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Getting into the field |
Lili1980
Joined: Mar 16, 2007
Posts: 1 |  Posted: 2007-03-16 19:59
Hello,
I am currently working as a finncial analyst in a Budgeting deparment of a utility company. I graduated form college 2 years ago. My major was Economics.
Recenlty I realized I am more interested in being involved with people in my job. After I had couple of informational interviews and did some self-assessment tests I found out that HR ( Recruitement, Staffing, Organizational Dvelopmet) would be a good fit for me.
But I do not have any previous expereince in the field. Could you advise me how to approach this situation? Any help would be apreciated. Thank you.
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HRPro
Joined: Mar 16, 2007
Posts: 954 | Posted: 2007-03-17 10:50
I'll take a different approach than simply answering your question. I'll start with a question. Why? Why do you want to "get into" HR?
To work with people? well I would offer you do that every day.
To help people? That would be social work or related areas.
To help business maximize the productivity it gets from its people resources (human capital)? Now you are talking.
Now with that said.....
There are many ways to break in. You have a strong financial background and could, with some exposure and experience transition into compensation, benefits and possibly even HRIS. Seek opportunity within your current company to participate in these areas. Understand too that it may necessitate a salary reduction initially as HR positions while well paid may not be the best paid.
When ever I am asked a question "how do I get into..." I always answer network. Who do you know? Who do you know who knows? Who do you know who knows who knows? You get the idea. Talk to people and express your desire. Don't ask them directly to help you get into HR. Rather, ask them "who do you know who can help me realize my goal of getting into HR?"
while doing that it is a good idea to inventory your skills and read some job postings of positions you want to enter. Find the matches and equally important find the gaps. Focus on the matches and determine how you will handle the gaps.
It won't happen overnight but with time, patience, perserverance, luck and so forth you may make it happen.
HR is an incredibly challenging field to get into and even more challenging to stay in. The face and focus of the profession is aggressively changing. Business and business needs are changing. You must be resilient enough to function in such an environment. Anything less won't do.
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mep34
Joined: Mar 29, 2007
Posts: 2 | Posted: 2007-03-29 08:09
Hi! HRPro,
I found your reply very helpful and informative. May I ask this question; What's your HR background?
I ask the above question, because I'll be job searching in a few weeks. At my current job as a receptionist, I do assist the HR Manager with some HR functions, most of those functions involves recruiting and staffing.
However, I still feel that I may lack the necessary experience even for an assistant position. What advice or suggestion would be most helpful in this situation?
Thanks in advance
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HRPro
Joined: Mar 16, 2007
Posts: 954 | Posted: 2007-03-29 18:58
I am the VP of HR for a national service company.
My background is primarily as a generalist with a couple of assignments specializing in OD, Recruiting and another in Comp and Benefits.
My HR experience is heavy with merger and acquisition experience and turnarounds. I am very numbers and results focused. I have very limited manufacturing experience and have mostly been in healthcare, technology and services.
I have an MBA and am a SPHR. I've been doing this for almost 28 years.
Hope that helps.
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mep34
Joined: Mar 29, 2007
Posts: 2 | Posted: 2007-04-05 11:45
HRPro,
Thank you for replying to my post. Your reply was most helpful. I guess nerves are starting to set in a little as I begin my job search shortly.
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HRPro
Joined: Mar 16, 2007
Posts: 954 | Posted: 2007-04-05 18:46
Best advice i ever received was never let them see you sweat. Second best was be humble but not too humble.
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jackel
Joined: Oct 28, 2003
Posts: 26 | Posted: 2007-05-29 05:24
Probably the best opportunity for HR experience is within your own company. Some companies offer current employees "details" to other assignments based on their individual development plans and business needs. I have always been an advocate of cross-training since it helps to walk a mile in anyone's shoes and a well-rounded employee has a broader perspective which benefits the employer.
So I would discuss your career plan with your current manager and then the HR manager or supervisor. Job knowledge is important but a willingness to learn and effort is even more critical. Jobs change over time but the basic values needed for performance do not.
It is unlikely that you will obtain a HR position with another company without any experience unless it is an entry level clerical type of position.
I would also suggest some reading and researching to get familiar with the jargon and HR issues. Good luck.
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Drew1
Joined: Sep 11, 2006
Posts: 2 | Posted: 2007-05-29 08:20
While experience may count for you and depending on the organization that hires you I have come across organizations that would not even offer an interview if you do not hold some form of former qualifications. So if you are serious about getting into the HR field I would strongly recommend getting that "vital piece of paper" behind your name. Good Luck
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TXBureaucrat
Joined: May 29, 2007
Posts: 3 | Posted: 2007-05-29 08:36
If you really want to become a professional in Human Resources, I strongly suggest that you study for -- and pass -- the Professional In Human Resources exam as presented by the Society for Human Resource Management. Nothing will show your prospective employer that you are worth a try more than having mastered the "body of knowledge". In addition, this will give you the broad understanding of the various aspects of HR Management.
