In this milestone 100th episode of the HR Mentor Podcast, Melanie reflects on her journey creating the podcast, the key lessons learned, and audience feedback that has made the experience rewarding. She shares the origins of the podcast, aimed at helping early-career HR professionals navigate the job market through actionable advice.

Melanie reminisces on her favourite guest episodes and student success stories, emphasizing the power of connections and mentorship in the HR field. Looking ahead, Melanie reveals plans to deepen discussions on thriving in HR roles and shares her continued commitment to guiding HR newcomers. She wraps up with a heartfelt thank you to listeners, guests, and supporters, while hinting at what's to come in future seasons.

• 00:00 Welcome to Episode 100!
• 01:02 Reflecting on the Podcast Journey
• 02:28 The Origin Story of HR Mentor 06:20 Listener Success Stories
• 09:55 Favourite Guest Episodes
• 17:22 Lessons Learned and Advice
• 23:14 Future of the HR Mentor Podcast
• 25:27 Thank You and Season Finale

• Join the HR Career Accelerator and land your first HR role! (use discount code: HRMENTORPOD for an amazing listener discount.
  • Includes 8 self-paced modules, Gallup Strengths Finder assessment, worksheets, templates, and private coaching group access.
• Join the HR Career Cafe on LinkedIn
• Sign up for the Newsletter

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a fellow HR grad or early career professional! Your support helps others find the show, and I’d love to hear your thoughts—leave a rating and review on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or LinkedIn.

🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode! You can find The HR Mentor on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Podbean.

If you're a new HR graduate or actively job searching for your first HR role, this episode is packed with exactly what you need to confidently navigate your search. In this episode, Melanie breaks down the most common entry-level HR positions, typical responsibilities, the key skills employers are looking for, and how understanding these roles can help you define your HR niche and build a more focused, successful job search strategy.

• [00:00] Introduction & Purpose of the Episode
• [03:00] Common Entry-Level HR Job Titles
• [18:40] Typical Responsibilities in Entry-Level HR Roles
• [28:43] The Growing Role of AI in Entry-Level HR
• [30:44] Key Skills and Qualities for Success
• [41:24] Finding Your HR Niche Through Role Exploration
• [44:26] Resume Tailoring & Standing Out to Employers
• [47:30] Episode Recap & Final Takeaways

1. Review 3–5 HR job postings today and highlight the tasks that resonate most with your skills and interests.
2. Start narrowing your job search focus to roles that best align with your HR niche.
3. Tailor your resume and cover letter for each job posting to stand out.

• Join the HR Career Accelerator and land your first HR role! (use discount code: SPRING50 for 50%) - Sale ends June 19, 2025!
  • Includes 8 self-paced modules, Gallup Strengths Finder assessment, worksheets, templates, and private coaching group access.
• Join the HR Career Cafe on LinkedIn
• Sign up for the Newsletter

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a fellow HR grad or early career professional! Your support helps others find the show, and I’d love to hear your thoughts—leave a rating and review on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or LinkedIn.

🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode! You can find The HR Mentor on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Podbean.

In this episode, I’m getting real about one of the biggest frustrations in the HR job search. If you’ve been sending out applications and hearing crickets, I know how tempting it is to blame your resume. But here’s the surprising truth: it’s probably not your resume holding you back.

Today, I share why clarity about your career goals, skills, and values is far more powerful than endlessly tweaking bullet points. I’ll walk you through the common pitfalls, help you reframe your job search strategy, and give you actionable steps to gain momentum and land that HR role you’ve been dreaming of. If you’re feeling stuck, this episode is a must-listen!

• [2:18] – Why so many job seekers automatically assume their resume is the problem.
• [4:57] – Understanding the real issue: lack of clarity around what you want, what you offer and what you value.
• [11:17] - An example of why this is important.
• [12:54] – A step-by-step strategy to shift your job search approach and stop the resume hamster wheel: self-reflect, define your targets, then (and only then) create your tailored communication tools (resume, cover letter, LinkedIn), network with intention.
• [17:30] – Practical takeaways you can act on today or over the next few days to get closer to landing your dream HR role.
• [18:18] - A special offer for all the new grads and early career professionals who want hands-on, step-by-step implementation of these strategies!

• Join the HR Career Accelerator and land your first HR role! (use discount code: SPRING50 for 50% off with code SPRING50! )
  • Includes 8 self-paced modules, Gallup Strengths Finder assessment, worksheets, templates, and private coaching group access.
• Listen to Episode 3: How Your Values Impact Your Career and Job Search
• Take the Schwartz Human Values Test (I have no affiliation with this site, but have tried the test myself and found it fairly accurate)
• Join the HR Career Cafe on LinkedIn
• Sign up for the Newsletter

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a fellow HR grad or early career professional! Your support helps others find the show, and I’d love to hear your thoughts—leave a rating and review on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or LinkedIn.

🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode! You can find The HR Mentor on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Podbean.