HR Director, Life coach and TFT Awards Judge Lou Parroco was recently recognized as the 2018 Exemplary HR Professional Awardee by the Society of Human Resource Professionals and Associates (SHRPA) during their HR Summit 2018 held last September 14, 2018. TFT spoke to Parroco about her journey as an HR professional spanning more than 2 decades in the UAE.
Career Pathing
While most of those in the field of HR begin as HR Generalists, Parroco had a unique career track of being given the opportunity to specialize in a particular field at a given time. “If I look back, I really didn’t plan it – I spent years specializing in sourcing and recruitment, and then to training and development, and then compensation and benefits. I was a specialist in the different gamut of HR before I became an HR Director,” said Parroco. Today, Parroco serves as the HR Director at Canadian Energy Equipment Manufacturing in Dubai.
While her schedule with her company is jampacked, she manages to find time to help out her fellow kababayans through partnering with different organizations and sharing her knowledge and expertise. “And of course – despite busy schedules, nabibigyan ng extra time and love for the community, we’re able to share what we know, able to give guidance sa mga nangangailangan – projects that benefit many,” said Parroco.
Exemplary HR Awards
Parroco learned that she was one of the nominees through an email. “I just learned about it when I read an email from them which mentioned that I was shortlisted for the award. Tapos, when I checked their website, last year they had the first batch of awardees where I saw a couple of friends who were awarded like Vagelyn Federico and Owen Sanchez,” shares Parroco.
She furthers that she is grateful for the recognition she has received from her fellow HR practicitioners: “I had received some major awards – but there’s nothing really pertaining to the HR field. Siya yung nagbigay highlight sa naging solid kong experience sa HR. Ito ang natatanging award ko so far relating to my career.”
Pushing the ‘human’ of Human Resources to the forefront
Parroco said that the real challenge for HR practitioners is to find the right balance between following the policy while giving a ‘human touch’ in their daily job. “As HR practicitioners, you are the ‘policy police’ of the company – which means we are always by the book. We should know the law like the back of our heads. However, I would encourage fellow HR practitioners not to lose the human touch. Para hindi masyadong ‘pulis’ ang aura. May mga moral responsibility din tayo and we have to know the balance of being ‘human’ and the ‘police’ aspect of the job,” said Parroco.
She then advises both HR professionals and OFWs in general to push themselves further towards excellence to be globally competitive: “Itong market natin dito is competitive. If you want to excel in a certain field, you have to give more. You have to impress more. Give them more than what is expected – give an element of surprise.”
