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Getting into the field
HR Career Forum
Getting into the field
Discuss your job search, the interviewing process, creating the right resume, how the HR profession's changes require new job-search approaches and related topics.
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 intere
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Forums » Topic Forums » HR Career Forum » Getting into the field
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Getting into the field
posted at 6/5/2007 9:12 AM EDT
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Posts: 22
First: 8/3/2004 Last: 10/10/2008 |
Finding and securing a position in Human Resources (HR) is challenging whether you're a beginner or a vet. Like one of the posters mentioned, who you know is very important in HR.
While that perspective (who you know) is meant to be positive, it's disappointing to a beginner with not much credentials. Moreover, several posters have expressed their disappointment with "breaking in to HR." I've found that it's easier for a person with an accounting/business background with no HR experience to get a HR job than a person with professional HR certification. Maybe it's the market area or maybe it's who a hiring supervisor feels most comfortable. Whatever it is, it's tough to get hired in HR if you don't have an "in" (somebody you know in HR or somebody in the corporation or somebody who knows somebody who knows somebody). Luck and perserverence are also very important. Years ago (1989) I tried to join the PHX area SHRM organization and was told I could not because I didn't have a job in HR. On the other hand, you had to be in the local SHRM organization (know somebody) to get a job. What kind of *#@! is that? If you've been working in HR for 20 or more years, you know that we've gone from specialist to generalist to specialist to generalist, and so forth. HR shifts this focus as much as there are mergers and acquisitions or as much as businesses conduct restructuring activities, or as much as experts say we should change the focus. Good luck if you're counting on obtaining the "right experience." Just keep working at learning everything you can and keep networking. Opportunities will happen. What you know is important, but who you know is what makes the difference. Sad, but true! BTW, In the 21st century, there's no excuse for spelling errors at any level. Block/copy your work and paste it in WORD and then spellcheck it! Or are you so in a hurry? |
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Getting into the field
posted at 6/10/2007 6:35 PM EDT
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Posts: 1
First: 6/10/2007 Last: 6/10/2007 |
I may have a different approach... Please forgive the long post, but I hope you find this helpful.
First of all, I couldn't agree more with all the helpful information and suggestions. I beleive Networking is key in this industry; making lateral moves within your own industry is preferable; and definitly continue to educate and improve yourself. However, there is also another avenue that could be ventured when it comes to the HR industry. Another natural progression into HR is starting in a Staffing Service, sometimes referred as Temp Agencies. What's the difference? Well, a Staffing Service will concentrate on Permanent Placement and Temp to Perm. While a Temp Agency will rely heavily on servicing the Just in Time aspect of a business. Many agencies do both. I consider a Staffing Service/Temp Agency to be like the BOOT CAMP of HR. It's a great place to start. You could potentially be exposed to as much experience within six months in an agency as 1 year in an HR department. Everything from recruiting/interviewing, employee relations, payroll issues, workers comp, retainment/appraisals, counseling, sexual harrassment, benefits, so on and so forth. Also, it is true you will take a pay cut, but the positive of an agency is that you can make that up with commissions. And once you're cruising in your new job, now you can start taking classes!!! You agency experience will help in the classroom because now you have some industry experience and not everything is brand new. With your Accounting Background, you may be a good asset to an Agency concentrating in Accounting and Finance staffing. First thing you may want to do is take a very good look at your resume. Definitely read some "Recruiter" job descriptions, and make your resume match the Staffing and HR Industry. That means something simple like re-arranging, bolding and debolding, and rewording. Sometimes the only solution is to start from scratch! Search for HR/Staffing/Recruiter resume samples online, compare them to yours. Resume writing can be very tough, so it's a very good idea to have someone else proofread. There is no such thing as a Perfect resume because everyone will preceive it differently. The key is to have a well organized easy to read resume; where the information you want to convey almost jumps out to whom ever reads it. And it leaves no room for thought in what your goals are. Well, sorry for the long post. I hope this helps and I wish you the best of luck. Anyone who disagrees or agrees; please I would love to hear your thoughts. It serves as a learning experience for all of us. Thanks. |
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