INTERVIEWER: MAHMOUD MANSI

EDITOR: NOHA ALY SLEME

1-HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: You started your career when you were a student. Tell us, where did you work, and what did you learn most from working at this age?

Haythem Samy: I started to work in 2005 while I was in the third year in the faculty of commerce. I joined DPCO (Development Projects Company), which was one of the biggest cars accessories manufacturing leaders in Egypt. At DPCO, I held the position of Human Resources Specialist and I was responsible for all human resource department activities as recruitment processes, job fairs, conduct all tests for hiring and evaluating candidates’ skills. I also, participated in developing, and implementing new employee orientation program and assessing the training needs for the white-collar staff.

I worked there from 2005 until 2008. During this period, I worked with Mr. Salah Fouad, (may God rest his soul), who was the administration and HR manager in the company, who introduced me for the first time to HR world.

I learned a lot from Mr. Salah, and faced many challenges with him during this period especially with blue-collar staff, who needed to be treated and handled, completely in different way than the white-collar staff. You need to have them controlled, however respected. I realized that the most important thing to them was to be respected, and understand the importance of his/her input to the company success and policies, and the suggestions system was the key word to deal with them.

2- HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: In 2007, you graduated from the Faculty of Commerce. How did you find the HR subject in college? Was it enough to introduce the students to the working environment?

Haythem Samy: I got my bachelor degree from the faculty of commerce, Cairo University in 2007 with in accounting major.

During my study in the third year, we took only one course related to HRM, which was “Individuals”. Of course, during collage most of people are not be able to find the link between what you are studying and the real business life, not only in HR, but also in different business aspects.

Accordingly, it was not enough, and in HR it will never be enough, HR requires people to continue learning, reading and developing.

3- HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: What is the difference between HRs who are not promoted and HRs who are promoted faster?

Haythem Samy: Promotions have many standards, which vary from company to another. Standards might be related to profession itself, or the industry he/she is working at, or/and the company he/she is working for. Smart HRian needs to understand what standard he will need to meet, to be promoted.

HRCI has identified main FOUR basic management skills required for HR professionals:

‐          Managing Projects

‐          Managing Changes

‐          Managing third party contracts

‐          Managing technology

4- HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: You worked as HR in a factory. What is the number one concern of blue collars regarding the HR department?

Haythem Samy: In factories, blue collars, will see the HR department how the HR department deals with them. Some will see it as the “EXECUTIONER”, if the focus is applying the law only, without considering any human aspects. On the other hand, they may see the HR as their defender in case of troubles.

Therefore, the main concern of blue collars regarding the HR department is to maintain the balance in the relationship between Management and workers.

Above all HR department must understand the qualities of his employees, and the best way to deal with them.

5- HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: As the HR manager of Virtual Projects, your primary employees are engineers, how does the process of recruitment go?

Haythem Samy: Virtual Projects recruitment process goes as following:

Untitled

6- HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: As an HR Trainer for the past 4 years, how do you see the HRians rate of development in Egypt?

Haythem Samy: As HR trainer, I found out many HRians, who really want to make a change in their organizations. Some of them were able to achieve the change they desired, while others are still trying.

Moreover, let me use this chance to send a message to all HRians in Egypt: “DO NOT GIVE UP.”

Always keep yourself up to date with the best practices, bearing in mind not to just copy and paste.

7- HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: Your Bachelor Degree was in Arabic Commerce, how did you manage to challenge your English level to be a certified PHR trainer?

Haythem Samy: I spent almost all summers learning English, and I watched a lot of foreigner movies and series without subtitles, and sometimes with English subtitles.

However, the most important was practicing the language with my friends and colleagues.

In addition, after I finished the collage I joined FGF, (Future Generation Foundation), and despite what a lot will say about its political situation, it added to me and to everyone joined it, a lot of experience in business and in relations.

This experience was the key that differentiate us from others in the labor market.

8- HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: What advice do you give to a newly hired HR manager?

Haythem Samy: “DO NOT GIVE UP” on yourself, on your employees or on your Company

Be there for everyone. 🙂

9- HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: As an HR manager in Egypt, what is the best way to deal with a strike at work?

Haythem Samy: One word “COMMUNICATION”.

Communication with all parties will always be the only and best way to deal with strike at work

10- HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: What was the most difficult interview question you were asked when applying to a job? How did you answer it?

Haythem Samy: I remembered that I had a phone interview with Group HR director of MAZARS, Mostafa Shawki, during their filtration, he was French, and asked me about what I will do in the first day of work?

I answered that I will start introducing myself to employees, to managers and all the people in the company, and I will ask for more information about the industry and business we are in, and company position and company manuals.

After I was hired, I knew from him that it was my answer that got me the job.

11- HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: What is your advice to HR Specialists who want to establish a career in Egypt, and who seek to make a change in their own departments?

Haythem Samy: Always, develop yourself. Understand your business very well. Know how your company generates money, and how could you be an integral part there.

For those who want to change their career for HR, just make sure that you are up to it. Get some knowledge about HR, which could help you make up your mind.

HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: Mr. Haythem, thank you so much for providing all these rich information and for giving us the time to do so.