HR by coincidence

In the last episode of Tuesday Tactics, I shared my perception of the World Health Organization and how I with my Campaigner personality found my place and a career within the organization. This week, I take a step back and dive into my own career journey, rewinding to a time before the UN and WHO, to offer insights into my path—a path that was neither straightforward nor obvious for me.

When I was young, I used to walk miles in the snow!

We've all heard those nostalgic tales from older family members, recounting how they had to trek through the snow to get to school or work, shoes full of holes, never with a word of complaint. This type of stories often makes me smile, reminding me of a time when life seemed simpler, with fewer career options and clearer paths. But times have changed dramatically across generations, especially with the emerge of technology, which opens a world of possibilities, yet additional pressures.

Take my 14-year-old daughter, for instance. She'll be starting 9th grade after the summer holidays, and we’re already thinking about her future. With so many choices available, how do we make the right one? Like many teenagers today, she has no clear idea of her future path. Her interests are mostly centered around friends, gaming, creative crafts, and hoarding my glasses and plates in her room. At least I know where to find them when the kitchen runs out!

Am I worried? Both yes and no.

Reflecting on the drastic changes from when my dad walked through snow to my own teenage years playing "Snake" on my Nokia phone, I see both differences and amusing similarities. Despite the technological leaps, the essence of youth and its uncertainties remain. When I was 14, I didn’t spend much time worrying about my future either. My world revolved around playing table tennis, my friends, drawing, and much to my mother’s frustration, collecting cups and plates in my room.

What strikes me today is the immense pressure on 14-year-olds to excel in all areas and have their futures mapped out. Back when I was in school, things were more relaxed, even as technology began to take off in the 1990s. The options were fewer, and my dreams were grand but vague. I imagined becoming a famous clothing designer or a millionaire but never considered the steps to get there. I enjoyed a carefree youth, not worrying much about the future, which in retrospect, was a true privilege.

Enjoying a Carefree Youth!

Privilege is something I'm acutely aware of. Growing up in Denmark, my life was relatively worry-free compared to the broader world's challenges. Plus, our education is free—how fantastic is that? Back then, I didn’t really think about it much, and I must admit, my generation wasn’t exactly what you’d call "woke." Awareness came much later.

For early career guidance, I remember the excitement of sitting in our school's computer room—a highlight of the day back then. We filled out career quizzes on these clunky, barely modern computers, thanks to Denmark’s education system and generous tax policies. When the results finally flashed on the screen, the computer suggested I become a Translator. Now, these machines weren't exactly cutting-edge. If you've ever tried one of those old-school magazine quizzes—"Do You Have Too Much Attitude?" or "What Kind of Friend are You?"—you’ll get the idea. Options were as limited as A, B, or C. The career quiz wasn’t much more sophisticated, but hey, it had a few more categories! Looking back, I can only smile at the thought of my future being mapped out by something that could barely compute a sentence.

Fast forward to today’s career counseling in Danish schools, there is dedicated staff, but the landscape and options are also bigger. Although, I imagine AI technology will soon guide students on their best career paths—a bit intimidating but likely inevitable. As a parent, I realize the need to embrace AI to help my kids make informed decisions.

I never pursued becoming a translator or a clothing designer, nor did I become a millionaire. Instead, many years later, I stumbled into HR, a field that wasn't on my radar back then.

The road to HR

I was the first in my family to finish high school. It was a decision I made on my own, driven by the belief that staying in school would keep more doors open for the future—even if I had no idea which one, I wanted to walk through. My family had a history rooted in either craft professions or unskilled work: my dad was a carpenter, and my mum spent her entire career in payroll at the Danish postal service. They didn't push me towards any specific education; they had thrived on hard work and high moral values, which they infused in me.

Before diving into the Danish high school system, I had a life-changing opportunity to spend a year in New Zealand, thanks to an inheritance from my grandfather. That year in the small town of Gisborne was eye-opening. I stayed with a host family that also welcomed students from Hong Kong and Papua New Guinea (PNG). The student from PNG had a scar from a gunshot wound she sustained during a ceasefire in riots—an unsettling contrast to my secure Scandinavian upbringing. This was a shocking revelation about the world's injustices and insecurities.

After finishing high school back in Denmark, I still didn’t have a clear career path. Driven by a mix of lingering affection for my first love (who lived in NZ) and a desire to reconnect with friends, I decided to return to NZ. To fund my trip, I took up a job in a pub. I loved listening to people’s stories and absorbing their diverse and life-long perspectives. After three months of exploring New Zealand (with the first love story predictably fizzling out), I returned to Denmark, no closer to knowing my next steps. I resumed my shifts at the pub, much to my mum’s concern that I might get stuck there forever.

