Three tips for future human resources students
By Angelica Largo, Marketing and Communications
In 2021, Celia Kurniawan decided to leave her career in hospitality to pursue her dream of leading and supporting people. Thanks to the Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Advanced Human Resource Management at Douglas, she gained the fundamental business knowledge needed to excel in the field.
As a recent graduate now working as a recruitment coordinator for the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA), Celia has three essential tips for aspiring Human Resources (HR) students. Whether you’re in high school or planning to start an HR program soon, these insights will set you up for success.
Tip #1: Join the Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (CPHR)
Douglas’s HR programs are accredited by the Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (B.C. and Yukon), which means that if you maintain a membership throughout your studies and fulfil the GPA program requirements, you may be exempt from certain professional membership requirements, such as the National Knowledge Exam. Not only does this bring you closer to earning your CPHR designation, but it’s also an excellent way to network with industry professionals and other HR students. Plus, as a Douglas student, you benefit from discounted CPHR Student Membership fees.
“I learned a lot about the industry through networking with members of the CPHR. I gradually picked up the jargon and even how they dress for work,” she says.
Tip #2: Join the Co-operative Education program
The optional Co-operative Education program lets you explore different industries, gain paid hands-on experience and figure out what you love (or don’t!) before graduating. It’s also a great opportunity to learn and make mistakes in a supportive environment.
Celia maximized her time at Douglas by completing two co-op placements, which provided her with valuable paid work experience. One of her co-ops was with her current employer FNHA, an organization dedicated to improving health care quality and access for Indigenous peoples.
The connections Celia made during this co-op helped her secure a full-time role at FNHA as a recruitment coordinator – even before graduating! “I love my job. Being part of an organization that positively impacts the lives of others is really rewarding,” she says.
Tip #3: Get involved and build your interpersonal skills
HR is about humans! You can build your interpersonal skills right at Douglas:
- Explore volunteer opportunities with the Career Centre, Student Life, Global Engagement and more!
- Join the Douglas Students’ Union Human Resource Management Club, where you’ll gain networking opportunities and resources to help prepare you for life after graduation.
- Participate at the annual HRC West Case Competition, where student teams are faced with a business case that explores a pressing HR challenge.
- Take on customer-facing jobs.
- Go on coffee chats with professionals in the field.
- Ask questions in class and connect with your instructors.
Whether you’re introverted or extroverted, making connections will help you grow. “An instructor once told me that the best time to learn from industry professionals is when you are still a student,” says Celia. “Almost everyone I met as a student had a story to tell or a piece of knowledge to share.”
Have fun, gain hands-on experience and prepare for your future in HR!
With all these tips in mind, don’t forget to have fun and enjoy your days as an HR student – they go by fast. “I look back at my time as a student with fondness,” says Celia. “The Co-operative Education program allowed me to gain hands-on work experience in my field, and my instructors created engaging and supportive learning environments that made all the difference.”
Interested in studying business and preparing yourself for a career in human resources? Learn more about the Human Resource Management Concentration available to Bachelor of Business Administration in Management students:
douglascollege.ca/hrmanagement
Explore opportunities to grow in your field or pivot to a new career with a post-degree program. Learn more about the Post-Degree Diploma in Human Resource Management and the Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Advanced Human Resource Management:
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