Q: Briefly describe your current position and responsibilities, including challenges/rewards. How did you go about your job search upon graduating -- what strategies were most successful and why do you think you were hired?
I am currently a self-employed HR Consultant and am presently consulting with the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research.
Consulting with an organization that is working towards such a great cause is rewarding in itself but also the freedom and flexibility of being my own boss, setting my own hours and being able to work from home are some of the rewards of being a self-employed HR consultant. What I enjoy the most about my career is the career advise and assistance that I can provide to others.
The satisfaction of helping a company find the right fit for their organization or helping someone find a job are just some of the other benefits that this career provides. I think I have been hired by my employers and my clients because they look for an HR professional that is a people person, good communicator, friendly, dependable and reliable. My criminology and sociology education also helped enhance my analytical skills to conduct interviews and meetings and gather the most relevant information with an un-biased nature.
Q: List the key positions you have held since graduation, and any post-graduate degrees/diplomas you earned after graduation. If applicable, list any other ways you are involved in your profession or in your community (member of a professional association, involved as a leadership volunteer, etc).
- HR Consultant to various organizations
- Director of Recruitment
- Team Lead
- Recruiter
I also created a website for students and new graduates looking for jobs in the GTA but www.JobBug.ca has been on hold since I had my baby last year!
Q: What personal characteristics/skills are most important for success in your job/field?
People person, good communicator, friendly, analytical, organized, dependable, reliable, wants to help others
Q: What have been the keys to your success? What advice would you give to students who wish to pursue a similar career path? If you had the chance to plan your studies and your career path again, what would you do differently (if anything)?
My passion for HR has been the key to my success. Employers and clients can see my passion when they interview me. I love my job and love to help people. If I could go back and plan my studies again, I would pursue more HR related courses.