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HR Educational Qualification
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HR Educational Qualification
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Hi,
I am working in Qatar as an HR Generalist. I have about 3 years experience in HR and have a BA in Business Mgt. I have been working in administrative duties before getting into HR. I am plannin
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HR Educational Qualification
posted at 9/30/2007 2:48 AM EDT
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Posts: 4
First: 9/30/2007 Last: 10/3/2007 |
Hi,
I am working in Qatar as an HR Generalist. I have about 3 years experience in HR and have a BA in Business Mgt. I have been working in administrative duties before getting into HR. I am planning to move to the US after18 months and would like to know about the Job market for HR. To support my HR background and increase the potential of finding a job in HR; I am planning to take an Online Graduate Certificate study in HR concentration with the possibility of transferring the credits to an MBA in HR concentration (from a US University). I think the Graduate Certificates also may help me in validating the BA degree I hold from a third world country. My friends who moved to the US recently told me that it is difficult to join the workforce with international experience and non western education. I need your advice on the following: 1. Will the Graduate Certificate I am planning to take help in validating my professional qualification? 2. Does organizations consider a Graduate Certificate as a BA + qualification? 3. I don't mind starting as an HR Assistant provided that I will go up the ladder faster than a fresh graduate, will I be over qualified? Your feedback is highly appreciated and thanks in advance. ABBM |
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HR Educational Qualification
posted at 9/30/2007 10:13 AM EDT
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Posts: 3870
First: 2/12/2002 Last: 11/2/2009 |
"1. Will the Graduate Certificate I am planning to take help in validating my professional qualification?"
It certainly won't hurt and will probably help. It depends on where the certification is from. You need to be careful in your selection of certification/MBA program. There are a lot of bogus "degree mills" here in the US who charge a lot of money for a worthless piece of paper. As far as I know, Cornell has the best online certification program in the US. And Cornell is arguably the best HR undergraduate and graduate degree program in the US if not the world (Michigan State, Univ of Illinois round out the top three IMO). "2. Does organizations consider a Graduate Certificate as a BA + qualification?" Yes. Not as good as a graduate degree in HR, but better than an unrelated BA and no certificate. At the very least, it shows you're serious about doing HR and you're not another philosophy major who "wants to work with people" "3. I don't mind starting as an HR Assistant provided that I will go up the ladder faster than a fresh graduate, will I be over qualified?" Sadly, unless your company has a US operation and is willing to transfer (and sponsor) you to the US, the odds are against you. HR here in the US is a very, very competitive field. And HR is not a field for which it's easy to get an immigration visa. Assuming you can legally immigrate to the US, you will probably fall into the entry level HR category since your experience in Qatar will most likely be regarded as mostly irrelevant here considering the myriad of HR and employment laws in the US. If your company will not or cannot transfer you to the US, then another avenue would be to come here as a full time MBA/MILR student at one of the universities noted above. If you do well enough, you might easily get hired by a US company with significant international operations. Other universities with strong programs to consider would be University of Southern California, University of South Carolina, and University of West Virginia. "Your feedback is highly appreciated and thanks in advance." Good luck! |
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HR Educational Qualification
posted at 9/30/2007 8:27 PM EDT
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Posts: 4
First: 9/30/2007 Last: 10/3/2007 |
Thanks Nork 3. Your help is highly appreciated.
