Interview with Tallys Moreth

February 11th, 2020

By Karen Melo Pereira

How did you decide to become an HR professional?

The Human Resources profession came to my life as a natural decision when I left my home country in 2016. Since my childhood, I knew that I should work in a field in which I could use my interpersonal skills dealing with people's concerns, issues, and lives. This was the reason why my entire educational background is in human sciences – Honours Bachelors of Science in Law, Honours Master of Science in Strategic Management (with a specialty in Human Resources Management), and Ontario College Diploma in Business Human Resources. Also, I had an impressive opportunity to work at one of the largest financial institutions in South America, Bradesco Bank S.A. Work at that organization was one of the greatest achievements of my career, as I had the opportunity to learn how to provide excellent customer services to both internal and external customers. When I look back, I am sure this was one of the best decisions I made. Currently, as an HR Administrator, I understand I can positively impact lives and make their work experience more pleasant.

Could you talk about your experience in HR?

Currently, I could say my experience in human resources is divided into three different experiences (fields), but all of them are strictly related to my personality and career goals.

1.      My role as Human Resources Administrator: I administer the entire recruitment processes for all entry-level and supervisor positions (e.g. Greenhouse Labourer, Greenhouse Team Lead, and Greenhouse Supervisor) including résumés screening, phone interviews, in-person interviews, tour schedules, preparation of trial shift, etc. Also, I assist in the development and implementation of HR policies and procedures in compliance with organizational mission and HR-related legislation. Finally, I am also Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) Co-Chair, which means I recommend to both management and employees the development, implementation, and maintenance of health and safety programs and procedures (e.g. emergency response plan, monitoring compliance with health and safety legislation such as Workplace Hazardous Materials Information Systems, Occupational Health, and Safety Act, Human Rights Code, Regulation 1101, etc.

2.      Community involvement: currently I am mentor at Immploy in London, Ontario. As a mentor, I motivate and support talented immigrants and newcomers in developing relevant skills in order to succeed in their careers in Southwestern Ontario. Also, I provide guidance in portfolio preparation including resumes, cover letters, reference letters, mock interviews, personal branding, and industry research. Finally, I am registrar in the ESL program at North Park Community Church in North London. Basically, the ESL program is responsible for teaching English for newcomers, international students, and refugees. Currently, there are more than 100 students attending our English classes, 15 different nationalities and over 13 languages.

3.      Network activities: I participate in some networking activities in London and area, but I believe that sometimes in order to develop good relationships it is necessary mutual dedication, alignment in terms of values, and time. One of the most important networking projects I have been involved in the Larry Myny Mentorship program from Fanshawe College and in-person conversations with experienced HR leaders.

In your opinion what are the most rewarding aspects of being an HR professional? What keeps you motivated?

I would say the most rewarding aspect of being an HR professional is the opportunity I have to motivate people, encourage them, and make them achieve their full potential. The agricultural industry is one of the most challenging industries in Canada due to many aspects, but I could highlight the presence of temporary foreign workers – the majority of these individuals come from Central America and Asia, almost all of them do not speak English at all. Unfortunately, in most cases, they have no understanding of Canadian health and safety legislation and human rights. As an HR professional, it is important to act with empathy and compassion, it is important to make sure these workers have their employment and human rights respected while in Canada. Finally, I am motivated first because of my family (my wife and our son), they are the most important reason I have. Secondly, I have a strong desire to learn new things every single day, a strong desire to either develop or improve my skills and abilities.

How do you think Human Resources professional impacts an organization?

The human resources professional needs to be a bridge between the company and its employees. It is necessary to develop conflict resolution skills in order to respond to both employee and organization expectations. The HR professional has the ability to suggest improvements in sensitive areas of the business such as health and safety, professional development, organizational behavior, among others. HR can impact an organization in several ways, but I would highlight the capacity it has unlocking the potential of people.

What's the most challenging hurdle you have faced in your career so far? Could you describe how did you overcome it?

The most challenging situation in my career was my change from Brazil to Canada. That decision impacted my personal and professional life, as I left my comfort zone (e.g. stable employment, friends, family, etc) and moved myself to another culture on the other side of the globe. New country, new culture, great challenges. Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to study English before, as I was born and raised in a medium-size city called Campina Grande, located in northeastern Brazil. Both the academic and work environments were very challenging, as I had to learn English, study and work on a part-time basis in order to support my family. Fortunately, after one year and eight months, I got my graduation in Business Human Resources at Fanshawe College. Three months after my graduation, after hundreds of applications and dozens of interviews, someone believed in my potential and gave me an opportunity to work in my field of knowledge. Nowadays, I am an HR Administrator with almost 1.5 years of experience, JHSC Co-Chair (certified member), standard first aid AED/CPR certified, mental health first aid certified, among others. Finally, I would say despite all tears I always believed I could overcome that adverse situation.  

What would be your best advice to a student finishing a postgraduate degree in HR, in order for them to become a successful professional in HR?

Enjoy your time at College, participate in their programs (e.g. mentorship, volunteering, community involvement, etc.). It is also important to practice good network (this is not about getting a job itself) but adding value to your connections. Dedicate yourself in learning more and more from successful HR leaders and college professors. Finally, the HR is a really dynamic field, therefore you cannot stop studying – get your entry-level certification through Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA), work smart in order to get additional certifications and knowledge in fields that you are interested in (e.g. health & safety, training & development, recruitment, etc.). Be empathetic and kind to your co-workers and professional colleagues.

Final considerations

I would like to say thank you, Karen, for interviewing me. It was an amazing opportunity to share a little piece of my story, my career, and my professional style. I wish you all the best for your life including your career. If you need further information about my career, please contact me through my LinkedIn profile https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/tallysmoreth/ or email me at [email protected].