Pros
My Role: I am currently an HR People Consultant with Red Envelope Consulting. I help clients strategically integrate effective HR processes and help drive change and culture management. I provide consultation in a variety of HR related areas including, but not limited to, employee relations, recruiting and retention, training and development, document creation and management, policy reviews and audits and providing recommendations for resolutions. Work Environment: My position is "at-home" based, however, I assist clients both off and on-site (when required). The work environment on-site varies depending on the client. When working from home, you are responsible for providing your own laptop and internet. When working on-site, I am typically provided with all necessary technical equipment and permissions afforded to their regular employees. Our clients do a great job of integrating us into their culture and treating us as one of their own. We meet as a team a few times a year. There are regular check-ins with the President on a monthly basis. Engagement (Community, Professional Development, etc.): While working with Red Envelope, I've had the opportunity to speak at a student led SHRM conference and speak on a panel to students pursuing a Master's in Human Resources regarding different areas of HR and my experience working in the field. There are a few initiatives that the company sponsors, and team members are encouraged to attend. Outside of that, team members support their individual desired charities and share opportunities for volunteerism among the team so we can all participate and help one another. Three Words That Best Describe the Culture: Unique, Passionate, Partner Proficiencies: I enjoy working at Red Envelope for several reasons. I will detail them below and explain those that may need more insight. • Flexible Schedule (I get to set my own schedule and work at my own pace for the most part.) • Variety of Work (I get to work with clients in multiple industries, so I gain experience working in several different sectors.) • Autonomous Work (Ideal for me as I love research.) • Variety of candidates (Working with multiple industries, I am introduced to candidates and employees with diverse backgrounds which gives me the opportunity learn from them through the process.) • Thoughtful Leadership (Our President if very mindful of situations that affect us in our work and personal lives. She does an excellent job of remembering vacation schedules, birthdays, and special events. • Feeling Valued (Whenever possible, I am thanked for the work that I do and I am provided with feedback on what I did well, areas of improvement and celebration for personal "wins" that propel the company forward.
Cons
Cautions: You will notice I am not using the word "con." That word has a very negative connotation and I only use it when I truly feel deceived. Cons are usually things you discover that were not presented prior to you taking a job. I will provide cautions so you can determine if this type of company structure and position will work for you and your needs. • Work with Ambiguity (This can include little to no expectations on deadlines or the work outcome.) • Benefits (This is a Part-Time position, so there are no benefits.) • Fluctuating Pay (Consulting work can be fast or slow so pay can be steady or lower than expected, you will need to budget.) • Constant Change (When working with outside companies, work can come to a halt in an instant due to factors outside of your control. This could mean that you have to stop recruitment with candidates in the pipeline or halt a project you've been working intently on abruptly, this can also mean getting little to no responses on candidates in the pipeline, in a timely manner.) • Autonomous Work (If you are just starting out in your career or looking for a structure of having Sr. HR leadership in a mentor role, you may want to consider consulting work later in your career.)