STUDENT PERSPECTIVE
HR has the opportunity to empower people
O
ver the past year I have had the opportunity to be a student ambassador for HRNZ, an experience I have found invaluable. The two major milestones in my time as a HRNZ student ambassador were undoubtedly tfhe annual conference, and a networking evening organised by my fellow regional ambassador, Ayla Hutchinson, and I. The NZ HR Conference was a milestone for me because of the enormous number of things I learnt. From Dr Jill Klein I learnt about the importance of resilience in changing times. From Carmen Vicelich I learnt about the growing importance of data in the workplace and how we as HR professionals can look to leverage off it. I had the opportunity to engage in discussions at the various expos surrounding the current state of the HR industry, where we have been and where it is going. The biggest lesson I learnt from that Conference however, was that this is the industry I am supposed to be a part of, and that if I apply myself I will be able to find my place in it. The event Ayla and I organised turned out to be a huge success. About 30 HR students and 10 HR practitioners came together for an evening of networking, and we received some really positive feedback. I heard from the students that they found it a great way to gather insight into what HR looks like in the workforce and what some potential pathways could be for them getting into the industry. It was a really rewarding night to be a part of and I gained a greater understanding of how to organise events like these and the value that can be created as a result of them.
HR is a profession I believe provides practitioners with an opportunity to empower people. This was my motivation in both studying HR and beginning a career in this industry. I have always been passionate about people. Whether it be having a conversation, listening to people, learning from them, or teaching them something. There is something really rewarding about being a catalyst in someone’s success and I truly believe HR is a profession which allows you to do that on a daily basis. Through my studies I have learnt about the various functions an HR professional oversees. Whether it be recruitment, learning and development, performance and remuneration, or employment relations. Each one of these functions is an opportunity to positively impact an employee’s (or prospective employee’s) experience.
An HR professional is someone who has the biggest influence over whether someone’s work experience is a positive or negative one For the past seven months I have had the opportunity to gain work experience in the HR industry, occupying a role at the Ministry of Education. Primarily I have been working in the talent acquisition space, with my work spanning across employer branding, student engagement, and candidate experience. I have found myself really enjoying recruitment and have found the experience at the Ministry an invaluable one. Having been on the receiving end of some unpleasant recruitment processes, I have enjoyed being in a position where I can try
and make the candidate experience a positive one, no matter the outcome. I am interested in exploring the other functions of HR, with talent management being a particular interest area. I aspire to one day become a leader and oversee a team, as to me this is the ultimate opportunity to empower people. In the Western world, especially New Zealand, an individual’s experience at work can have a major impact on their overall well-being. To me, an HR professional is someone who has the biggest influence over whether someone’s work experience is a positive or negative one. This is a big responsibility and one that should never be taken for granted. I have a hope that HR professionals all over the world remember this when they go into work each day. I hope that we all remember to put our employees first and keep them at the forefront of our decision making. Let’s remember that happiness is the ultimate goal, let us use our influence to make the world a happier place, one employee at a time.
Jackson Barber is a third year student at Victoria University, studying towards a BComm in HR and Psychology. He is a tutor for an HR course at University and occupies a part-time HR role at the Ministry of Education. He is passionate about learning from people and empowering them. Jackson is always happy for a chat, please feel free to reach out to him on LinkedIn.
WINTER 2019
HUMAN RESOURCES
39
