By Shannon Kleibl

Being a student is challenging but rewarding work.  Paths are chosen, a plunge is taken and a career appears to be only a compilation of studies away.  As those studies near completion, what can you expect next?

Upcoming HR Cafe Tables Discussion
For those HR leaders of tomorrow, the Vancouver Island Region of BC HRMA is hosting an HR Cafe on March 27, 2013 at the Victoria Marriott Hotel from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.—an evening of roundtable discussions for students to connect with HR professionals.

Naturally, those leaders of tomorrow have a lot of wisdom to offer today—especially to those considering career paths in HR. Sitting down with three students from Vancouver Island who are studying HR, we discussed their choices, future aspirations and what role employers and BC HRMA play in their success.

Three Leaders of Tomorrow Today
Dimple Saldanha is in her second semester at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo, BC and is currently pursuing both an MBA and MScIB degree.  So far Saldanha’s journey has been one of many miles, beginning with her pursuit of HR in Kuwait working as a travel officer at an international retail company.

Adam Bishop’s path has also been marked by challenges and achievements alike.  Overcoming the obstacles of a physical disability at birth, he pursued a career in Broadcasting and Communications which eventually led him back to Vancouver Island in search of his true calling.  Having completed an advanced diploma in HR Management through Camosun College, Bishop is completing his final year of a Bachelors of HR and Labour Relations degree through Athabasca University.

Moyosola Agunbiade is also studying at Vancouver Island University as an MBA/MSc student in International Business and describes her experience as rewarding and challenging. Gaining real MBA experience via the interaction with her classmates in a multicultural environment Agunbiade is mastering the technique of building effective teams to deliver results.

Connecting with Dimple, Adam and Moyosola has provided three perspectives on a pursuit of a career in Human Resources as they reflect back on their journeys.

Why did you choose HR as your field of study/career choice?
Saldanha: “I am very interested in learning all I can about the career paths in the field of HR and what skills I may need to develop during my major courses at the university.”
Bishop: “I actually stumbled into HR as a career. Prior to working with the Vancouver Island Health Authority I went to broadcast school and worked on my own sports radio show in Edmonton, Alberta. When I decided to transition away from that career I moved back to the Island. Thankfully I had the opportunity to utilize my interviewing skills through what was at the time the Vancouver Island Health Authority’s (VIHA) Employment Services Department.
Agunbiade: “As an experienced student in this discipline, the motivating factor for me is the support the function provides to a business. It is a known fact that the people or resources an organization has is what makes it; it’s the people who execute the strategies.”

What excites you about HR?
Saldanha: “My passion for understanding employee development drives me to further build a career in HR.”
Bishop: “HR excites me because I feel you can truly make a difference. I was born with a physical disability and while I’ve never seen this as a barrier I have had to overcome challenges in the workplace. My hope is that these success stories will break down some of the stereotypes around disabled workers, while also breaking down the cycle of under and unemployment many people with disabilities face. Working in HR allows me to influence the way organizations see these people, while allowing me to give someone a shot at being successful, much like my first boss at VIHA did.”
Agunbiade: “I love to be a part of the process that enables and supports the execution of an organization’s strategy by training and equipping people to fulfil the strategic vision.

What is the greatest lesson you have learned so far? How do you think this will this help you in your career?
Saldanha: “Be informed, make notes and learn and network. By being informed, you become aware of various things happening around the world; making notes and learning helps you overcome errors and excel—and networking connects you with the various organizations that exist in the industry.”
Bishop: “At the end of the day everyone has a job to do; the sooner you realize that, the easier it is to accomplish your objective—and document everything! You never know when something you are doing or working on will be called into question—especially in labour relations!”
Agunbiade: “HR is the heart of every organization. Hence, organizations must invest in attracting, retaining and developing its employees to ensure its vision is achieved. This knowledge will help me attract the right employees and also ensure they are empowered to deliver on the required strategy.”

What advice would you give to employers when considering hiring new graduates? What can they expect from you?
Saldanha: “Fresh graduates with fresh knowledge about the various fields: we can be challenging and on the other side of the coin, we can also be just a normal candidate.  Employers should look for three things namely, good knowledge about the job, leadership skills and a good attitude.”
Bishop: “I’ve been given a chance to break into this industry and will do everything I can to be successful and repay those who had faith in me to give me my first opportunity. For Employers hiring new graduates I’d say this, whether directly or indirectly give them someone in the office they can connect with. While new grads can have all the book knowledge in the world and think they have the ‘street smarts to go with it…the real world industry can be challenging! Having someone who can show you the ropes, or who you can bounce ideas or thoughts off of is invaluable!”
Agunbiade: “Employers who hire new graduates should be willing to train and guide them because a lot of the theoretical knowledge gained in school might not be applicable in practice. An employer should expect me to be dependable and carry out my tasks with a positive attitude [and understand that] I will think out-of-the-box and use my initiatives to develop better ways of doing things to improve the overall performance of the organization.”

Who has inspired you to get where you are today?
Saldanha: “My parents, my instructors at school and my manager at the previous organization.”
Bishop: “Rod O’Connell and Deb Buxcey—they were my first manager and coordinator within VIHA. They gave me my first opportunity when all I had going for me was my communications background; they both took me under their wing, were there during HR school and always challenged me at work. Everything I do in my career is to thank them and show them they were right to put their faith in me.”
Agunbiade: “My family.”

How would you promote HR as a career choice to prospective students?
Saldanha: “HR is not only about recruitment, but has many other career fields within it. For those whose interests lie in a better understanding of work—life needs and analyzing the skills required for a potential job—HR is what they should be looking at as a career.”
Bishop: “Every organization needs HR, so there are lots of opportunities out there. HR also offers a chance to truly impact the organization you work for and the opportunity to build your organization into a place where people want to come to work. You have the opportunity to help people develop and achieve their goals and dreams. I don’t think there is anything better than that.
Moyosola: “Every organization requires HR to succeed; people are the most important asset. I will educate, guide and advise prospective students on the importance of the HR function to an organization and society.”

What are your goals over the next five years?
Saldanha: “To learn more about the various fields that my interests lie in and grow in my career and life. Eventually, I see myself at the management level.”
Bishop: “I’d like to be in an HR generalist role or on the path to working in labour relations where I am challenged on a daily basis to innovate and use those ‘people skills’.”
Agunbiade: “I see myself contributing to an organization’s bottom line and overseeing the responsibility of an HR function for a division or segment in a multinational organization.”

So what can we expect from our current and prospective HR students?
Great things…

And what about the upcoming Vancouver Island HR Cafe?
Happening really soon!  Registration is still possible for what is a standout event for students with an HR focus in their studies. With over a dozen roundtables ranging in discussion from recruitment and selection to engagement and retention, HRIS, coaching, labour relations and more, the expertise gathered is geared to assist. In that light, the March 27, 2013 HR Cafe will close with a presentation from BC HRMA 2012 Award of Excellence: Innovation winner Sarah Hood, CHRP of the Capital Regional District.  Her choice of topic could not be more appropriate: ”Marketing Yourself—Getting That First Job in HR”.

Register with your academic institution or connect with Carolyne Taylor at ctaylor@bchrma.org.