I have checked the Cornell Program too, but the certificate program is below a BA level and the credits can be transferred to the BA program only. Since I already have a BA, I want to do a program that will help me towards my MBA. And it is kind of expensive too. The other universities you mentioned donot offer the HR graduate/certificate program Online. I want to do my studies before I land in US. By the way, I have an opportunity to immigrate to US legally. As you said I understand my international HR experience will not count and I am willing to start from the entry level. My other option is to work as Office Manager since I have some admin. experience too, but I truly want to pursue HR. Do you think it will be easier to go for the Office Manager positions instead? Since you said the HR market is very competitive may be I should think of a back up plan. The University that I am looking for is called Southern Columbia University; it is accredited by the Distance Education & Training Council which is listed under CHEA's accrediting institutions list. They have a graduate certificate program which I can carry all the credits to MBA in HR Concentrations. It is also very affordable. I will appreciate it if you can check their website http://www.columbiasouthern.edu/programs/gradcert_hrm.asp and give me your comments. They have already accepted my application and I can enroll any time, but I am just doing some background search before investing my time and money. I am also looking into the PHR certification, would that help? Thanks a million times. |
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HR Educational Qualification
posted at 10/1/2007 4:23 AM EDT
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Posts: 1103
First: 3/16/2007 Last: 8/19/2011 |
I am intriqued by the idea of a "BA+" and am aware of no one who would consider it as such. The certificate is a valid form of continuing education and should be presented as such. Additionally you should pursue certification through HRCI as either a PHR or GPHR (assuming you have a continued career interest in global HR).
You did not address it in your post but I would offer that if you are not a US Citizen or authorized to work in the US you will sugnificantly increase your challenge of gaining US employment. The market is flooded with HR professionals, HR actors, and wannabe HR professionals, which will have an adverse impact on sponsorship. |
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HR Educational Qualification
posted at 10/1/2007 6:08 AM EDT
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Posts: 3870
First: 2/12/2002 Last: 11/2/2009 |
I would not recommend Columbia Southern. It is not an accredited university and it's not a name that is readily recognizable. While it may not be a diploma mill, my sense is that it will be regarded as only a small improvement over one.
There are 7 regional accreditation commissions for colleges in the US (DETC is not one of them). I strongly recommend that you stick with one of them. There are two MBA accreditation commissions: AACBS and IACBS, neither of which give accreditation to Columbia Southern. Please make sure that you get solid value from whatever dollars you spend on your education. I strongly recommend that you examine traditional brick and mortar schools that offer MBA's online. University of Indiana is one, Colorado State University and Tulane University are a couple of others. These are highly recognizable names and both Indiana and Tulane have top 50 MBA programs. For more info on degree programs, you might want to check out degreeinfo.com This website devotes a large amount of space to debunking bogus degree programs and/or identifying marginal ones. |
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HR Educational Qualification
posted at 10/1/2007 11:02 PM EDT
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Posts: 4
First: 9/30/2007 Last: 10/3/2007 |
Thanks a lot for your comments. I have checked all the info you mentioned. Most of the Universities you mentioned are kind of expensive for me at this point. So I will just have to wait and see when I actually land in the US. I have some extra time now, so I thought it would be wise to study while I can.
Cheers. |
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HR Educational Qualification
posted at 10/2/2007 5:34 AM EDT
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Posts: 3870
First: 2/12/2002 Last: 11/2/2009 |
HRPro's idea of going for your PHR is a wise one, and is probably cheaper than a certificate from a university. Contact shrm.org for details. A PHR will certainly help offset your lack of experience with US employment law and practices.
If you're more interested in compensation and benefits, World at Work offers benefits and compensation certifications. You can reach them at worldatwork.org |
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HR Educational Qualification
posted at 10/2/2007 6:02 AM EDT
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Posts: 1103
First: 3/16/2007 Last: 8/19/2011 |
As I continue to read this I see repeatedly that you have concerns regarding your international experience. I would not view that experience negatively. While my current employer is not at present involved in international operations, many employers are. With you having Middle East experience that is current (maybe language skills as well) this could be a H U G E plus to the right company. Don't downplay your experience, embrace it for what it is. |
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HR Educational Qualification
posted at 10/3/2007 10:06 PM EDT
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Posts: 4
First: 9/30/2007 Last: 10/3/2007 |
Thanks.
I will definately work on my HRP certification. The GHRP is also intresting I will see if I can qualify for that too. I believe any work experience is beneficial at least to the persons self confidence, since I have worked with international organizations I am confident I can adapt to the US market quickly, my only concern is if employers will give me the chance to do so. |
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