Human Resources (HR) is a fast-growing field that offers many lucrative opportunities. This explains why many people are eager to start a career in the same. However, despite its popularity, not many people understand what goes into becoming a human resources specialist. First things first, it is important to understand what a human resource professional does.
A Human resources specialist, professional or manager acts as a bridge between employees and management as they work through most of the job-related issues. In most cases, an HR manager will be responsible for employee recruitment, orientation or training for various positions in a company. So how can you become an HR professional?
Education and training
The Human Resource field, just like any other professional career requires that you get the right education and training for the job. Notably, HR specialists may come into the job market through a variety of educational backgrounds. As much as the minimum requirement for HR positions is a four-year degree, it works best if you specialize in a bachelor’s degree in human resources. Other related subjects that may also qualify for the job include personal management, sociology, and psychology.
With the current competition in the field, however, it may be prudent to do more than just the bachelor’s degree. A combination of other small courses in human resource management will help beat the competition in the job market. This may mean additional expenses in terms of fees and other related expenditures. However, this should not be much of a problem as one may seek a personal loan to fund education in the same. With the high chances of securing a job after studies, it should not be much of a problem repaying the loan.
Position as a Human Resource Manager
Human resources is a wide field with various opportunities for specialization. As such, you may need to pursue a specialized career in HR. In this regard, there are schools that specifically offer business degrees that focus on a specific area of human resources. Even with this specialization, you will need to focus more on topics related to recruitment, training, management and compensation. These will equip you with the key skills to succeed in the field.
Human resource certification
HR is becoming a competitive field by the day. As such, a college degree may not be enough to secure a well-paying job. In this regard, you will need to seek additional certifications related to the various HR disciplines. This explains why sometimes, large companies hold regular workshops and seminars to help broaden their skills and expertise for their HR staff.
Additional certification means an opportunity to increase your earning potential. Some of the notable examples of additional certifications in the HR field include Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) or Professional in Human Resources (PHR).
Finding a job in HR
Before you seek employment in the HR field, it pays to understand the various job titles and job descriptions for each of these positions. Apart from general career sites, you can also find various job boards online that specialize in HR. For instance, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) is a good platform as it primarily focuses on HR jobs.
In most cases, large organizations will first seek for candidates within the company before seeking externally. This tells you that you do not necessarily have to start in the HR position in a company. If you are already working in a company in a different position but wish to join the HR department, talk to the HR staff and seek guidance on the same. This makes it much easier to be considered since the company already understands your potential.
As you take your path in the HR field, remember the position calls for more than just liking people. As HR jobs continue to get sophisticated, expectations from employers also increase. Employers are constantly seeking a candidate who can effortlessly contribute to organizational development, employee development and create a positive work environment for all. By focusing more on your path to success through the right education and good networks, it becomes much easier to break into the HR field and achieve great success.
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