My Mentorship Story - Maria Gretta Montes

Author: Maria Gretta Montes, Advisor, Talent Acquisition at Saputo

I have joined a lot of mentorship programs in my entire HR career life.  The most formal one was with Texas Instruments as I was transitioning from an HR Business Partner role to a country-wide Manager post for Talent Acquisition. 

When I came to Canada in 2015, I quickly landed a management position in retail and customer service, took a short course in Human Resource Management, and was easily offered an HR Generalist job for a mid-size brokerage firm.  Having a good foundation and international exposure, I felt I was fully equipped as an HR practitioner.  In fact, I was able to implement several successful HR programs and projects in my previous company. 

The pandemic hit and I had a lot of realizations and discoveries.  I decided to seek for a better career opportunity that provides growth in a company where there is a strong ethical practice and good corporate governance.  During my application, I noticed that for larger companies, CPHR designation has always been a requirement or a preferred qualification.  I do not know where to start but I know it’s about time for myself to pursue this long overdue plan.  This is what motivated me to join the mentorship program as a protégé.

My mentor did not only show me the different pathways to earn the designation.  She opened my eyes to the many career HR opportunities even while I’m still in the process of completing it.  She helped me build a strong HR network in Calgary, and then in Alberta, by encouraging me to join the monthly CPHR round tables.

Now, I’m more confident to fulfill my plan of earning my designation soon.  I even found a more fulfilling HR role in a Forbes’ World’s Best Employer even before completing my designation.  My advice to my fellow immigrants --- while a solid international experience and a Canadian education are equally important, let’s continuously invest time in our own professional development.  Invest time in collaborating with a CPHR mentor who will help you learn the ropes and build the right network.  Strike a balance in your busy schedule and dedicate time to pursue your designation.  It will not only strengthen your foundation, but it will also give you a better chance of landing your dream job!

The views and opinions expressed in this blog post belong solely to the original author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of CPHR Alberta.