Career Mentor – Juhi Maini

Juhi Maini [BComm(Hons)/98] is one of 700+ Career Mentor volunteers who devote time to meeting University of Manitoba students. Each year, career mentors share their knowledge and advice to guide the career plans and contribute to the success of students. In celebration of 25 successful years, 25 Career Mentors have agreed to share their career stories and advice…

Briefly, tell us about your job.  What do you find most rewarding? What are your greatest challenges within this profession?

I work as a human resource advisor at Manitoba Hydro. I have a generalist role and deal with issues relating to recruitment and selection, collective agreement interpretations, wages, salaries and reclassifications to name a few.  I enjoy working with people but it can be a challenge at times dealing with varying personalities and communication styles. I also enjoy the complexity and variety of work, no day is ever the same!

While you were completing your degree, what experiences and activities helped bring you to your career decision or helped you succeed in your occupation?

While completing my bachelor of commerce (honours) degree, I joined a few professional networking groups which provided me with networking opportunities and helped me transition from university to the career world. I joined AIESEC which is the Association for the International Exchange of Students in Economics and Commerce and I also joined UMHRA and UMMA – the HR and marketing associations. I also volunteered as a peer advisor which further provided me with worthwhile experiences.

Describe your career planning journey. Please include any highlights, bumps or roadblocks.

I had a difficult time planning my career. I thought I wanted a career in the science field but after taking a few related courses, I realized it wasn’t for me. Then when I joined the management program, I had a hard time narrowing down my specialty. But once I started my HR courses, I enjoyed the content and the type of work it involved and decided to follow that career path. And I’m so glad that I did!

What inspired you to be a career mentor?

I actually volunteered at Career Services during my U of M years which gave me a huge insight on the various careers to choose from.  I met with a few career mentors myself when I was trying to figure out my career path and found it very valuable and wanted to do the same for others once I had a career.

What advice do you have for students who are interested in following in your footsteps?

HR is a professional career that requires a high level of interpersonal interaction as well as integrity and confidentiality. In order to be successful, I would recommend having a business education (which is a requirement for most employers) and be prepared to gain a deeper understanding of your future employer’s business. Also, try to get some volunteer and work experience if possible and network as much as you can!

What career advice do you have for university students?

My advice would be to try different things. Don’t be afraid to try something new. Gain connections through social media and join professional networking groups. Ask questions, share your ideas and take initiative. Learn as much as you can and pay attention to what kind of work you enjoy doing. Good luck!

Stay tuned for more career mentor profiles! From September 25 to November 2 the Career Mentor Program will be profiling 25 dedicated and wonderful mentors from across several sectors. To view more career mentor profiles and learn about the anniversary event on November 2, 2015, please visit the CMP 25th Anniversary website.

Career Services