Do you struggle to make connections on LinkedIn? Does it ever feel awkward to reach out to people to introduce yourself or to invite them to a virtual coffee conversation? If that's you, this episode will change that for you.

My guest on the show today is Andrew Stoute. Andrew is a leadership and career development consultant and the host of Let’s Be Diverse, an HR podcast covering many topics to help inspire your leadership journey. Andrew  has also been a huge supporter of The HR Mentor podcast for the last couple of years. Andrew connected with me through LinkedIn and  invited me on his show as a guest to talk about organizational development. And since we first connected, I have watched him increase his number of connections exponentially. He has now produced 100 episodes of Let's Be Diverse, each featuring a unique guest. During our conversation, I ask Andrew to share how he approaches making connections online and he shares his advice for new graduates who might be a little shier when it comes to networking.

Helpful Links for this Episode:

Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-stoute-20940960/

If you are feeling generous and want to send some love my way, I would be so very grateful for a review and a rating on Apple Podcasts or a recommendation on LinkedIn. And if you haven't yet, don't forget to subscribe to The HR Mentor so you never miss an episode on the following platforms:

• Apple Podcast

According to June labour statistics, the Canadian unemployment is up to 6.4%. In this episode, Melanie shares guidance on a job search strategy to overcome a downturn in the labour market. Because a downturn in the market doesn’t mean you can’t find a great HR job. But, it does mean you must be strategic about your job search. In Melanie’s mind, that means you need to focus on quality over quantity. 

Listen in as Melanie explains what a quality job search is and shares five reasons why infusing more quality in your job search is the best approach. And be sure to scroll down to check out the helpful links if you are truly serious about landing that fantastic HR job.

Five reasons you should engage in a quality versus quantity job search:

1. Higher Success Rate

Helpful Links for this Episode:

• Read the Labour Force Survey, June 2024

If you are feeling generous and want to send some love my way, I would be so very grateful for a review and a rating on Apple Podcasts or a recommendation on LinkedIn. And if you haven't yet, don't forget to subscribe to The HR Mentor so you never miss an episode on the following platforms:

• Apple Podcast

In this episode, my co-host, Michelle Amaral, and I had the opportunity to spend some time with Alfred Achoba from CMHA—Kamloops Branch. Alfred is the Executive Director and has been with the organization for over a decade. During our conversation, Alfred shared his personal career story and talked about why he pursued a career in community social services, particularly mental health and wellbeing.

Alfred also shares a lot of information about the work of CMHA and how organizations and HR professionals can better support workers and have conversations about mental health. We also talk about the student experience and how they can access support as they navigate early adulthood and possibly life in a new country. Alfred's passion for his work and generous spirit shine through this conversation. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

If you are experiencing stress, burnout or depression, please seek help. I will leave a few links to resources in the show notes. If your workplace has an Employee Benefits Plan, you may also want to contact your HR department to see what resources and tools are available to support you. Most importantly, don’t ignore or downplay how you are feeling. Your mental health is as, if not more important than your physical health and should be giving the same amount of attention. You are not alone, and there is help out there.

Here are helpful links to resources to support your mental health and wellbeing:

• If you are in crisis and need to talk to someone, please call the Canada Suicide Prevention Service at 1-833-456-4566 (24/7) or text 45645 (4 pm to 12 am ET).

Other Helpful Links for this Episode:

• Connect with Alfred Achoba on LinkedIn

If you feel generous and want to send love my way, I would be grateful for a review and rating on Apple Podcasts Spotify, or a recommendation on LinkedIn. And if you haven't yet, don't forget to subscribe to The HR Mentor so you never miss an episode on the following platforms or wherever you get your podcasts:

• Apple Podcast

Today is a very special episode. I am joined by one of my former students and one of the first graduates from the HR Career Accelerator program, Trupti Patel. In this episode, Trupti talks about her career journey and how she went from being a job seeker to a job offer in less than five months post-graduation. If you are a job seeker struggling to find your way, this episode will guide you on the right actions to take and motivate you to keep moving forward.  

We discuss key strategies to stand out in a competitive environment, the importance of effective networking, and how to prepare for interviews. Trupti also offers insights into personal branding and maintaining motivation throughout the job search process. This episode is packed with practical tips and encouragement for all job seekers.

Timeline Summary:

• 00:00 Introduction and Land Acknowledgment

Helpful Links for this Episode:

• Connect with Trupti Patel on LinkedIn

If you are feeling generous and want to send some love my way, I would be so very grateful for a review and a rating on Apple Podcasts or a recommendation on LinkedIn. And if you haven't yet, don't forget to subscribe to The HR Mentor so you never miss an episode on the following platforms:

• Apple Podcast

Have you been invited to a summer social event or activity? Did you delete the invitation or respond with a no-thank-you? If you did, I encourage you to listen to this episode. In it, I explain the benefits of saying YES to that summer social and how to mix fun with career acceleration.

