So I've been settling into the routine of finding my replacement before I leave. I have one day next week with 7 interviews and counting, and it's been an interesting process, for sure. One thing I now know- my redesigned employment ad was quite effective in attracting interest, because the resumes are flooding in! Even in this somewhat questionable job market, I'm getting a lot more responses than anticipated. Many of them are not remotely qualified for the position, and are an easy rejection. A few of them have forgotten to include vital contact information, so they are also obviously a no-go, and a lot of them are reasonably qualified, at least as far as the resume is concerned. Then it is down to the interview process. It's up to me to design the interview. This was going to be a longer-term process, but it's been made considerably more urgent due to my move, so I've been in full-on research mode for a while now. I don't have the time or the resources to invest in a full-on study of interview effectiveness, so we're working with what we have, which is a basic structured interview format. I've updated and revised the questions, and generated a rubric for each interviewer to allow for easier scoring of answers. Each question is given a certain weighting, and at the end, candidates will be scored and avreaged in order to assign each candidate an overall score for the interview. This will hopefully minimize some of the bias issues you run into in an unstructured interview, and allow for easier selection overall. Of course, accuracy remains to be seen, but given the rate at which staff were coming and going before I came here, my hiring decisions (hopefully) can't be worse than what was already going on.
I don't think this is a perfect selection system, and it could certainly be improved, but time is severely limited, and I think this is the most workable system yet. There will be two of us performing the inital interview, myself and my immediate manager, and then shortlisted candidates will come back to see my manager and her direct reportable for a secondary interview. The final decision is not going to be up to me, which is only reasonable considering I won't be working here with him or her, but it's nice to have some input. And it's yet another thing to add to the ol' resume, so that's a plus.
In moving-related news, I think hubby and I have found our place to live. After dealing with a couple of questionable-seeming places, we found a cute little loft apartment a couple of blocks from the train line and close to downtown. Applications are in and now we wait, but we managed to get in there quickly and be the first to view the place since it came on the market, and got ourselves in right away. It feels a little odd to be trying to get a place neither of us has seen in person, but I trust my mother-in-law's jusdgement and photos, and we know the location well. Hopefully that's one more thing off the to-do list! Now I just need to find a job, although, truthfully, there are a couple of opportunities so far that I've been very excited with. Now I just have to be patient, and wait. Sigh.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
The Search Continues... At Work, And At Home
It feels like all I'm doing right now is poring over advertisements. At home, my time is spent alternately between looking at job boards (not as effective as networking, maybe, but networking in another city becomes somewhat more limited before you get there, and you never know, right?) and looking at listings for condos. At work, I'm spending my time trying to find a replacement for me, so there, I'm poring over resumes. It's an interesting experience, being on both ends at once, and I find I've become a bit of a resume snob. (Oh, I would never write a cover letter like that, and just look at that formatting! My goodness.) It's also been an eye-opener in terms of what people actually don't know about resumes and cover-letters, and what I would consider common sense that, evidently, isn't. One lovely candidate called, and told me she had never heard of my company, as she is located in Seattle at present. She had all kinds of questions which could have easily been answered by a quick visit to the company website, which is linked on our ad. Then I wouldn't have had a twenty minute conversation with her about the basics of the company and the job, and would have felt distinctly less annoyed. Google also works wonders, on both sides of the border. While I don't mind answering questions about the job, if you can't even be bothered to look up what products my company sells, don't expecrt me to be too impressed. Another candidate assures me that my interviewing days are over, because she will land this job, and while I admire her determination, I question her assumption, particularly given that she misspelled my company's name. It suggests that her attention to detail is maybe not all it could be. I also truly despise cover letters that are clearly not targeted at all. If you aren't going to target your cover letter for the position you're applying to, why bother including it?
