that aren’t aligned with your values and goals and much more.  As always, thank you so much for listening to this episode. Your time is greatly appreciated.  

I know it’s been more than a minute of lag time since my last episode, but November was a tough month. Actually the whole fall felt like a three ring circus.  There was not only a lot going on with the day-job, but a lot going on personally which I won’t bore you with. What also impacted so many of us here in B.C. is another series of natural disasters with intense flooding. Once again, many people and animals were displaced, had their properties destroyed and more importantly, lost their lives. It has been devastating. If you can find a few extra dollars right now I encourage you to donate to the Red Cross Flood Relief Fund to help those in need.  Now, for today’s episode, as you may have guessed from the title, I am wrapping up Season 2 and taking a little break till early 2022. It has been an incredible year and I am so grateful that so many people enjoyed the podcast. Remember, if you haven't already, please click the subscribe button wherever you are listening and consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts, Podbean or a recommendation on my LinkedIn page. I have four great questions I am going to answer that I think will be helpful to those of you just starting out in your HR career and those of you who may have a little bit more experience. Here are the four listener questions I answer on this episode: Is there a future in HR? Does my HR credentials and education need updating over time? Does my degree lose value? How do I figure out who to contact for an Informational Interview? How do I kick start my HR career? Here are some helpful links that go with this episode: Episode 40: 3 Career Paths for the Future of HR Episode 8: The Importance of Making Connections Episode 2: Three Strategies to Shift Your Limiting Beliefs Episode 41: Prepare for Your HR Job Search Updated CPHR Canada Competency Framework Sign up for my weekly newsletter! Join the HR Career Café on LinkedIn Starting your own podcast? Check out my editor's page on Fiverr. Lorenzo always delivers great value and my episodes are always ready in 48 hours. Check out his gig here: https://fiverr.com/share/V7jw35  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: Apple Podcasts Spotify Podbean Have a happy holiday and we'll talk to you in 2022! 

When I first began my HR career in the mid-90’s I had no clue as to what my career path would look like. In fact, I wasn’t even totally sure what a day in the life of an HR professional looked like. I had taken courses in recruitment and selection, compensation, and training and development in my undergrad degree so from my perspective, these were my choices.   And even though I was confident that HR was the right career path for me, I didn’t really understand the variety of options in front of me until I started my career and realized the number of hats an HR professional wears, especially in a generalist role. In my first generalist role at a credit union, I was hired because I had a strong recruitment background and the organization was expanding following a merger. But as I settled into my role I became immersed in many interesting areas of HR and it started to open my eyes to the sheer number of possibilities that existed under this one, overly simplified label of Human Resource Management.   Twenty years later, the HR function in many organizations has evolved as our profession becomes more integral to the strategy, success, and survival of an organization.   In this episode, I talk about three HR career paths that you may have never considered, but that are definitely in demand in our profession.   Even if you aren’t someone like me that enjoys change and describes herself as multi-passionate, you may still find yourself experiencing a variety of roles and functions within your HR career. Because if there is one thing I know for sure its that variety is the spice of any fulfilling career.   For a summary of this episode as well as a number of helpful links, visit www.unicorngroup.ca/episode-40.    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: Apple Podcasts Spotify Podbean

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. 

In this episode, Melanie has a wonderful conversation with a former student and TRU HR graduate who recently secured his first HR role. Dean Lemphers graduated in the spring of 2020 with a BBA with a major in Human Resource Management. This episode is part one of our conversation and in it, he shares the key factors that made him successful in securing his first HR job just months after graduation.   Here is a summary of Dean's advice: Be willing to put yourself out there. Connect with as many people as possible Conduct informational interviews Don't be afraid to ask If you want some assistance in connecting to create opportunities in your job search, be sure to listen to Episode 8 - The Power of Connections and download the free Informational Interview guide. There I provide you with everything you need to take the same steps Dean took to be successful.   If you would like to connect with Dean as a fellow HR graduate you can find him on LinkedIn using this link.   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! JOIN THE HR MENTOR FAN CLUB! If you haven't yet, don't forget to subscribe to The HR Mentor so you never miss an episode on the following platforms: Apple Podcasts 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. I love hearing from you and receiving your feedback!