A twist of fate, however, soon came through a connection. I was offered an apprenticeship with a company that represented three airlines. Initially, I hesitated. The bar job paid more, but the thought of cheap flights and seeing more of the world was irresistible. So, I had dived into the airline industry, which soon led me into the broader travel sector. This was a time when technology hadn't yet simplified our lives—airfares were manually calculated and found in massive phonebook type manuals, and tickets were handwritten. Looking back, these experiences formed my own “I walked through the snow” story.

After a few years in the travel industry, I felt the urge for a new challenge. I took a job organizing travel for a corporate company, thinking it would be more ambitious. Little did I know, the role included unexpected responsibilities. With no clear HR manager in place, the HR tasks were handed to me by default. To my surprise, I found them fascinating. What had started as a passed-on responsibility, quickly turned into a genuine interest. I began drafting HR handbooks and guiding staff, and my enthusiasm didn't go unnoticed. The company offered to sponsor further education in HR, paving the way for my career path.

That was the turning point—HR made sense to me. For the first time, I had found something that truly captured my interest and set me on a path that felt meaningful.

How I got into the UN system – “disliking recruitment”

When the company centralized HR, removing my HR responsibilities, I knew it was time to move on. Searching online, I stumbled upon a UNDP vacancy. Though unfamiliar with UNDP and its acronyms, I applied, recognizing some HR terms. I didn’t hear back for months and had almost forgotten about it when I received an invitation for a test and interview. ?I quickly brushed up on everything I could find about UNDP and tried to make sense of the cryptic job description.

In the interview, I was asked which area of HR I liked the least. I said “recruitment,” which is ironic given my current focus on talent acquisition. Despite my desire to work in HR, I was still very “bright-eyed and bushy-tailed” and did not know too much.

Reflecting only earlier recruitment experience imprinted in my brain, my answer made some sense though. One horrific recruitment process for an airline seeking women-only stewardesses and the hiring manager and crew manager (both male) talking openly about how a stewardess must look to be hired! I even remembering them talking about their attributes and asking me to take notes on this too for their final assessment – I was really uncomfortable and horrified about their talks and ways of hiring. Yes, times were different back then, long before any #MeToo movements and I was too afraid and junior to comment back then.

UNDP hired me, and I worked with benefits and entitlements for seven years before moving to UNHCR for five years. There, I embraced operational HR with a strong focus on talent acquisition, which I now love. And that's how eventually ended up at WHO, doing what I love.

My 50 cents!

It's funny how life takes you on unexpected journeys. My path, shaped by curiosity and gradual discovery of my interests, wasn’t driven by parental pressure but by their example of hard work. Though it may seem like I stumbled into HR, my experiences guided me there.

My school computer's suggestion to become a translator wasn’t far off. In HR, we translate policies into strategies and guidelines. Meeting my roommate from Papua New Guinea in New Zealand opened my eyes to global issues, aligning with my work in the UN system. My pub job taught me listening skills, empathy, and perspectives. The stewardess recruitment experience highlighted gender inequality, driving my commitment to fair hiring practices.

I might not have known where I was headed at 14, dreaming of becoming a clothing designer or a millionaire, but I found my right path later on. I just didn’t realize at first, and that’s the beauty of it.

So, to the 14-year-olds and their concerned parents—it’s okay not to have everything figured out. Sometimes, not knowing exactly where you're headed can lead you to some amazing places.

I know it is a different context today and we are so fast paced, but perhaps take a deep breath before signing up for the wrong path at least. Career paths and decisions have become more complex and diverse over time. Unlike previous generations, who often had limited choices and somewhat clearer paths, today’s youth face a multitude of options, making it more challenging to take a decision at early age. And there is the whole gen-AI aspect! The jobs are going to look different from the ones we know today in due course. ?I am more concerned about AI changing jobs for the generations that are already on well-established career path, as adjustment of an imbedded mindset may cause reluctancy to chance. My 14-year-old already ace AI in her daily life as a natural tool to control and work with.

Lastly! Do some reflection yourself. What shaped you? Where did you end up? Was it obvious from childhood? For those living their childhood dreams, I sincerely salute you. As for me, I would have been a terrible clothing designer but maybe a decent millionaire. However, would that have been fulfilling?

My story shows that it may be okay to explore different interests and let experiences guide you if you have such privilege. It’s okay to change direction if you’re not where you belong.

Good luck and all the best

Tina