It makes me a bit paranoid about my own applications, as a matter of fact,which is probably all to the good. It also makes me consider the parallels between looking at condo listings and looking at resumes. In both cases, you are trying to determine potential fit, sight unseen; you hope that this next ad will prove to be the perfect candidate; you hope that your perfect candidate falls within your budget, and the next step is an in-person interview. In the case of the condos, though, that in-person interview is presently being deferred to my mother-in-law, since she happens to actually live in Calgary, and I'm very grateful to her for looking, but occasionally question her judgement. Such as when she called to tell us about the two bedroom unit she looked at last night that was, apparently, terribly dirty, smelly,very cramped, and possibly less than safe, and then pronounced it "very cute". I'm hoping that my current supervisor, who will be sitting in on interviews with me, doesn't go the same way, though at least, since I am hiring my own replacement, the hiring decision is more her problem than mine. I just have to find a clean condo, and a stellar employee.
It makes me a bit paranoid about my own applications, as a matter of fact,which is probably all to the good. It also makes me consider the parallels between looking at condo listings and looking at resumes. In both cases, you are trying to determine potential fit, sight unseen; you hope that this next ad will prove to be the perfect candidate; you hope that your perfect candidate falls within your budget, and the next step is an in-person interview. In the case of the condos, though, that in-person interview is presently being deferred to my mother-in-law, since she happens to actually live in Calgary, and I'm very grateful to her for looking, but occasionally question her judgement. Such as when she called to tell us about the two bedroom unit she looked at last night that was, apparently, terribly dirty, smelly,very cramped, and possibly less than safe, and then pronounced it "very cute". I'm hoping that my current supervisor, who will be sitting in on interviews with me, doesn't go the same way, though at least, since I am hiring my own replacement, the hiring decision is more her problem than mine. I just have to find a clean condo, and a stellar employee.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Transparency and Transfers
In my experience, it is always a tricky thing to navigate the waters between leaving one job and starting another. It becomes trickier still when your position is as unusual as mine is.
I've spent a fair bit of my morning on the phone with various people, including my mentor at head office, trying to figure out the best plan for me in Calgary. Some of the news was possibly more encouraging than I had thought, as there may be a management position opening up, but it's not entirely clear yet. Otherwise, though, the only position open is a sales associate position, which is where I started with the company. I would still be able to perform some HR functions, but in a strictly limited capacity. Ultimately, then, this would really only be a temporary solution for me, and it would be taken largely for the consistency of a paycheque coming in and a job to walk into while I looked for something else. Since I have no desire to burn any bridges with this company, I could only accept that kind of a position on the condition that everyone understand that my intentions are only to stay temporarily. If there is a management position available, though, that I would certainly look into taking, as a gateway to a permanent HR management position. So I'm still trying to sort out the possibilities.
The other thing to consider is that I did get a call the other day from a recruiter based in Calgary. She actually was interested in getting me to work for her, as opposed to a job placement. I hadn't considered a career as a recruiter before, but she felt that my sales background combined with my HR experience would make it a good match. I'm certainly not opposed to the idea, but my fiscally conservative little soul is not sure how to feel about being the only income for our household and working on a comission basis. My sales numbers in other positions have always been very good, and I think I would do well as a recruiter, just that the idea of a variable income makes me a touch nervous. Ultimately, since the recruiter was hoping to have someone start before I am available, it may be a moot point. She did. however, also mention that with my combination of skills and experience, that she would be able to place me very easily. Her office does contract positions as well as permanent ones, and they place administrative positions, so I am going to give her a call once we arrive in Calgary and see what's available.
In talking to my mentor today, he once again advised me that my best career move is probably to leave the company for now. There is not going to be an HR management position for at least a couple of years, and I am going to be tied to Calgary for at least that long while my hubby finishes school anyway, so the long term possibilities are still open, but we'll see. As much as I think this company has been wonderful to work for, I am eager to start the next chapter in my life and see what new challenges there are in store for me.
For now, I have an email in to the regional manager in Calgary asking to speak to him, mostly so I can make sure he knows that I would be walking in to a role there only temporarily, unless it is a management position. That way, I have been open and transparent about my intetions (which makes me feel much better) and he is free to decide whether or not that suits his hiring needs as well. And we'll go from there.