I "got into" Human Resources from the Accounting side of the business, starting as an Assets Manager and working up through Controllership. As a Controller, one is also the master of Human Resources for a business. Any time I hired a Human Resources person, the first question I always asked is "What do you know about the job?" If I don't get an answer, or if the answer is really purile, the interview is over.
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HRgeek12
Joined: Aug 07, 2006
Posts: 15 | Posted: 2007-05-29 10:20
Hi HRPRO
I am working as a HRIS assistant with 1.5 years of experience in HRIS (SAP HR) and little exposure to Benefits and Compensation. I have close to 5 years of experience. I do not want to be a HRIS analyst, my preference is to get into comp and benefits or HR generalist.
I have tried making the move in the current company but already have people doing it and not sure when I will get the break. I am trying outside but not getting the correct break. I do not have recruiting experience.....will it be difficult to get into HR generalist positions
What is your suggestion
thaks
HRgeek12
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fagana
Joined: May 25, 2004
Posts: 2 | Posted: 2007-05-29 10:40
Key to any good HR professional, is having strong oral and written skills. I realize that Lili1980 wasn't writing formally but her note was rife with spelling mistakes. My first suggestion is to enhance those skills. Perhaps taking more university or college courses would assist.
My second suggestion is in line with what Jackel said, and that is to talk with your own HR Department and express your interest in the HR field. Worse case scenario is they provide you with advice on what training you can do on your own. Best case scenario is they are now aware of your interest in the profession and will keep an eye out for opportunities. Most likely if there are any oppsortunities for you, they will ask you to further your training anyway.
Good luck!
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lolalucas
Joined: May 07, 2002
Posts: 3 | Posted: 2007-05-29 10:46
1) Find a variety of HR magazines and journals in addition to "Workforce Management" and learn whether they excite you or put you to sleep. Benefit: you'll be up on trends and jargon as well as key players in the field.
2) Informational interviewing will gain you both insight and potential allies. Also, different aspects of HR require very different skills sets. Find the area that matches your values and abilities best through talking to people are are doing what you'd enjoy.
3) Join relevant professional associations, such as SHRM, ASTD, etc. to meet people. Serve on committees. Get known. Dress like other members of the tribe. Discover whether you like working with HR types day in and day out. (I was director of the position referral service for my ASTD chapter and that was great for my network, my contacts with employers and my own career change.)
4) Find ways to donate your skills, such as recruiting volunteers for charity events. You can make good connections and again, get some experience for your resume while reality testing.
5) Take short workshops on HR topics, attend online classes, even get a certificate or degree. It'll help build your credibility and make your transition easier.
6) HR generalist or recruiting positions will burn you out if you truly want in because you like people. A passion for paperwork, systems and the employer's bottom line is indeed more helpful.
Good luck!
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lolalucas
Joined: May 07, 2002
Posts: 3 | Posted: 2007-05-29 10:54
P.S. While it would seem ideal to just slide over into an HR position with your current employer, that can be blocked if you are already pigeonholed. If so, you may need to go elsewhere to start fresh with an HR identity. Just depends on your organization's culture and whether they'd be open to seeing you in a new role.
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HRPro
Joined: Mar 16, 2007
Posts: 954 | Posted: 2007-05-29 14:52
Hello HRGeek. To answer your question directly I would not recommend anyone intentionally seek an HR Generalist position. Nuf said on that because I do not care to reopen the Sullivan discussion.
As to advancing you career within HR...
If you are in an organization that can have an HRIS Analyst then you are in an organization of sufficient size to potentially have other skill broadening or lateral type positions that will afford you the opportunity to advance an HR career. Doing it internally as opposed to changing employers is much simpler and given your limited experience also I think your best opportunity for success.
In my expereince compensation is a natural progression from HRIS. In that much of what you will do to start a comp career will involve data analysis you should be able to make this transition easily. The regulatory and experiential components come from your boss and the mentoring/coaching they give you along with any formalized instruction you obtain along the way.
I hope that helps.
********************
As the master of typo's on these forums as well as in personal e-mail I never put much creedence into admonishments regarding the appearance of said communicatioons. However, I could not agree more that the quality of written and spoken communication is paraqmount to success within any career area. Just make certain that if typo's are your forte that you only make them in informal communications such as these and not in those with the people who matter most to your career.
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nork3
Joined: Feb 12, 2002
Posts: 3876 | Posted: 2007-05-29 15:14
There are a couple of ways you can bolster your HR resume.
As HRPro suggests, compensation and benefits is a very good avenue for someone with a data/analytical background. You can further your credentials by persuing a Certified Compensation Professional certificate from World at Work (formerly the American Compensation Association).
If you want a broader HR credential, then Cornell University (one of the top 3 HR programs in the country along with Michigan State and Univ of Illinois) offers a 6 course certificate program. A tad expensive, but the Cornell name on an HR resume tends to get attention. The courses cover each functional area of HR.
And, as suggested previously, the PHR certification would also look good on a resume.
Good luck!
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