by: Telaireus “T.K.” Herrin

Whether you are a sophomore in an undergraduate program, graduating with your bachelors or beginning your master’s degree, thinking about your first job in human resources is probably on your mind.  Given the current state of this country’s job market and economy, finding your first or next job is probably on your mind even more these days.  The good news is that the job market and the economy are turning around and a recent report projects jobs in HR to grow 13% over the next 10 years.  In fact, the same survey rated a Human Resources Manager as the 20th best job of 50 when you consider factors such as pay, job security, benefits to society, stress-level, job growth rate and overall satisfaction.

As I reflected on comments I have received from undergraduates and HR professionals who are in the early stages of their career on how hard it is to obtain an entry-level position, I wanted to pass along some practical advice.

Tips for those currently pursuing their undergraduate degree:

1. Use your career center, they are there for a reason
2. Attend the recruiting fairs and career workshops sponsored by your school
3. Look for internships and co-ops in HR.  If not HR, find a business related internship or co-op and indicate your desire to work on HR projects if possible.
4. Work in the career center on your campus.  If they do not have an open position, volunteer your time to be exposed to recruiting processes.
5. Register with staffing agencies (noticed agency is plural, because different companies use different agencies) for part-time jobs
6. Complete informational interviews with HR leaders at targeted businesses (you can even do this as part of a class project/paper and earn credit)
7. Join a student chapter of SHRM or other HR professional organizations
8. Attend regional or national seminars and conferences for additional exposure to the field and to network.
9. Utilize Social Media (Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.)

Tips for those who recently graduated or graduating soon:

1. All of the above +
2. Engage a mentor for advice and direction (SHRM has a free virtual mentor program)
3. Register for job alerts on national boards (i.e. Monster, CareerBuilder, Indeed), HR/OD association career boards (SHRM, PIHRA, IHRIM, ASTD, ODNetwork, etc.) and niche boards such as (www.EntryHR.com)
4. Volunteer for a leadership position on one of the professional organization’s board of directors (because it is equally important who knows you as it is who you know)
5. Engage your network and let them know what you are looking for.
6. Consider starting your career with a consulting firm like Mercer, Aon, Deloitte
7. Research and apply to HR Development Programs/HR Leadership Programs (get the free ebook download on HR Development Programs by emailing us at request@entryhr.com).

Best wishes in your career.  I hope this article has provided you with helpful and practical ideas you can begin to implement today, as well as use throughout your career.

by: Telaireus “T.K.” Herrin

Staying competitive and informed in your chosen field is not a spectator sport. You have to understand that you can control how far you go in your career. I know that there are those out there that will say, “what if I get laid off” or “I was passed over for a promotion”, which is always a possibility, but it’s not what happens to you as much as it is what you allow to happen to you by how you respond. No one ever said life was fair or easy; but anyone with a plan, determination and a positive attitude will eventually reach their goals. I think most people do not have a plan, they let “life” happen to them rather than creating the life they want – creating a life you want takes a plan, time and work, which many are not willing to invest. Now what does this “pep talk” have to do with HR and entering the HR field? It has everything to do with the HR field as it speaks to having a foundation, a strong personal foundation.

HR is not for the fainthearted and you have to know who you are, what you want out of your career and life and what you offer. This self confidence (or lack of) is reflected in your presence and your presence precedes you and people will respond accordingly. I encourage you to set time aside and reflect on what it is you really want out of a career in human resources and why you chose this profession. The answers to these questions will help direct your energy in terms of professional and personal development.

To your success,

By:  Telaireus “T.K.” Herrin

As of September 2009, due to the recession, over 15.1 million jobs have been lost since the start of the recession in December 2007 and the unemployment rate is currently at 9.8% nationally. Many debate whether the real unemployment rate is closer to 15% or more once you include the underemployed (reluctantly working part-time because of limited positions) and those who are not being counted any longer because their unemployment insurance has ended.

