By Elaine Smith

The BC HRMA Professional Mentoring Program has long been a success for mentors and protégé alike. Open to all BC HRMA members, including students, mid-career and seasoned HR professionals, 2012/13 was one of the most successful years to date.

For example, Vancouver Island matched a record 52 pairs, up from 32 the previous year.  As a BC HRMA volunteer, I asked a number of program participants to share their experiences as either a mentor or a protégé.  The positivity of their responses was overwhelming and offered ample evidence of the program’s exceptional value for those looking to grow either their personal development or coaching skills. 

Deborah Lang, Carole Gosse and Theresa Carrie co-lead the BC HRMA Mentoring Portfolio for Vancouver Island. Lang explained that the program runs for six months of each year and the mentor/protégé pairs are matched based on criteria submitted by applicants to the program.

Once pairs have been matched, an orientation is held to provide the pairs with information and guidance on working in a mentoring partnership.  A month into the program, program leads check in with participants and at month three of the program, breakfast and lunch sessions are held to provide further coaching support to the pairs.

The choice of how often and how the pairs meet is varied and decided by the pairs.  The meeting schedules of the participants I spoke to varied from bi-weekly to once per month.  Pairs met by phone, others would go for coffee, walks, or talk by email or Skype. At the end of the program, pairs have the option of sharing their experiences through testimonials and surveys.

When I asked participants how they heard about the program, it was clear that those who have been involved are spreading the word about the benefits of the BC HRMA Professional Mentoring Program. Herein we capture some of those good words.

What was your reason for taking part in the 2012/13 BC HRMA Mentoring Program and what did you hope to achieve by being part of the program (your goals)?

Lauren Stedman (Protégé):  Initially I wanted to be exposed to the practical side of HR, as opposed to the academic side.  However, as I developed my relationship with my mentor, I was able to develop myself generally as a new entrant into the Victoria business world. 

Ben Gerbrecht (Protégé):  It seemed like a great opportunity to get advice.  I hoped to get advice on how to get a job in HR.  I also wanted advice on leadership pertaining to my involvement in volunteering for a non-profit organization. 

David Johnston (Protégé) :  I had a plan to use the program to cover a number of areas I felt were important to my professional growth and career development.  Specifically, I was looking to grow my expertise in recruitment and selection, compensation, and general HR practices, and also build my networking skills. 

Deanna Wrate (Protégé/Mentor):  I love my profession and am excited to share my experience.  My goal was to share my enthusiasm and help an up and coming professional find their feet.  I also participated as a protégé; my goal in this was to expand my professional development. 

Theresa Carrie (Protégé/ Mentor):  Two key reasons: I wanted to participate as a mentor because I thought I could make a contribution to newer practitioners in the field by sharing my experiences, and I also saw being a mentor as an opportunity to develop professionally – to practice my coaching skills specifically. Participating as a protégé was completely driven by my desire to continue growing as an HR professional

Was your experience with the program successful and what do you feel made it successful?

Stedman:  Definitely.  My mentor was so helpful and, even though I did try to be the driving force, she was also willing to take the lead if necessary.

Johnston:  The quality of the mentor was fantastic. (My mentor) was supportive, thoughtful and genuinely cared about helping me become a better HR professional. 

Gerbrecht:  It was successful because I have someone to bounce ideas off of and get advice on HR related things. 

Carrie:  Yes, I believe so. (My mentee) repeatedly shared his success in his role and with his projects after we’d discussed ideas or details he could consider.  Hearing of his progress and success stories was extremely rewarding!

Wrate:  Absolutely successful.  There was connection and mutual respect. 

Would you recommend the BC HRMA program to others?  Please explain why.

Stedman:  Absolutely – I think it is a great introduction to the profession and Victoria seems to be a place where networking is vital.

Gerbrecht:  Yes, I got a lot out of it and feel that the relationship with my mentor will continue in some capacity for a long time.

Johnston:  I would definitely recommend this program – HR is a difficult field to enter and move through, and the PMP is a great way to break through those barriers. 

Wrate:   In a heartbeat!  It is a great way to engage with new HR professionals, learn for seasoned professionals and support the community.

Carrie:  Always! I’m an advocate!

It is clearly evident that this program appeals to a variety of individuals in all stages of their career and development.  Moreover, I found that most participants expect their relationship with their mentoring partner to continue in some form, as new friendships were forged.  Many plan to continue their involvement in the program—some by alternating their roles between mentor and protégé.  

Applications are now being accepted for both mentors and protégés for the 2014 mentoring year.  The deadline to apply is 9:00am PST on September 30, 2013. Those interested in participating in this very worthwhile program can find out more at www.bchrma.org.