I am so thrilled to kick off Season 5 with a very special guest. Sheryl Brown and I connected on LinkedIn years ago and have been sharing HR stories, parenting and work memes and inspiring empowering messages ever since. I finally convinced her to join me on The HR Mentor to talk about her career journey and it was truly worth the wait.  Sheryl's extensive experience in human resources is a testament to her adaptability and expertise across various sectors.  With a career spanning over 15 years, she has honed her skills in both non-profit and for-profit environments, dealing with uni ..read more

Welcome to the Season 4 Finale!  I decided about two months ago, after several exchanges with soon-to-be graduate students, that I needed to make this episode. If you have been following me since the beginning, you know I created this podcast to scale what I was trying to offer to new HR grads on a one-to-one basis. Of course, that quickly became unstainable, so with the idea of recording my guidance and advice and sharing it for free, I could help more students.  Well, now that we have 84 episodes on a variety of topics related to HR, well-being and, of course, your HR job search, I ..read more

This episode has been a long time in the making, and I am so pleased with the result. Michelle was one of my earliest fans who later became my student once the pandemic began to subside. Since our first meeting, I knew she had to be a guest on the show! I have watched Michelle transition from a student to an HR Generalist over two short years, and her accomplishments during that time have been incredible. She excelled in her studies, won awards, contributed to clubs and landed her first HR role with grace and intention. She is a passionate and dedicated professional who knows how to translate ..read more

If you are about to graduate from an HR program or you are a recent HR grad who is struggling with finding that first HR role, this episode is going to save you a ton of money and time. That’s right, money and time - something I am sure you value immensely right now. How am I going to do that? Well, I am going to be the friend you didn’t know you needed and I’m going to stop you from signing up for that certification program you are thinking of spending your hard-earned money on. Right now, as a new HR graduate, a fresh new certification is not going to be the silver bullet that gets you that ..read more

In this episode, I am talking about something that I don’t see talked about enough: the uncertainty and anxiety that naturally comes with graduating from University or College. While it is a natural and normal experience, the fear and trepidation that comes with graduation can have negative impacts on students and it can impede their ability to move forward. This episode covers four actions or tips soon-to-graduate students can use to help make this exciting transition much more enjoyable.  There are also links to several resources below, so keep scrolling and check them out. Thanks for l ..read more

In this milestone 80th episode, I am thrilled to have my friend and colleague Joel Peterson on the show. Today, Joel shares all his advice and guidance on how job seekers can make the most of LinkedIn. He explains how to optimize your LinkedIn profile and shares the insight scoop on how recruiters are viewing your profile. If you are in a job search or using LinkedIn to network you don't want to miss this conversation! Helpful Links for this Episode: Check out Arbutus Search Group Connect with Joel on LinkedIn Join The HR Career Cafe on LinkedIn Get on the waitlist for The HR Career Accelerat ..read more

As the lazy days of summer wind down, many of us turn our minds to the second New Year of the year - September 1st! There is the anticipation of new classes and the start of welcoming events at the University, and from the career perspective, people start to think about what’s next for them. Most people don’t feel like job hunting or switching roles in the middle of the summer holidays and are embracing whatever fun activities they have planned with their friends and family. Employers also tend to post fewer jobs because they know candidates aren’t looking and often don’t have all their employ ..read more

Today we're talking about something that’s been close to my heart for a long while now, but it has become more prevalent to me in the last few months. It also relates to Episode 76: The Benefits of Seeking Help with Your HR Career. It’s all about how you, dear emerging HR professional, can better position yourself to get that reference or assistance you need from experienced professionals, mentors, friends and family. If you follow my four tips you will help them help you, and it will help lead you to the success you are looking for! Helpful Links for this Episode: Episode 27: Choosing the Ri ..read more

There's a certain self-reliance that's admired in our North American culture. It's understandable. After all, who doesn't love a good story about self-made success? But let’s be honest. No one truly goes it alone. Behind every success story, there's a network of supporters, mentors, teachers, or coaches who played a part. And it is no different if you are pursuing an HR career. Seeking help is not only a strength, it’s a smart career move! In this episode, I talk about why it's not only okay to get help with your HR job search or career planning but also hugely beneficial. I share six reasons ..read more

In this episode, we are diving into what I believe is an often overlooked part of your job search—identifying your ideal work environment. I know when you are looking for work or a new career opportunity, you are more focused on whether or not you have what the employer wants, especially early on in your career. But if you are going to be successful, it is also important to consider what works for you.  In this episode, I discuss why knowing your ideal work environment is important even early in your career and ten elements you should consider before accepting a new role. This is helpful ..read more