Adrianna Sieracki,
HR/business student,
Thompson Rivers University

Adrianna Sieracki is a fourth year business student at Thompson Rivers University. She is currently majoring in HR with a double minor in Project Management and Leadership. She is the co-president of the TRU HR club and is the co-lead of the post-secondary portfolio for the CPHR BC & Yukon Central Interior Advisory Council. Adrianna has a passion for health and safety and hopes to achieve her CPHR in the future.

What inspires you most about the HR profession?
What inspires me most is the way the HR profession allows for so many different connections and relationships, and the fact that there are so many different positions one can work towards in the HR field. The opportunities are endless if you are willing to explore and work towards them.

What advice do you wish someone had given you earlier in your career?
To seek out co-op and mentorship programs sooner. I did not know about these things existing until two years ago and they have been a big help in my understanding of the profession. I think taking part in these types of programs is very valuable.

Who or what served as your earliest inspiration in pursuing a career in HR?
My step sister—who was an HR business partner at the time. I enjoyed the idea of working with the people in organizations, as that is something that I’m good at. Hearing her talk about what she does and where she gets to go for work made me excited.

Why did you choose to become a protege in the CPHR BC & Yukon Professional Mentoring Program?
I am nearing my final year of university, and want to feel as prepared as possible when I leave and job search. Being able to speak to someone in my field of interest who has more experience and guidance is something very valuable. Being a protege allows me to know firsthand what certain positions, industries and work days are like.

I always wanted the opportunity to speak to someone in the field of my interest and it is very valuable to be able to speak with someone who is more experienced.

What has been the greatest satisfaction of becoming a protege in the CPHR BC & Yukon Professional Mentoring Program?
Being able to learn everything I would never get from a textbook. My mentor does not sugarcoat her advice or stories and this has allowed me to open my eyes to what working in my field may really be like. I have established a good relationship with someone who can guide me to be successful.

What level of time commitment is involved with participating in the CPHR BC & Yukon Professional Mentoring Program?
The time commitment depends upon the pair; my mentor and I met for coffee every month, as well as went to roundtables and social events together. I find the more time you put into getting to know each other and strengthen the relationship, the more you get out of it. I would recommend at least 20 hours, if both schedules permit it.

What is the most important aspect of the mentor/protege relationship?
Open communication and NOT asking your mentor to get you a job. Mentors and proteges are brought together on their own time to try and learn from each other. Proper relationship can’t be created if the communication isn’t there and just asking mentors for jobs is annoying to them and makes them feel like they volunteer for nothing.

As a protege, I find this behavior disappointing; as well as it could affect the approach a mentor may use when entering a new partnership in the program.

How has serving as a protege changed your perception of the HR profession?
It makes me realize there is so much more to the field than what I have learned, and that those in this field are happy to share their experiences and to educate others of the profession. It makes me more and more excited to see what I can do as an aspiring HR professional, and how I may be able to help those in the future.

What advice do you have for someone considering a career in HR?
Do some research and, if you are comfortable, find someone and pick their brain. There is only so much you can learn online or in the classroom, as the profession and its rules are always changing. Speaking to someone about what they do and receiving honest answers can help to inspire you—or help you decide if HR is really what you want to pursue.

Why does “keeping people-first” matter to business?
Everything within a business is run by people. From all levels of the business, people are what make decisions happen, create things, and represent the business. Keeping people happy and respected leads to a better organization, and better long-term success.

What does the CPHR designation mean to you?
It means a lot, as it is given to those who have the competency and knowledge needed to do their job right. It is something that proves hard work and dedication pays off.

Meet Adrianna’s mentor Randi Purfield, CPHR.