I've spent a fair bit of my morning on the phone with various people, including my mentor at head office, trying to figure out the best plan for me in Calgary. Some of the news was possibly more encouraging than I had thought, as there may be a management position opening up, but it's not entirely clear yet. Otherwise, though, the only position open is a sales associate position, which is where I started with the company. I would still be able to perform some HR functions, but in a strictly limited capacity. Ultimately, then, this would really only be a temporary solution for me, and it would be taken largely for the consistency of a paycheque coming in and a job to walk into while I looked for something else. Since I have no desire to burn any bridges with this company, I could only accept that kind of a position on the condition that everyone understand that my intentions are only to stay temporarily. If there is a management position available, though, that I would certainly look into taking, as a gateway to a permanent HR management position. So I'm still trying to sort out the possibilities.
The other thing to consider is that I did get a call the other day from a recruiter based in Calgary. She actually was interested in getting me to work for her, as opposed to a job placement. I hadn't considered a career as a recruiter before, but she felt that my sales background combined with my HR experience would make it a good match. I'm certainly not opposed to the idea, but my fiscally conservative little soul is not sure how to feel about being the only income for our household and working on a comission basis. My sales numbers in other positions have always been very good, and I think I would do well as a recruiter, just that the idea of a variable income makes me a touch nervous. Ultimately, since the recruiter was hoping to have someone start before I am available, it may be a moot point. She did. however, also mention that with my combination of skills and experience, that she would be able to place me very easily. Her office does contract positions as well as permanent ones, and they place administrative positions, so I am going to give her a call once we arrive in Calgary and see what's available.
In talking to my mentor today, he once again advised me that my best career move is probably to leave the company for now. There is not going to be an HR management position for at least a couple of years, and I am going to be tied to Calgary for at least that long while my hubby finishes school anyway, so the long term possibilities are still open, but we'll see. As much as I think this company has been wonderful to work for, I am eager to start the next chapter in my life and see what new challenges there are in store for me.
For now, I have an email in to the regional manager in Calgary asking to speak to him, mostly so I can make sure he knows that I would be walking in to a role there only temporarily, unless it is a management position. That way, I have been open and transparent about my intetions (which makes me feel much better) and he is free to decide whether or not that suits his hiring needs as well. And we'll go from there.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Human Resources and Business Objectives
I keep reading a lot about the alignment of human resources with business objectives, and it seems that there is a lot of resistance to the idea that HR metrics have to be able to align themselves with business needs, and I'm finding myself a bit confused. I mean, isn't it obvious that my job as an HR professional is all about aligning with the needs of the business? Isn't my job to find the best candidates for open positions, who will stay with the company longer, perform better, and generate more revenue? Shouldn't I be able to figure out an ROI with costs AND benefits all figured out and laid out on paper? I just really don't understand what the issue is all about. "Alignment of HR with business strategy" generates 1,800,000 hits, so clearly this is a topic people are talking about. Using your HR department for strictly administrative purposes is such a waste. People are one of the biggest costs for most businesses, so why wouldn't you bring HR into your business planning? And if your HR people aren't up to the task, then you need better HR people. HR decides who your workforce is. Better make sure they know what you really need!
Friday, July 8, 2011
Moving feels so much like standing still....
Well, we are now firmly embroiled in the moving process. Looking at places to live, sorting through books, and generally trying to be ready. We've settled on a moving date of mid-August, as it is my father's 60th b-day on the 15th and it would mean a lot to him and my mother if we could be there. It also gives me the opportunity to work out a solid five weeks notice and start organizing the hunt for my replacement.
Targeted job search is going ok, so far, though I had forgotten how much spam you open yourself up to via job boards. I have gotten a couple of calls from recruiters about a couple of openings, so we'll see what materializes out of that, and in the meantime, I see what happens. It would be ideal to walk right into a new position in Calgary and avoid the stress of the job hunting process (at least for the most part- I'm already feeling it a little.)
