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Career Path
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.
I am currently the HR Manager for a retail company with seventeen locations. I have been with my current company for three years and I am responsible for all functions in human resources and payroll.T
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Forums » Topic Forums » HR Career Forum » Career Path
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Career Path
posted at 11/11/2008 6:17 PM EST
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Posts: 22
First: 5/4/2008 Last: 11/15/2008 |
I am currently the HR Manager for a retail company with seventeen locations. I have been with my current company for three years and I am responsible for all functions in human resources and payroll.The company has 120 employees.
Prior to that I was assistant accounting manager for four years. The employer had 176 employees and I was responsible for hr and payroll. Prior to that my work history was payroll and general ledger. I was in the military for almost five years and after the military I went to school working on my bachelors in accounting. Due to personal reasons I had to stop going to school. Now I am ready to go back to school but I have changed my major from accounting to management and I am considering a minor in IT. I have satisfied almost all my general degree requirements except for a history and science class and then I can take my lower and upper division classes. I'm leaning towards a focus in HR and possibly HRIS. Does this make sense? What is the typical career path from HR manager? For now, I'm happy where I'm at. I'm looking four or five years down the road to when I have finished my degree and my son who is now a freshman has graduated from high school. I'm a single parent so the most classes I can take at a time would be two. I think three would be stretching it and I tried that when he was little and between working full-time and going to school it got to be too much. Any thoughts? |
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Career Path
posted at 11/12/2008 4:31 AM EST
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Posts: 3870
First: 2/12/2002 Last: 11/2/2009 |
HR and HRIS are a good combination, so no worries IMO.
What's the career path from HR manager? You can continue as a generalist the way you seem to be going now. Or you can specialize in one of the several HR disciplines which would include compensation/benefits, staffing, training and development, OD, labor relations/employee relations, and HRIS. Depends on what you're good at and what you like, but more importantly where you want to go with your career. Spend some time thinking about where you want to be in 5 years with your career. Then ask here again! |
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Career Path
posted at 11/12/2008 12:49 PM EST
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Posts: 2442
First: 2/12/2000 Last: 9/14/2011 |
Spend some time determining what you have a PASSION for. This is highest determinate of success and job satisfaction.
It will be very hard to achieve long term success unless you really love what you are doing IMHO. |
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Career Path
posted at 11/14/2008 9:44 AM EST
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Posts: 2
First: 11/14/2008 Last: 11/21/2008 |
I will echo Howard and Nork. You must determine what is driving your interest in HR so the path you take leads to work you're passionate about. I might suggest you talk to individuals in different HR roles (generalist, benefits & comp, employee relations, hris, etc.) and interview them. Prepare a consistent list of questions to find out what drove their interest and what they like/find challenging now that they're in the role. This could help you identify a clear target. Good luck! |
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Career Path
posted at 11/15/2008 11:15 AM EST
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Posts: 22
First: 5/4/2008 Last: 11/15/2008 |
Strangely enough I kind of like the exposure to all aspects of HR that I get working for a smaller company. I don't think I want to go back to working in a large company. I worked for two hotels and both had over 10,000 employees. We had twenty-one people in our payroll department some employees had been there fifteen years entering floating holidays or doing employment verifications the whole time. My job was tip compliance. It got really boring after awhile.
I find I like it better when I constantly have something to do. Right now I'm gearing up for our conversion to ADP from Paychex so that will occupy my time through year end. After the first of the year I'll roll right into benefits renewal and writing our policy procedure manual. Plus there's still the day to day employee relations to handle. Never ever a dull moment in HR. Just when I think we have a lull something new comes along. I feel like if I went to a larger company I wouldn't get the experience in all aspects of HR. I can see my current position growing to maybe a manager and one clerk as the company expands. Does it help to have a certification or if you have the degree do you really need the SPHR? Thanks for all the advise. |
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Career Path
posted at 11/15/2008 7:33 PM EST
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Posts: 3870
First: 2/12/2002 Last: 11/2/2009 |
Both the degree and the SPHR would be good; having both would certainly separate you from a large group with neither or only one should you ever have to apply for a new job. And they don't necessarily cover the same ground. |
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