office hours with julie ehrens (my mom)!

To start, can you walk us through your career journey?

Mom: I was going to be a high school English teacher. When I graduated, there were no opportunities for teachers, so out of necessity I went into business. Started in lots of different categories of HR. Staffing was the first one, at this company called Norrell*. That kind of parlayed into recruiting. I worked at a startup, which was very cool, and then went to Deloitte. I was there most of my career - 23 years. 

What was your professional wardrobe like at the start of your career?

Mom: Oh my gosh I don’t even think I had a wardrobe. I was never a dress girl, so I was always in slacks. But there really wasn’t any strong model to follow, so it was basically whatever pants you can find, whatever shirt you can find. I wore tennis shoes during her commute and then had to bring the pumps because those were required back then. I didn’t really have a style. I didn’t really have a lot of money, so I would just get whatever I could find on sale or reuse things. I didn’t get proper suits until I got to Deloitte and started creating my career.

How have you seen professional clothing evolve for women?

Mom: I’m happy to say they can now wear sleeveless shirts. I think women have gotten away from the black and blue. That’s all we would wear because I think back then we were trying to look like the men.

What habits or routines helped you success and grow in your career?

Mom: Definitely cultivating mentors. That was a big thing. I’m still friends with them today. It really helped my career to get those relationships established. That happened pretty organically. We had formal mentorship programs at Deloitte, but it always felt forced. When I knew I got along with somebody, I felt more comfortable asking them to lunch and building that connection.

What are some qualities you’ve seen consistently in the most successful women you've worked with?

Mom: Honesty. Direct and strong. No apologizing or adding "just" to their emails.

What are the biggest things that young women can do to be stand out – in a good way – in an interview process? What are some common mistakes?

Mom: To stand out, add something personal to your resume. People read a resume for about 6 seconds. The more junior you are, you’re not going to have as many work-related credentials to put on there, and that’s okay. But you need to highlight other things you’ve done. It doesn’t even have to be work-related. It could be I did 100 Orange Theory classes in a row or I read X books this year. Do personal things. I think it makes you interesting.

As far as mistakes, I think it's pretty obvious when people don’t research anything about the person they’re talking to or the company. It doesn't take that long to do - only about 10 minutes, but it goes a long way. Also when people don’t ask a question. Keep a few in your back pocket so you appear interested in the role.

For women who may be interested in one day working in HR, what are the best and worst parts of the job?

Mom: There’s 2 sections of the HR team: the side that does benefits, performance interventions, etc. If you’re very process-oriented, that’s the right spot for you. There’s a lot of legal aspects and structures.

Then there’s my side, That’s the talent acquisition or recruiting side, and it's way more focused on people. If you like interacting with others, this function is great for you.

What are some things HR sees that most employees don’t realize?

Mom: Anonymous complaints are never anonymous, and HR keeps track of patterns – not just on who’s being complained about, but also who is complaining the most. then they look into what’s happening and intervene if needed. I think HR gets a bad rap as being overly focused on people following the rules or looking after the company vs. the employees. If they're a good HR person, they treat every situation with empathy, and they are really trying to help you.

What’s a piece of advice you would give to your 20-something self?

Mom: I never thought business was for me. I didn’t have a business degree, and I just didn’t have many role models at the time. But here I am, 30 years later, and turns out I really did have the skills I needed. Don’t count yourself out from anything.

When you look back on your career, what makes you most proud?

Mom: During the 2008 financial crisis, when we had to lay off a significant portion of the workforce, a coworker and I really wanted to help people through this tough time. We decided to compile a list of job openings from all of our clients that we then shared with people who had been let go so they could find new opportunities easier. It was called Deloitte Care Connections, and I think it’s still around today.

What’s one value or belief that guided your career decisions?

Mom: Decisions have been more driven by people than logic, pay, or anything else. We always joked at Deloitte because there were a lot of us who were there for a really long time, and when we were asked why we always said “people.” But it's true!

What do you hope young women today carry with them as they build their own paths?

Mom: You can do anything – women are really fricken smart and good at stuff. Don’t tell yourself you can’t, and don’t let anybody else. Especially with things the way they are right now, we need women to step into opportunities boldly and take a chance.

* She claims I visited this job with her when I was about 4 months old. She remembers because it was the day they announced that OJ had been found guilty in civil court. Love a good "where were you when..." moment.