Janet Long CMHRNZ

What led you to a career in HR/ the position that you are in currently?

My HR career may look somewhat planned on paper, however it happened more organically. It has been based on putting the most into and making the most of each work experience and taking the opportunities that present along the way.

Most recently I had been working in the Heath sector for a number of years, in a P&C Manager role with a Hospice, which was both challenging and meaningful, but decided it was time for a change. I thought carefully about what I really wanted to do next and realised I was keen to be part of a larger corporate HR team again. My current role gives me both the direct relationships and partnership with the business; plus the support and collaboration of a wider range of HR functions. It is stimulating and has variety plus I have been blown away by the positive culture as well as the focus on social responsibility and connection to communities demonstrated by my current organisation. It’s important for me to continue to have that alignment to my personal values in my career.

What do you love about working in HR?

For me HR provides a set of principles and practices that has a direct and tangible impact on the success of an organisation and its people.

Are there any specific highlights of your career that you wish to share?

I have been very fortunate to have had many memorable experiences in my career. In my early career, I had the opportunity to lead a sole charge project, developing and implementing on-line learning modules for a company in the Retail sector. From purchasing the computers, establishing the training needs, developing and programming the training, writing the user manual, training the regional trainers, to rolling it out was a memorable time. It also led to my joining a large corporate in the finance sector and eventually leading the national learning function there. More recently I enjoyed developing the business case for an HRIS system purchase. Changing jobs remotely in lock down during covid was an unique experience. But the biggest highlight in my career has been the relationships I have developed with people along the way.

What are your thoughts on Chartered Membership? How do you feel about being a Chartered Member?

Chartered membership for me is not just an acknowledgment of my experience but a commitment to my ongoing development and that of the HR profession. I found the application and assessment process straight forward and easy to work through.

What motivated you to work towards becoming a Chartered Member?

I think I was taking a critical look at my career and realised I had been so focused on others and “doing the doing” that I hadn’t really stopped to reflect on my own career journey. This was an opportunity to take stock of where I’d come from and where I am going.

What are your next steps in terms of your career now that you are a Chartered Member?

In future I’d like to consider being part of the mentorship programme. Not only do I feel I have knowledge and experience to share but I anticipate also learning lots from those new and up and coming in their HR careers. I can see it being mutually beneficial, interesting and rewarding.