Helpful Links for this Episode:

• Join The HR Career Cafe on LinkedIn

If you are feeling generous and want to send some love my way, I would be so very grateful for a review and a rating on Apple Podcasts or a recommendation on LinkedIn. And if you haven't yet, don't forget to subscribe to The HR Mentor so you never miss an episode on the following platforms:

• Apple Podcast

In this episode, my new part-time co-host, Michelle Amaral and I talk about something that I believe is critical to your HR job search. Networking is the key to success for so many new grads and professionals. But we also understand that it is not a comfortable experience for all job seekers. So in this episode, Michelle shares strategies for anyone who feels they are more introverted and fearful of networking so that you too, can take advantage of this powerful strategy for your HR job search.

Helpful Links for this Episode:

• Listen to Episode 8: The Importance of Building Connections

If you are feeling generous and want to send some love my way, I would be so very grateful for a review and a rating on Apple Podcasts or a recommendation on LinkedIn. And if you haven't yet, don't forget to subscribe to The HR Mentor so you never miss an episode on the following platforms:

• Apple Podcast

Intro Background Music by Playsound from Pixabay 

In this episode, I sit down for a conversation with Brent Pollington, the owner of a successful and award-winning recruitment firm in Vancouver, BC, called Express Employment Professionals. With a company track record of placing over 15,000 people with more than a thousand companies, Brent brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to The HR Mentor that will enlighten new grads and seasoned HR professionals alike.

During our conversation, Brent shares what a recruitment company does—and perhaps more importantly, what it does not do. We also discuss how to effectively work with a recruiter to enhance your career prospects. Plus, Brent will share some valuable advice for job seekers about refining their resumes, optimizing their LinkedIn profiles, and much more.

If you’re interested in understanding the true role of recruitment firms in your job search or seeking tips on how to navigate the job market, this conversation will be well worth your time.

Helpful Links for this Episode:

• Connect with Brent Pollington on LinkedIn

If you are feeling generous and want to send some love my way, I would be so very grateful for a review and a rating on Apple Podcasts or a recommendation on LinkedIn. And if you haven't yet, don't forget to subscribe to The HR Mentor so you never miss an episode on the following platforms:

• Apple Podcast

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 unionized and non-unionized settings, and has adapted to the unique challenges of service, manufacturing, and mining industries to name a few. Her commitment to continuous learning is evident in her pursuit of an ICF Coaching certification and her plans to further her education with a master's degree. Outside of her professional endeavours, Sheryl finds joy in the simple pleasures of life, cherishing moments with loved ones, exploring culinary arts, and embracing the great outdoors. Her well-rounded lifestyle and dedication to growth in all aspects of life assist her in her role as HR Manager with Hudbay Minerals, Copper Mountain Mine. Sheryl currently holds the following designations: CPHR, SHRM-SCP, CTMP and RPR.    

One of the things I love about Sheryl is her commitment to continuous growth and development. She is an inspiration and a role model for how to stay open to opportunities and to challenge and push yourself to live your best life. 

I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did.

Helpful Links for this Episode:

• Connect with Sheryl on Linkedin 

If you are feeling generous and want to send some love my way, I would be so very grateful for a review and a rating on Apple Podcasts or a recommendation on LinkedIn. And if you haven't yet, don't forget to subscribe to The HR Mentor so you never miss an episode on the following platforms:

• Apple Podcast

Intro Background Music by Playsound from Pixabay 

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 decided it might be a good idea to provide you with a curated collection of episodes that will meet you where you are in your job search. This episode summarizes episodes that will help you in three distinct stages of your job search.

You can find all the episodes I recommend for these three stages and the proper titles of the stages below.

Create the Right Mindset:

• Episode 2: 3 Steps to Shift Your Limiting Beliefs & Improve Your Job Search

Know Yourself:

• Episode 3: How Your Values Impact Your Career and Job Search

Promote Yourself:

• Episode 4: Market Yourself for Job Search Success

Other Helpful Links for this Episode:

• Join The HR Career Cafe on LinkedIn

If you are feeling generous and want to send some love my way, I would be very grateful for a review and rating on Apple Podcasts or a recommendation on LinkedIn. And if you haven't yet, don't forget to subscribe to The HR Mentor so you never miss an episode on the following platforms:

• Apple Podcast

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 her values and passion into a meaningful career path. 

The best part is that in this episode, she is sharing her success path with you and offers practical ways you can have the same success. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

If you want to connect with Michelle, you can check out the links below.

Helpful Links for this Episode:

• Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn

If you are feeling generous and want to send some love my way, I would be so very grateful for a review and a rating on Apple Podcasts or a recommendation on LinkedIn. And if you haven't yet, don't forget to subscribe to The HR Mentor so you never miss an episode on the following platforms:

• Apple Podcast

Thank you for listening!