3 minute read
Member profile - Dr Deepika Jindahl
Human Resources magazine caught up with Deepika Jindal, who has recently become the first person to get accredited as a Chartered Member of HRNZ through the newly launched academic pathway. She shares insights into her key achievements and offers practical advice for Members.
What are the highlights of your career to date?
My HRM journey began in 2000 when I started working for an Indian manufacturing conglomerate: Trident Limited. In the 10 years that I worked for Trident, I had many opportunities to work across a wide array of HRM areas. However, I was (and remain) passionate about employee engagement, which became one of my key research constructs, when I started my doctorate at the University of Auckland Business School in 2013. The University offered me many teaching opportunities while I was a doctoral student.
Finding my passion for teaching, I changed to an academic career. Currently, I work as a Professional Teaching Fellow at the university of Auckland Business School, teaching HRM and related courses to both undergraduate and postgraduate students. I recently received an ‘Early Career Excellence in Teaching’ Award at the Business School’s annual award ceremony.
What inspires and motivates you in your career and why?
I see myself as a job crafter, who doesn’t stay limited to the traditional boundaries of her role. Job crafting refers to changes that employees make in their jobs to fit with their own needs or abilities or motivations, and that was a key construct in my doctoral thesis.
My role as a Professional Teaching Fellow does not require me to conduct research. However, I am involved with various research projects, because I believe research informs my teaching and adds to the meaningfulness that I derive from my work. I recently co-authored a book chapter on how New Zealanders have crafted their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
I actively network with practitioners and bring experiential learning opportunities to my students through my industry collaborations. I feel a deep sense of fulfilment in helping to create the future HR workforce. I am part of many service roles, both within and outside the university, which enable me to give back to the university and the HR community. I see my biggest strengths as being a passion for my work and the desire to make a difference.
What do you see as the challenges facing the industry right now?
The ‘Great Resignation’ that everyone is talking about nowadays perhaps requires organisations to review the employee experience they have been offering to engage and retain talented employees. Challenges related to hybrid working, and its spill-over effect to other HRM areas, are likely to continue for a while. The ability to quickly unlearn old HRM practices that are no longer working and relearn new ways of working will be crucial in attracting and retaining the right talent. The pandemic has exacerbated many challenges, but these also offer unique opportunities for organisations to reposition themselves as an ‘employer of choice’.
How has HRNZ membership helped you fast-track your career?
My association with HRNZ began in 2016 when I was selected as a committee member for the Auckland Branch, a role I have held since, except for a one-year break in between. I am also the Branch President of the Academic Branch. These roles have helped me bring opportunities to my students and enhance collaboration with both practitioners and academics.
I became the first person to get accredited as a Chartered Member of HRNZ in September 2021, through the newly launched academic pathway. This new pathway effectively restores the way academics were accredited in the pre-chartered days. Chartered Membership provides me with the recognition that I have met the required standards to be accredited.
Anything else you think our readers would find interesting!
I have benefitted hugely from the support and mentoring of many people who have been part of my journey until now. I believe in lifelong learning and think there is always something new or different to learn. Having the right mentors could add richness to our work and life experiences. I would like to end by saying that I am always striving to bridge the ‘academia and practice’ gap in HRM, so I would be keen to connect with others who share the same goal.