As a job-hunter, I understand the temptation to just blindly apply to all the jobs out there, but I'm really trying to avoid doing that. I want to find the right job, not just any job. So a lot of my time has been spent trying to decide what that means. So far, I know that I want a new position that is challenging and has a lot of opportunity for further growth. I want to be able to stretch my skillset and learn new things. I'd love a job with a focus on social media- I've spent a lot of time and effort developing a social media presence and there really is a tremendous amount of fabulous stuff out there. I'd like a job that encourages me to network within the HR community and keep up my skills, so anything looking at a CHRP is a plus. I know people have mixed feelings about the value of the designation, but in my opinion the requirement for continuing education is hugely important. HR is ever-changing, ever adapting, and we need to be ready for the changes that will best benefit our respective businesses' needs, because that's what it's all about.
So, we'll see. Right now most of my focus is on a place to live- I've sent off inquiries all over the place and we are presently arranging for my sister in law to see some places on our behalf. If I manage to wrangle interviews anywhere before we leave, I'll fly out myself and look, but for now, the internet is my best friend.
Targeted job search is going ok, so far, though I had forgotten how much spam you open yourself up to via job boards. I have gotten a couple of calls from recruiters about a couple of openings, so we'll see what materializes out of that, and in the meantime, I see what happens. It would be ideal to walk right into a new position in Calgary and avoid the stress of the job hunting process (at least for the most part- I'm already feeling it a little.)
As a job-hunter, I understand the temptation to just blindly apply to all the jobs out there, but I'm really trying to avoid doing that. I want to find the right job, not just any job. So a lot of my time has been spent trying to decide what that means. So far, I know that I want a new position that is challenging and has a lot of opportunity for further growth. I want to be able to stretch my skillset and learn new things. I'd love a job with a focus on social media- I've spent a lot of time and effort developing a social media presence and there really is a tremendous amount of fabulous stuff out there. I'd like a job that encourages me to network within the HR community and keep up my skills, so anything looking at a CHRP is a plus. I know people have mixed feelings about the value of the designation, but in my opinion the requirement for continuing education is hugely important. HR is ever-changing, ever adapting, and we need to be ready for the changes that will best benefit our respective businesses' needs, because that's what it's all about.
So, we'll see. Right now most of my focus is on a place to live- I've sent off inquiries all over the place and we are presently arranging for my sister in law to see some places on our behalf. If I manage to wrangle interviews anywhere before we leave, I'll fly out myself and look, but for now, the internet is my best friend.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Pay $2,500, Get a Job... Guaranteed??
This article discusses The Ladders' new Signature program, designed to help job seekers land a 6-figure job. As near as I can tell, their program (which looks pretty comprehensive) guarantees a job offer within six months or your money back. I first saw this one on twitter, asking if I would pay $2,500 for a guaranteed offer. Well, I would.
Of course, I don't qualify for their program either, because I am most certainly not in an experience category that would justify a six-figure paycheque. However, if you're looking at a minimum of $100,0000 a yearn, $2,500 is only 2.5% of your annual income. That, to me, is a no-brainer. I realize it's a guaranteed offer, not a job, but you still get to keep the skills and resume advice, and if you don't get an offer, they'll refund your money. So why not?
Of course, I don't qualify for their program either, because I am most certainly not in an experience category that would justify a six-figure paycheque. However, if you're looking at a minimum of $100,0000 a yearn, $2,500 is only 2.5% of your annual income. That, to me, is a no-brainer. I realize it's a guaranteed offer, not a job, but you still get to keep the skills and resume advice, and if you don't get an offer, they'll refund your money. So why not?
Saturday, July 2, 2011
And We're Off to the Races, Folks...
Well, folks, the news is here at last. Hubby got accepted to his program at the University of Calgary, so after leaving in 09, we're heading back again!
It's a mixed bag, really. I mean, I hate moving, for one, and my to-do list just had about 50 million items added to it. So, that part is not my favourite. Not to mention, there's the expense of moving, finding a new place to live, etc. On the plus side, we're going back to a city that we both know, seeing friends again, etc. and I'm so happy for my hubby to be getting back into school again. I'm also hoping that it will open some doors for me. While I have been in touch with the Director of Professional Development, there isn't going to be much for opportunities for me. I could go back into a sales associate position, and continue with some HR support, but it would really be a step in the wrong direction for me. I've been there, done that, and got bored of it already- that's what prompted the move into HR in the first place. So, ultimately, I am waiting to hear exactly what they can offer me in Calgary, but since Head Office is in Vancouver, it's unlikely to be what I want. I still feel a tremendous amount of loyalty to the company; you don't often see companies with such an amazing culture, and I would welcome the opportunity to develop an HR management position with them, but it looks like that wouldn't even be a possibility for another couple of years at least, and I frankly cannot imagine languishing in a sales role for that much longer.
