A lot of people are enthusiastic about starting a career in Human Resources (HR). This is because the industry is a fast-growing one possessing lots of lucrative opportunities for HR generalists, managers, and more. There are diverse job titles out of which you will eventually fit into if you pursue a career in Human Resource.
According to career analysts, the number of Human Resources jobs in the expected increases in the next years while the annual income in this field will be above the national average. Undoubtedly, this will make all HR-related careers an outstanding position for people who are just starting in the labor market.
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Although technology may be attempting to change the way we work, however people (and not) machines, remains an organization’s best asset. Faced with a shortage of skills as well as huge competition for talent, organizations now recognize the need for expert support to attract and keep both customers and employees – and build engaged loyal teams. The information contained here presents detailed guidance for you if you are considering a rewarding career in Human resources.
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How to Break Into a Career in HR
It is very easy to break into the Human Resources industry if you plan your education, life, and work experience around the field. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, the opportunity and income prospects are favorable for about the next one or two decades.
Human Resource is a professional career that seeks confidentiality, integrity (employee information is sacrosanct), as well as a high level of interpersonal communication skills from its practitioners. Amazingly, for an HR successful career, you will also need finance, business management, accounting education, and other experiences when and where necessary.
You must be fully ready to develop a detailed understanding of the business in which your employer is engaged in order for you to succeed in a career in Human Resource.
How to Prepare for an HR Career
Getting along with people is not the only qualification for chasing a career in Human Resources. Although it helps, it is insufficient for a successful career in HR as jobs continue to grow in sophistication, on the other hand, the expectations of employers increase annually.
Your willingness and ability to contribute to organization development, employee development, motivating work environment, employee retention, and a positive mindset are crucial to business success. Subsequently, these are all the expectations of the contributions of Human Resource staff.
Most importantly for the nearest years, your level of expertise in measuring how Human Resources programs and processes will make significant contributions to the overall success of the business.
Academic Qualifications Required
Since the human resources function is highly varied, you will need to change the industry awards, workplace legislation, safety standards, occupational health, and stay ahead of trends around salary cum other non-monetary benefits.
If you do not have tertiary qualifications, a Certificate IV in Human Resources will help provide the foundational skills to launch yourself into a career in human resources.
However, the complexity of the role implies that tertiary qualifications on the other hand will also support career growth, as well as many Human Resource roles that require candidates to have at least a Bachelor’s degree or any other equivalent in Business, Human Resources, or Psychology.
Postgraduate qualifications can also help progress your career in human resources. According to Deloitte’s research, postgraduate study usually results in a significant uptick in salary for Human Resource professionals. Australia’s peak industry body – the Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI), also makes available a program of learning which leads to postgraduate HR certification.
Being a member of a recognized and well known professional bodies like that of AHRI, although not essential, might help you stay up to date with the latest developments in the field of human resources.
Important Things to Know Before Starting a Career in Human Resource
Many years ago, human resources were basically pictured as a “paper pusher” role. Human resource professionals signed up on firing and hiring; they were the ones who keep personnel files and employee records; they fielded the seldom manager or employee complaint. In recent times, HR departments are way more dynamic, as they play an essential role in a business’s long-term talent development strategy.
Despite all the diverse hats HR can fit into, this department’s primary task evolves around rendering help to an organization’s most valuable asset: its people. Before you commence your career in human resources, you might want to thoroughly understand the basic requirements of the industry and what functions you will be expected to perform.
- Try to Understand the ‘Human’ Side of Human Resources
Adherence and policies aside, HR professionals must learn to focus on the human aspect of HR, the part which needs them to read minds, speak and communicate with people’s emotions, balance a cast of personalities, speak professional languages, while also strategically placing people where they can be the most effective. Do not forget that the importance of resourcefulness is to get creative with people’s problems and seek unique solutions (thereby helping your company grow).
- Critically Analyze Your Legacy
The most effective Human Resource leaders solve diverse business goals and are usually driven by an intrinsic desire to leave a legacy of positively impacting people’s lives. That being said, you will be opportuned to best serve each of your business partners via knowing the business just as much as they do, thereby leading your interactions with both passion and data of people. You can as well leave a legacy via empathy and caring about those you serve in truth and honesty.
- Be Strategic, Inquisitive and Credible
Human Resource will offer you tremendous opportunities to make a notable change in the success of your organization as well as the lives of its people (not leaving out on customers). However, it is integral to your credibility and worth not just as a professional who is service-oriented, but as a strategic partner and creative thinker to the organization’s leadership. Think globally, Be inquisitive, ask relevant questions, and know your industry. You will definitely have a very rewarding HR career.
- Respect and Trust are Key
Every communication matters. As a human resource expert, you are expected to either build respect and trust or tear it down. If you can perfectly build respect and trust amongst everyone in the areas of management, leadership, and with other employees; you will thereby be seen a very helpful colleague who is truly capable of making a significant difference both in the organization as well as in the lives of others.
- Understand the Realities of HR
At times, Human resources might seem very administrative and highly transactional as it does not have a number of people visiting their desks on daily basis. This implies that if employees are all in the Human Resource office, they are most likely not doing their job at that moment. The role of HR is to state clearly the necessary procedures, policies, benefits, awards as well as personnel training and to make sure they are all in the right place so as to help employees stay engaged, productive, and motivated.
- Know That you Will Need to Make Yourself Available as an Unbiased Business Partner
Human Resource professionals who are strategic about their work are usually the most trusted advisers whom people trust their deepest secrets with. They are also those who can drive change and influence a person’s thoughts and decisions either to the positive or negative. You can start out by learning and trying to understand what to share, whom to share with, and when. When you can stay consistent, approachable, and fair you will be able to build a meaningful relationship with other people. This will also strengthen your proficiency in driving your company forward with ideas and initiatives that would deliver desired results within the business environment.
- Remain Humble
At the early stage of anyone’s career, there is always a high level of anxiety and enthusiasm that overwhelms you. People are usually excited to start doing what they really want to do (and when). However, the best lessons are usually learned by walking. This can be done by becoming our own self and taking heed of advice from mentors and leaders. If you are new as Human Resource personnel, you must learn to stay humble always.
- Always Take Your Time
Always take your time to understand what you do, however, never feel bad about yourself when you make mistakes. Rather, be accountable and remember that you are human not a machine (even machines perform below par too). The problem with most HR personnel at the early stage of their career is assuming to be a superhero, having solutions to the problems of the world, and with readiness to solve them. However, understanding that human varies should make you consider the fact that mistakes are prone to occur, managing mistake,s and taking out time to make corrections is what really matters.
- Be Careful of Who you are and Who you are Becoming
Interestingly, the HR field is so vast, therefore, you are advised to choose a path that matches your strengths and passion (and also where it would be most relevant to the organization). Also, delve into an organization where your values best align. Human Resource covers marketing a company’s brand, therefore you must have your values aligned and connected with that of the company for better chances of success.
In conclusion, as you get started with your career in Human Resouces, it is usually of help when you truly know the basics of HR employment, not leaving out what each person does in their individual positions as well as all the job titles.
