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.
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:
Use your career center, they are there for a reason
Attend the recruiting fairs and career workshops sponsored by your school
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.
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.
Register with staffing agencies (noticed agency is plural, because different companies use different agencies) for part-time jobs
Complete informational interviews with HR leaders at targeted businesses (you can even do this as part of a class project/paper and earn credit)
Join a student chapter of SHRM or other HR professional organizations
Attend regional or national seminars and conferences for additional exposure to the field and to network.
Utilize Social Media (Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.)
Tips for those who recently graduated or graduating soon:
All of the above +
Engage a mentor for advice and direction (SHRM has a free virtual mentor program)
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)
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)
Engage your network and let them know what you are looking for.
Consider starting your career with a consulting firm like Mercer, Aon, Deloitte
Research and apply to HR Development Programs/HR Leadership Programs (get the free ebook download on HR Development Programs by emailing us atrequest@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.
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.
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