So I've been stepping up my job-hunting efforts already, in an effort to see what's out there. There are two routes, really- I could try and capitalize on my healthcare experience and look for a role in that industry, or I could try and break into the oil and gas industry. I think generally the private sector is likelier to give me the kind of experience I want at this stage- fast paced, growing companies, etc. and indeed there are some very interesting companies and opportunities that I have seen to date.
I'm not sure how successful my job hunt will be until I can get to Calgary and get organized. I'm working on my application to the HRIA, but they need a physical copy of my degree and HR certificate. The degree is no problem (it's sitting over my fireplace at the moment) but I never actually received a physical certificate for the HR Management program I completed. I have an email in to the University to see how that works. Otherwise I suppose I could scan and upload the page showing the course requirements are being completed. Once I have that membership settled, I can register for the NKE, because I now know what province I will be living in by October 1st, and I'll have access to more job listings, not to mention more networking opportunities.
I'm fairly confident that I'll be able to find what I want. After all, I have a great deal more experience than I did a couple of years ago, when I was first looking at HR in Calgary, and I have tons more knowledge about recruitment than I did then. References from the Director of Professional Development and the Executive VP don't hurt, either. So right now, I'm feeling excited, overwhelmed and optimistic, all at once.
It's a mixed bag, really. I mean, I hate moving, for one, and my to-do list just had about 50 million items added to it. So, that part is not my favourite. Not to mention, there's the expense of moving, finding a new place to live, etc. On the plus side, we're going back to a city that we both know, seeing friends again, etc. and I'm so happy for my hubby to be getting back into school again. I'm also hoping that it will open some doors for me. While I have been in touch with the Director of Professional Development, there isn't going to be much for opportunities for me. I could go back into a sales associate position, and continue with some HR support, but it would really be a step in the wrong direction for me. I've been there, done that, and got bored of it already- that's what prompted the move into HR in the first place. So, ultimately, I am waiting to hear exactly what they can offer me in Calgary, but since Head Office is in Vancouver, it's unlikely to be what I want. I still feel a tremendous amount of loyalty to the company; you don't often see companies with such an amazing culture, and I would welcome the opportunity to develop an HR management position with them, but it looks like that wouldn't even be a possibility for another couple of years at least, and I frankly cannot imagine languishing in a sales role for that much longer.
So I've been stepping up my job-hunting efforts already, in an effort to see what's out there. There are two routes, really- I could try and capitalize on my healthcare experience and look for a role in that industry, or I could try and break into the oil and gas industry. I think generally the private sector is likelier to give me the kind of experience I want at this stage- fast paced, growing companies, etc. and indeed there are some very interesting companies and opportunities that I have seen to date.
I'm not sure how successful my job hunt will be until I can get to Calgary and get organized. I'm working on my application to the HRIA, but they need a physical copy of my degree and HR certificate. The degree is no problem (it's sitting over my fireplace at the moment) but I never actually received a physical certificate for the HR Management program I completed. I have an email in to the University to see how that works. Otherwise I suppose I could scan and upload the page showing the course requirements are being completed. Once I have that membership settled, I can register for the NKE, because I now know what province I will be living in by October 1st, and I'll have access to more job listings, not to mention more networking opportunities.
I'm fairly confident that I'll be able to find what I want. After all, I have a great deal more experience than I did a couple of years ago, when I was first looking at HR in Calgary, and I have tons more knowledge about recruitment than I did then. References from the Director of Professional Development and the Executive VP don't hurt, either. So right now, I'm feeling excited, overwhelmed and optimistic, all at once.
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