Whether you continue to be employed or have become a part of the heart wrenching statistics by downsizing or rightsizing, you need to continue to “own your career”. What does it mean to “own your career”? It means you are ultimately the person who is responsible for making things happen when it comes to your career and you have to expect the unexpected and plan for it. There may be limited positions in your area, but there are things you should constantly being doing whether you are gainfully employed or looking. Consider the following:

1. Reassess your career map: You say you do not have a career map, sure you do (at least I hope so). A career map is simply your career goals and objectives with associated timeframes. You may have an “official” career map you created through a paid service or you may simply have your objectives listed in a journal. The important step is that you should have one and if you do not, it’s time to create one. You cannot get where you want to go without clear directions. Reassessing means evaluating whether you are where you want to be in your career and if you are not, are there other avenues or experiences you can seek to help you get there. One thing to remember as you reassess your career map, there is nothing wrong with taking a detour along the way as long as you know you are working toward your final destination.
2. Engage your network: I know many of you have said, “I have and I do engage my network.” My question to you is how often. Chances are that you have contacted people in your network periodically and say “I am looking for my next opportunity, please let me know if know or hear of anything.” That is a pleasant start, but engaging your network should go beyond the “hi and call me” platitude, you must ask specifically what you want. I suggest you say, “you may not be aware, but I am looking for my next opportunity in xyz, in this particular industry/company. Do you know of anyone I can contact or would you mind introducing me to xyz as I seek my next opportunity?” This is actively engaging your network.
3. Obtain mentors and coaches: Great mentors and coaches are invaluable resources throughout your career. Mentors and coaches are your sounding board and your advocates/cheerleaders. It is not always who you know, but who knows you. Not only should you have at least one mentor and/or coach, you should also be a mentor or coach to someone else. Karma is a great thing, which leads me to tip #4.
4. Contribute to your profession. Charles W. Eliot said, “Be unselfish. That is the first and final commandment for those who would be useful and happy in their usefulness. If you think of yourself only, you cannot develop because you are choking the source of development, which is spiritual expansion through thought for others.” The unspoken gift of service is that you receive so much in return when you give of yourself to a specific situation or cause. Contributing to your profession can take on many forms, volunteering at a conference, serving on a regional leadership board, mentoring, publishing case studies or teaching to name a few. When you give to your profession, you are connecting on so many levels, not to mention contributing to advancing the profession as a whole – how cool is that!
5. Continue to learn: Being a student of knowledge is essential in our technology-on-demand age. Knowledge is power and there is always something new to learn or relearn in order to stay current, effective and competitive. There are so many avenues to stay on top of new developments, best practices and innovation. If you are not signed up to receive industry newsletters, podcasts, webinars or webcasts, you are doing yourself and your career a disservice – the majority of these resources are free. I recommend you start today.
   

by: Telaireus “T.K.” Herrin

Why would anyone want a career in human resources (HR)?  Many believe that HR professionals’ major purpose is to deal with a lot of administrative work and deal with solving employee conflicts – how boring and stressful.  That may have been the sentiment five or ten years ago, may be partly true for some roles – but not all.  Some people, current human resource professionals or others who witness the work of HR professional may still ask the question today. However, the majority of human resources professionals will tell you that, like any career, you have challenging responsibilities and you have the “necessary” responsibilities.  The idea is to do the “necessary” responsibilities effectively and efficiently to allow focus and energy on those challenging projects and responsibilities.

I believe that the purpose of the Human Resources profession is to help companies achieve their objectives through the management of their most important assets, the people who work for them.  This is accomplished primarily through talent management (hiring, developing and retaining).  Because of this purpose, the field of Human Resources has been rated as one of the most rewarding and fastest growing professions in the United States.  Recently MONEY Magazine and Salary.com researched hundreds of jobs, considering their growth, pay, stress-levels and other factors, and Human Resources Manager was rated as number 20 of the top 50 jobs with a 13% 10-year growth rate.  http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bestjobs/2009/full_list/index.html

While I was completing my graduate degree (MS, Human Resources Design) at Claremont Graduate University’s School of Behavioral and Organizational Sciences, I wrote the following as part of an organizational development team paper.  “. . . the profession has been tasked to take on greater roles and responsibilities within organizations as organizations are faced with constant change – change such as globalization of markets, off-shoring, constant changes in employment law and regulations, changing customer demands and increasing competition.  To assist companies in their strategic goals, the need for well-educated, competent Human Resources professionals continues to grow.”   I wrote this almost three years ago and the comments are even more pertinent given our current economic climate.  Whether you are currently seeking your first position in the field or are looking for your next job, keep in mind that you bring a unique perspective to organizations, be proud and seize the opportunities – as they are many.  Strive to be that unique business professional that brings the HR perspective to the table, aligning the business strategy with people implications.