August 20, 2020

by Melanie Reed

In this episode, my former student Dean and I continue our conversation about his job search and his first HR job. He talks about his first HR role and what he has already learned about his new profession in only two weeks. The insights he has are impressive! 

Dean explains how his new place of employment is very busy and his HR Lead does not have time to sit and train him on his role. So, he is learning by following her throughout her day to meetings and as she solves the day to day challenges of the business.

Being the smart person he is, Dean is taking this as an opportunity to observe, listen and learn. In two short weeks he has already discovered the following critical principles of being successful in HR:

1. The role of HR is to help solve business problems.
2. HR success is all about building relationships with people in the organization.
3. The role of a new graduate is to learn about the business and HR not to be the smartest person in the room with all the answers.

It was like he has been reading my mind!!

I also share one of my favourite HR stories from my career, where I learned how important it is to listen, observe and understand. The story of "Ashphalt Man" is definitely more animated when I share it face to face in class, but you will get the gist. The moral of the story, ask questions, listen, learn and try to understand before you try to help solve problems. 

Dean also shares some final key pieces of advice and reminders about his job search that I know those of you who are recent grads or those of you job seeking will want to hear. 

• Be a sponge
• Put yourself out there
• Rejection is part of the process

Thank you once again to Dean Lemphers for being on the show and for sharing his experience, insight and journey with us. He truly is one of the kindest most positive people I know!

If you haven't yet listened to Episode 9 and the first part of our interview you will want to check that out as well.

If you would like to connect with Dean as a fellow HR graduate you can find him on LinkedIn using this link. 

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