Youthink PS

YOUTHINK.CA 12 > YOUTHINK PS > FALL 2018 St Marys Uni.indd F rom the heart of darkness to the heart of business leadership in every industry, the pulse (and profitability) of human resources is creating thriving futures on all sides of the equation: providing a beacon for those seek - ing a career-merging purpose, passion and profit that plays forward, while leading progressive or- ganizations towards a far different picture than "business as usual." Evolving from the old-school gatekeeper and administrator of yesteryear to the top-tier strategist and business partner of today, the HR professional has transformed as much as the profession itself. Raised under different names in a post-war world, from "Labour Relations" to "Personnel" to "Those Who Hire and Fire," HR has been many things along its relatively short journey — roughly 75 years on the West Coast — to the profession it is today. Welcome to the world of today's HR. CPHR Speaks to HR Business Futures So, what's the allure for so many of the once- maligned role? In short, this is no longer your grandparents' HR, or your parents' for that matter, but a profession that has evolved along - side the changing world around us. From colour TV to the rocket age to the Internet and rise of automated intelligence, the importance of the human ingenuity at the core of every organiza - tion has put a capital on the HR career path. Moreover, that career path has never been wider, more varied or, perhaps most importantly for those planning tomorrow today, more val- ued. Accompanied by the growing recognition of the Chartered Professional in Human Re- sources (CPHR) designation, the HR career path is no longer the lonely walk to the of- fice at the end of the hall, but a superhighway to the shared success of many. There are also seven paths by which the CPHR can be gained, including one in which the original National Knowledge Exam is waived for students in curriculum-aligned post-secondary institutions. Building Business Success With People "I didn't even know about HR as a career option until I was partway through university. I loved working with people and problem solv - ing, so once I learned more about the purpose and goals of HR, I felt it was a perfect place to utilize my strengths and interests," says Court - ney Cheyne, CPHR, who went on to become CPHR BC & Yukon's 2017 Rising Star and is currently HR business partner at BuildDirect Technologies. "Now, I love digging in to understand the business and how to support its people to suc - ceed and achieve their personal and organiza- tional goals. HR is evolving really quickly. With advancements in technology and the speed of change in organizations today, it's exciting to see how strategies around people practices are now central to business strategy — not just supporting it," Cheyne says. "I also love how multifaceted HR has become. Every day is different and there is so much to learn and so many ways to grow and add more value to my team. It feels like the possibilities in this career are endless, which I find very gratifying." The Evolution of People-First Thinking Once pulled from the company ranks, to- day's HR professionals are a different breed, a merging of multiple passions and skillsets with a singular focus — business success through people. In recognition of the simple truth that HR has more touch points with every member of the team — from recruitment and retention to training and development to creating a learning culture grounded in trust — the HR profession is attracting a whole new generation of leaders. These are the rising stars, emerging as the po - lar constants of yesterday's business structures strive to transform under changing skies. Those who have succeeded, regardless of industry, have done so on the basis of keeping people first in mind amidst a world of changing technologies, economies and demographic trends. Moreover, they are far from alone in their pursuit of "people-first" thinking, thanks in part to changing post-secondary curriculum, as well as the growing recognition of the return on in - vestment in HR by companies large and small. A Community of Shared Pursuit "People-first thinking has always been the hallmark of great leadership and when the HR profession leads and lives by that example, ev - eryone in the equation benefits, from the front HR for Everyone: The Profits of People-First Thinking

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