Kaila
What's next after the beginning?
Anybody currently in Human Resource? What was your first job in Human Resource after earning your degree? Where are you now and how long did it take you to advance to your current position?
#human-resources #promotions
5 answers
Molly Thornton
Molly’s Answer
Any experience in HR will be added to your toolkit as you grow in the profession. There are many focuses under the HR umbrella. Get in and learn fast! Take your PHR/SPHR. I love this field of challenging work because you are truly helping others.
Janet Uyenco
Janet’s Answer
One of the best choices I made was to follow a former manager to another company (I did this twice). The partnership and mentorship is already established and you can "hit the ground running" on improving processes at the new Company.
Until this day, I still keep in touch with the 2 managers that I followed. Both are mentors that I can reach out to at anytime.
Kristina Carter, MSHR, SPHR
Kristina’s Answer
I actually started my career in HR as an intern/co-op. A lot of my peers also started this way or as entry level HR admins or as recruiters. I've now been in HR for over 7 years and have held several different positions at different locations with two different organizations. Starting out I moved every 1-2 years and am now in an HRM position that I've been in for almost 3 years. The best advice I can give as you are starting out would be to network as much as possible... find your local SHRM chapter and get involved or find local professional networking groups on LinkedIn and attend meetings, etc. Having a peer network within HR is extremely helpful as you are learning and you never know what opportunities may come your way as a result of your network.
Dawn McGovern
Dawn’s Answer
My first role in HR was doing in-company temporary placements. I then moved to Staffing where I spent about 6 years. Then I moved into an HRBP/generalist role. I've had several careers just within the HRBP roles since I've supported Business clients, Mobility clients, Operations clients and most recently Finance clients. Sites like linked-in and SHRM can help expand your contact list. Getting in at the entry level can help you get comfortable learning and growing. Although there are theories within HRM, each company is a little bit different in terms of how they administer programs and such.
Anita Premjee, MSHRD
Anita’s Answer
I started off my HR career as a coordinator. Through the years, I was promoted to a recruiter honing my recruiting skills in various industries. I've currently been with my firm for close to 5 years and held three different positions. I'm currently still within the recruiting umbrella but serve in a strategy based role. My advice is if you can, start entry level so you can learn the mechanics of the business. With a strong work ethic you will get promoted for other opportunities. It's important to network within your company and outside of it. SHRM is a good place to network with other HR professionals. I also recommend being an active volunteer. You can network with other professionals that way and it will expand your HR network.