Grad gains Canadian work experience thanks to HR program

Juliane Biet moved across the world to pursue an HR career in Canada. But she hadn’t counted on so many Canadian employers requiring Canadian work experience.

Today, she credits SFU’s Human Resources Management Certificate for helping her secure her current position as a human resources coordinator at the BC Pavilion Corporation (PavCo). 

In Germany, Juliane had worked as an HR professional and wanted to gain experience working abroad. When she moved to Vancouver in 2019, she decided to brush up on her English language skills before searching for a role in the field. 

Little did she know that when she finally activated her Canadian work permit in 2020, the world would shut down, and she’d be stuck at home. 

Juliane made the most of the situation by taking the opportunity to learn more about Canada’s HR landscape. She enrolled in SFU’s online program, and her hard work would soon pay off. She was hired at PavCo before she’d even finished her studies. 

“Taking the program at SFU definitely benefitted me,” she says. “When you have work experience and an educational background from abroad, it’s helpful to have an education from a well-known institution here in Canada.”

Juliane handles recruitment processes for the two venues owned by PavCo: BC Place and the Vancouver Convention Centre. She’s currently developing an internship program for students looking for experience in the events industry. 

While the work is exciting, she says, it can come with its share of challenges.

“People expect HR to just be this administrative supporting resource in a company, and I feel like that has shifted. We work more strategically now,” she explains.

“We have different generations of people working together, so we need to provide an inclusive environment for employees with diverse backgrounds to keep them engaged and ensure productivity and retention.”

“We also constantly see new trends and technologies like AI, so strategic plans, HR practices and policies have to adapt to the changing dynamics of the workplace all the time.”

Juliane is now working towards her CPHR designation and looking forward to growing in her career as a Canadian HR professional. 

While she does try to go back to Germany to visit family, the variety of outdoor activities in Vancouver will likely keep her here for the foreseeable future.

“I wanted to move to Vancouver because I’m pretty outdoorsy,” she laughs. “I definitely don’t have any regrets about moving here.”

By Bernice Puzon