Tip-toeing to Human Resources
“But how do I get my foot in the door to HR if I don’t have any experience?”
I get asked this question a lot!
Believe or not, my degree was not in Human Resources. My path to HR was from an accounting degree that put me in a position that was responsible for payroll. When the organization I worked for split off from their parent company, it left me the only one that could answer questions about benefits and policies. Voila! I became the Human Resources Director for that organization. I learned everything I needed to know through training and personal research and went on to continue working in Human Resource director and related roles.
Here are a few recommendations I share with those that are interested in pursuing a Human Resources role.
Benefits of Human Resource Certifications
I frequently encourage university students to consider taking a Human Resource certification exam after they complete their Human Resource courses. These certifications often provide the “edge” needed to obtain a new position in Human Resources. These page has been created to support anyone who is interested in pursuing one of the certification options. Be sure to check the original sites for the most recent information.
What are the options for certifications?
There are two different organizations for Human Resource credentialing. They each have different requirements to test as well as somewhat different structures. I have outlined both of them here.
Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI)
HRCI is the organization that provides the SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resources), the PHR (Professional Human Resource), the aPHR (Associate Professional Human Resource), as well as several others.
The HRCI site has a comparison of the assessments they offer on this site page.
aPHR - this is a good option for students that do not have any Human Resource experience as well as those just beginning to work in Human Resources. There are no previous Human Resource experience requirements
PHR - according to the HRCI website, “The PHR is for the HR professional who has experience with program implementation, has a tactical/logistical orientation, is accountable to another HR professional within the organization, and has responsibilities that focus on the HR department rather than the whole organization.”
SPHR - eligibility for this exam is based on a combination of education and Human Resource experience. The requirement options include at least seven years of experience, OR five years of experience with a bachelor’s degree, OR four years of experience with a Master’s degree or higher.
Society for human resource management
The SHRM credentials include the SHRM-CP (SHRM Certified Professional) and the SHRM-SCP (SHRM Senior Certified Professional.
SHRM-CP - this is a good option for students that do not have any Human Resource experience as well as those just beginning to work in Human Resources. There are no previous Human Resource experience requirements.
SHRM-SCP - eligibility for this exam is based on a combination of education and Human Resource experience and are best explained by visiting the SHRM site.
Reminder: Regardless of which credential you decide to pursue, always check their website for the most recent information.
Any Other Tips?
Volunteer and connect with HR organizations!
Another great way to tip toe into HR is to volunteer to help in an HR department somewhere or ask if you can “shadow” an HR leader. This will give you the opportunity to let others know that you are interested as well as give you an idea of what options there are in the HR field.
Join an HR organization.
Most everywhere has an HR organization that students and those that have related roles can join. Find out what organizations are available where you are. At a minimum, you should be able to visit a meeting and maybe make some connections. People that are in the field will likely know about possible openings before they are posted.
And, by the way, consider a recruiting position. These positions are always looking for employees and are great ways to connect with HR leaders and potential future employers!