Stefanie Hanz

Campus Recruiter, Suncor Energy Services Inc.

Stefanie Hanz hails from the Toronto area where she pursued her Bachelor of Human Resources Management (Hons) degree at York U. After graduation, with a strong sense of adventure and optimism she packed her car and headed for the west coast leaving her comfy home life behind with a bit of sadness. No job lined-up, just a strong desire to relocate to Van City, she hit the road looking forward to the adventure ahead. After five rewarding years on the Pacific Coast where she kick-started her career recruiting for some of Canada and the world’s most recognizable brands, she was on the move again, this time to Calgary to work with a multi-billion dollar energy company, which solidified yet another career goal of hers.

Beyond recruitment, helping Millennials develop their careers, and social media being passions of hers, this excitement seeker loves to challenge herself and try new things. Some of her favourite pursuits include travelling, running, snowboarding, golfing, soccer, hot yoga, trying new sports, and developing online networks.

We asked Stefanie:

The OGM: What does sustainability mean to you?

Stephanie: Sustainability is about taking care of the environment and developing operations and using resources responsibly in order to achieve excellence around economic, social and environmental performance which can endure.

The OGM: Have you had a mentor?

Stephanie: I’ve been fortunate to work with people who are at the top of their game in their careers and who have been very involved in helping me develop as a professional and as an individual. I’ve always been conscious of striving for opportunities to work with people I admire and whom I can learn from.

The OGM: What does success mean to you?

Stephanie: I believe that success is achieved when you push yourself to reach your potential, and do so with integrity. Success is finding happiness and balance in all areas of your life in a synergistic way, and supporting others in achieving success in their lives as well.

The OGM: If you were to describe your career in three words what would they be?

Stephanie: Accomplished. Rising, Rewarding.

The OGM: What advice would you give to someone looking for a career in the Energy Industry?

Stephanie: Put in effort on all ends to align yourself for a career in the energy industry. Research companies and job postings to find out what is required to be qualified for the role you want. Attend industry events and career fairs to learn as much as you can about the industry and available opportunities. Seek to network with others already in the industry and be open to various opportunities in order to get your foot in the door.

The OGM: Describe a milestone in your career?

Stephanie: Reaching a place in my career where I can be counted on as a consultant to make a difference by influencing change and improvement in an ever changing business environment. Also having accumulated enough experience and expertise where I’m able to mentor and guide those seeking to develop their careers has been a very rewarding milestone for me to reach.

The OGM: Describe a challenge you faced in your career?

Stephanie: In high volume recruiting we are always working with tight timelines, a large quantity of stakeholders, candidates and heavy workload. As most professionals find it’s challenging to keep work-life balance and one’s own goals in-check. I’ve found that it’s important to schedule things in so that you make time for them and yourself.

The OGM: What impact does Technology have on your career?

Stephanie: Technology plays a key role in my ability to successfully hire the best of the best! Much of my efficiency, ability to hire the right people, and improve the recruitment process is driven by technological advancements.

The OGM: What interests you to sustain a career in the Energy industry?

Stephanie: I’m excited by the vast array of opportunities available in this industry and the magnitude of the corporations driving it.

The OGM: What is your favorite APP on your phone?

Stephanie: My twitter app! I love being able to share information with my network, learn from those I admire, connect and engage with others with similar interests, and do it all on the go!

The OGM: What impact will the Millennial Generation have on the Energy industry?

Stephanie: Millennials are the future leaders of the Energy industry. As many employees from the Baby Boom generation are preparing to retire, Millennials are the talent pipeline that will fill future needs.

The OGM: What’s your take on Social Media and our ever changing digital world?

Stephanie: I’m excited by the new dimension that Social Media brings to our lives and the work that we do. I believe that social media will continue to play a bigger role in our day-to-day lives and how we connect with others and the businesses we support.

The OGM: What Social Medium do you use on a daily basis?

Stephanie: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, FourSquare, Blogs.

The OGM: Do you use Social Media for work?

Stephanie: I use social media to share information and opportunities with those in and out of my network. I also use it as a means to find and filter information that I’m interested in. As a recruiter I find a lot of value in using social media as it gives me the ability to connect and network with others online, at events, or through interest groups. I’ve also used it to source and connect candidates with job opportunities.

The OGM: What do you think of Social Recruiting?

Stephanie: I believe that the use of social media in the recruitment process will continue to increase over the next few years, and become an integral way that employers will promote jobs, source candidates, and identify potential hires.

The OGM: Why do you love what you do?

I love what I do because I get a lot of variety in my role and I get to make a significant difference for the business and bottom line by ensuring we have the right people, in the right roles, at the right time. Human Resources are a company’s most important asset and I love being a part of the many facets involved in full-cycle recruitment and building our future talent pipeline. I also enjoy helping people develop their careers and aligning the people and organizations.