Randi Purfield, CPHR
Senior Safety Coordinator,
Highland Valley Copper

Randi Purfield, MBA, CPHR has been with her current employer for over 22 years and has worked in both human resources, as well as health and safety. She has her Graduate Certificate in HR from Royal Roads University and her Graduate Diploma and MBA from Simon Fraser University. She has been an active member of CPHR BC & Yukon’s Central Interior region for many years and has held the CPHR designation since 2008. Fall 2018 will be her eighth year as a mentor.

 
Who or what served as your earliest inspiration in pursuing a career in HR?
Before the formalized mentorship program began, I left a banking career and started into HR in private industry. I was extremely lucky to be mentored at my workplace by caring individuals who embodied HR with their level heads, compassion and empathetic natures. Doors were always open for questions and direction, and I was encouraged to join the association and to pursue the CPHR. Although some decisions they were required to make were tough, it appeared they were able to level the playing field for everyone and for the most part all parties benefited from the results. They set the bar for me to work towards within the HR community.

As well, there were individuals in the local region that brought their experience with them to each outing and shared willingly at the seminars and roundtables. To individuals such as Susan McIntyre, FCPHR and Simon Mason, CPHR I will always be grateful for their honesty and inspiration. I aspire to provide this type of role model to the students and members in our region.

Why did you choose to become a mentor in the CPHR BC & Yukon Professional Mentoring Program?
I am looking forward to beginning the 8th year as a mentor for the CPHR BC & Yukon in the Central Interior and wondering what this year will bring. I have been partnered in the mentoring program with protégés of different age groups, education levels, and experience. Each pairing has been a unique experience and it is for this reason I continue to return.

What has been the greatest satisfaction of becoming a mentor in the CPHR BC & Yukon Professional Mentoring Program?
I have said before, that meeting with my protégés “charges my batteries.” I learn new things and keep current on recent topics and issues each time we meet and share ideas. I enjoy seeing the protégés develop personally and professionally and have managed to maintain contact with all of them. I find that the program is well structured so that relationships are a two-way street and each pair is afforded the opportunity to develop and grow as much as they choose.

What does the CPHR designation mean to you?
I have encouraged each protégé to pursue the CPHR designation. I believe that it is becoming an integral part of the profession and as more information is published on it, awareness is increasing, and it is becoming a recognized accreditation throughout the business community.

What level of time commitment is involved with participating in the CPHR BC & Yukon Professional Mentoring Program?
The Central Interior region of CPHR BC & Yukon hosts an annual mentoring ‘kick-off event’, opportunities for development throughout the year, and a final evening to enjoy the year’s successes. Program coordinators are always available for questions, and check with participants personally at least once, if not twice, over the program period. They consider and value the feedback of participants and allow the program to evolve.

It has been my experience with mentoring that an hour or two a month face-to-face outings work well, with a commitment to catch up with email ‘check-ins’. When one of my protégés transferred out of the area mid term, we met via Skype for the balance of the year – sometimes you have to be creative! I value the time allotted by my protégés as I consider it part of my professional development.

What advice do you have for someone considering a career in HR?
My gem of advice to those pursuing HR as a career – Always treat employees or prospective employees as ‘customers’. Remember that HR is a ‘service industry’ of sorts, and without those ‘customers’ we would not have a job.

Meet Randi’s protege Adrianna Sieracki.