By Amandeep Kochar

What kind of impact does having a mentor make?  In my experience, it has made for a world of ongoing difference

First a word about who I am and how I came to be where I am today.
My name is Amandeep Kochar and I work as an HR Generalist for Vancouver Fire & Security. The field of Human Resources (HR) is not where I first started my career, having worked in Accounting and Tax for three years prior to obtaining a position in HR. My first HR position was a five months contract position in January 2011—and made me realize my true calling. Shortly thereafter, in May 2011 I successfully wrote the National Knowledge Exam (NKE) and achieved the acclaimed status of CHRP Candidate. I was starting to follow my dreams, but what now?

strong>Exploring the Options
I had a hard time finding another position in HR as my resume was overshadowed by my accounting background. I began to look towards the BC Human Resources Management Association (BC HRMA) for guidance, and frequently searched the job postings and other useful links. I found a summer position in a non-HR capacity to hold me over until the end of August, but found myself unemployed once again. I also signed up for the Professional Mentoring Program (PMP) late in September, without any expectation, and made searching for work my full-time job; I landed an HR internship in October.

Enter The Mentor
Then my mentor entered the picture and the picture changed. I was paired up with my mentor Lindsay Thorpe and met her for the first time at the Christmas Mingle. She was extremely pleasant to deal with and made me feel very welcomed. As our relationship progressed, she outlined some of my goals for the next year, as well as areas where I wanted further development. Two of my goals were to find full-time employment in an HR position and to and write the National Professional Practice Assessment (NPPA). My mentor helped me achieve both of these goals and so much more.

Connecting with HR
As someone who was new to HR, I didn’t know about all the different hats an HR professional wore, nor did I know about all the different areas in which one could specialize. I told Lindsay that Health and Wellness, as well as Labour Relations, were areas I wanted to know more about. She immediately looked into her network and connected me with two individuals from each of the fields I had wanted to know more about.

She could have told me her areas of focus and concentrated on that, but she truly wanted to help me understand these areas better from professionals who were currently in these roles. I felt that this was above and beyond what she had to do, and was so grateful to have been connected with such an amazing mentor. She was someone I had started looking up to, and she made me push myself to be so much better.

In Good Times and Otherwise
I moved on from my internship in the middle of February, to a full-time position as an HR Coordinator. This was truly a milestone moment for me, and a turning point for my career. A few weeks into the position, I started to uncover the reasons behind why this particular organization had such high turnover in their HR department. There were many occasions where I looked to Lindsay for guidance and support, including when I decided that staying in this position would cause more harm to my professional career, then good.

The search was on again and Lindsay helped me in every which way, including sending me job postings and referring me to individuals in her network who were hiring. Lindsay helped me stay positive during this transition and I tried to focus on what I had learned from my short five months in the position. I improved my resume and was starting to receive numerous calls for interviews. I again turned to Lindsay, and she helped me on the evenings and weekends prepare for my interviews.

From Mentee to Mentor
At times when I felt like a giant inconvenience, she reassured me she didn’t mind and she enjoyed our conversations. With thanks to that support, things have worked out nicely. Within two weeks from leaving my position as HR Coordinator, I had been offered a 15 month maternity leave coverage position of HR Generalist at Vancouver Fire and Security. A week after I started, I found out I had passed the NPPA and achieved my CHRP designation.

Even after our mentorship program ended, Lindsay and I kept in touch, and to this day she is helping me out in one way or another – including having the opportunity to share my experience with you all. I have signed up again to be a mentee, as well as a mentor for the first time. I encourage all emerging and seasoned HR professionals to apply – it is truly a rewarding experience. 

Amandeep Kochar is an emerging Human Resources professional, currently working as an HR Generalist. Prior to getting into HR she worked in Accounting, gaining knowledge of both Canadian and US tax laws. She is an active member of BC HRMA, and volunteers as a Career Services Advisor for Dress for Success. She prides herself on being a lifelong learner, and finds great fulfillment in giving back to the community.

Interested in mentoring? Apply for the BC HRMA Professional Mentoring Program before October 15, 2012.