At least once a week I’m approached by an eager student, recent grad, or general manager who is looking to break into Human Resources field. As most would tell you that work in this field, Human Resources is challenging but also very rewarding. There are some days I want to pull my hair out and others I leave the office on cloud nine.
What’s important for those in the job hunt to consider is that the Human Resources market is saturated with candidates. Unlike sales, Human Resources is a non-income generating department. Experienced professionals have been forced back into the job market competing directly with inexperienced managers or eager Bachelors or Masters degree candidates.
If you are contemplating breaking into the Human Resources field, please consider the following:
- Gain Valuable Experience. Having experience in the Human Resource field is extremely important in gaining credibility and also in landing a position in the industry. Internships or volunteering are a great option. Most professionals don’t just happen to fall into HR.
- Join SHRM or other Professional HR Organization. SHRM or the Society for Human Resource Management is a National Human Resource Professional Organization. Join your local chapter to network with local professionals and also to learn about industry topics and subjects. I recommend becoming a National SHRM member. Their website at www.shrm.org has valuable information, articles, toolkits, and free webinars members can take advantage of.
- Educate Yourself. Experience is the most piece in breaking into the Human Resource field but educating yourself about the industry is also important. Attend local college classes, certifications, and seek out a mentor. Blogs are also a great way to learn more about the Human Resource profession. These provide you with an in the moment perspective.
- Be Prepared to Work. Contrary to popular opinion, Human Resources isn’t a spectator sport. On a given day as a Human Resource Manager, I wear multiple hats–a recruiter, legal advisor, coach, trainer, and business partner. It’s not uncommon for me to discuss the company’s income statement at a business strategy meeting and less than an hour later, speak directly to the company attorney about the legal interpretation surrounding Family Medical Leave Act and Americans with Disabilities Act
- Brand Yourself. Use social media tools like LinkedIn, blogs, and Twitter to gain a competitive edge. Be sure to balance your online brand with more traditional face to face networking. Both are very important parts of developing your brand and developing a name for yourself. Blogs like Dan Schwabel‘s, Personal Branding Blog are a great resource to help you plan your personal marketing and branding plan.
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I LOVED this blog! It is true one just doesn’t “fall” into the field of Human Resources. Being proactive and expressing interest to the manager or director is imperative.
As and executive assistant, I spoke with the HR Director letting him know that I wanted to get into his department. I volunteered at job fairs, new hire orientations town halls, and community events. If I had not done these aforementioned things, the HR Director would not have offered me a position as Employment Coordinator six months later.
I have taken the course to prepare for PHR Certification, and will take the test in December. Wish me luck!
I saw this really good post today. Well-written, and it describes…
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