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HR Studies for a career shift
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HR Studies for a career shift
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Dear all,
I'd like to request you some suggestions for studies in HR: I know that a similar request has just been asked, but my situation maybe it's a bit stranger.
I'm an Italian with the equiv
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HR Studies for a career shift
posted at 11/30/2009 2:39 PM EST
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Posts: 3
First: 11/30/2009 Last: 12/3/2009 |
Dear all,
I'd like to request you some suggestions for studies in HR: I know that a similar request has just been asked, but my situation maybe it's a bit stranger. I'm an Italian with the equivalent of a master degree in International Relations, plus some specialization corses in development. I have spent the last years of my life in developing countries, working for non profit organizations. As many positions in development work, my duties were many, from project management, finance, and of course human resources, organizational development, etc... In the next years, for family reasons, I'm considering to move to Canada, and to settle down there. I'd like then to expand my opportunities for finding suitable jobs there, and I think that HR may be a good option to career shift: it may be useful if I'll continue with development work in the future, and as well it's something in which I feel good at, and I have a good interest. At this point, I feel that I need to have some formal training in HR, and I'd like to have something that can make a REAL difference, and that will allow me to have a good career in the future. For this reasons, I'd like to ask your suggestions. I'm considering the online courses at Cornell University, and I'd like to be sure that it's a good option. Moreover, I'm confused about which course will be the best one. I'm considering the difference between Human Resources Studies and the Graduate Certificate in Human Resources. There is a huge difference in price, from about 5,000 to 11,000 USD. As I'm bit out from the american university system, I personally don't know if it's something really worthed, and will allow me to find a good job easily in Canada. Also, I'm wondering if it's worthed to spend that amount of money for a similar course, or if it's not better to invest the money in a different way. But I have to consider that, reallisticaly, I cannot stop working for 1 or 2 years, and I need something that may allow me to study and work at the same time. What do you think? Thanks, Max |
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HR Studies for a career shift
posted at 11/30/2009 3:54 PM EST
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Posts: 562
First: 11/12/2009 Last: 9/14/2011 |
Max, you're on the right track in realizing that you'll need some formal training in HR to make a career switch to it. Cornell is one option (and an expensive one for sure) but there are others.
But first, let me ask why you think you'd be a good fit for HR. I'll help you a bit by providing 2 of the most common wrong answers to that. First is "I like working with people". If that's the case, then most any job will satisfy that since most involve working with people anyway. If your answer is "I want to help people", then congratulations on a noble sentiment. But if that's what you want, then you should go into social work. Sorry if I'm sounding a bit cynical, but there are an awful lot of people who go into HR for the wrong reasons. So think about what you'd like to do in HR. What do you want to accomplish in an HR career? Once you've got an answer for that, then figuring out the rest will get a lot easier. |
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HR Studies for a career shift
posted at 11/30/2009 4:14 PM EST
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Posts: 3
First: 11/30/2009 Last: 12/3/2009 |
Hi Nork,
thanks for the comments. I think I need to explain better: as a development worker, I have done a lot of HR: selection and recruitment, employee relations, performance management, training, organizational management, etc... I know what HR works is, and I like it and I think I'm good at it. Just, HR has been just a part of a much wider set of duties I have, and I know that moving from developing countries to a developed one will need me to specialize more. Actually, I'm sure that HR is one of the field where I can have better possibilities, because I already have positive experience. I'm also sure that employers will look at my CV in a strange way as it is now, and I'm sure that I need formal education to present myself as an HR professional. The point is, moving from working in developing countries to a develop one is already something complicated. I can go on working for NGOs even in Canada, but of course there are not so many opportunities, and I'd like to specialize in order to have possibilities to find job easely both in the non-profit and in the private sector. For this reasons, I would like to have some certificate that will really make a difference. So, if it's not Cornell, any other suggestion is appreciated. Thank you again! Max |
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HR Studies for a career shift
posted at 12/1/2009 2:34 AM EST
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Posts: 1771
First: 10/24/2002 Last: 9/14/2011 |
If you're hoping to work in Canada, you should be investigating Canadian HR sites and educational institutions. As you probably already know, HR professionals in both Canada and the US need strong skills in employment and labour law, and American and Canadian employment/labour law differ greatly. (Hugely!!!) In addition, Canadian and American HR practices are somewhat different.
Again, if you're looking to become qualified to work as an HR professional in Canada, I'd recommend starting your quest for education in Canada. Your first stop would be to visit the Canadian HR Professionals Association website www.hrpa.ca. |
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