Further, it is a fast-growing business function, that has recently been hit by disruptive technologies, such as automation & AI. And, with the advent of hr tech, the demand for technically-sound hr professionals has grown even higher, in the last couple of years.
Degree of Job Security Concerns among HR Professionals in the U.S., by Career Level (2016)
Source: Statista
Incomparable Job Stability Across the HR Business Functions
The pay is handsome, and there is an impressive job-security aspect attached to the said role. As per Statista, the renowned German market-research firm, 79% of all executive-level hr professionals, in 2016, were not worried at all about losing their respective jobs, which showcased a significantly-high degree of job security among hr administrators in the country.
Skills, Most-Relevant for HR Career Aspirants
Soft skills are considered paramount in the hr sector. You simply cannot succeed as an hr professional, being short at them. Experience does play a vital role, but for that, you need to get your first job, to start off. So, discussing that becomes irrelevant. Developing labor relations, conceptualizing workforce training & learning programs, resource-planning, and accounting capabilities, are a few of the most vital skills to succeed as a prospective hr professional.
Educational Requirements to becoming an HR Personnel
However, individuals from almost any academic background can break into HR. But still, there exists an ideal educational foundation that suits the said sector, perfectly well. It involves, getting a four-year bachelor’s degree in either of the below-stated subject disciplines:
- Personne management
- Human resources
- Psychology
- Sociology
These degrees will help make you a likable candidate profile, in the eyes of a recruiter, as compared to candidates with a non-conforming degree, such as chemistry, economics, mathematics, physics, among others.
Role of Professional Credentials in Gaining a Competitive Advantage
Acquiring a professional certification in hr does help to obtain a competitive edge over others. Recruiters see you as more promising, qualified, and bright candidates when you mention a certification’s name on your CV that is specific to hr management.
A plethora of professional certification programs is available online to choose from, depending on your long-term career prospects. Further, credentials, soar up your chances of getting promoted at work, in a lesser time span, compared to your colleagues who happen to be non-certified.
Searching for an HR Job: What is Needed?
Starting out on a prospective career in hr is certainly going to be difficult. And therefore, you must prepare yourself mentally for the struggle, ahead of you. The most common way to find an hr job is to register yourself on multiple job-search sites. It can be one of the many ways to break into the hr domain. But, there exist other options, that are far more effective, in terms of starting out in the industry as a fresher.
Professional networking is one of the greatest ways to secure your first job in hr. But, it’s a bit tricky, as you need to have someone or the other, within the said industry, to recommend you, personally. Social media is another way to reach out to the industry leaders or finding the vacancies specific to hr.
However, one of the most effective, and generic way to enter the said domain, is by acquiring an internship in hr, at a reputed firm. For college students, and fresher graduates, this can prove to be the best option out there. Collecting skill-nurturing professional credentials could provide you with a distinct competitive advantage over others, and hence, you must not miss out on that.
The opportunities are endless for hr career aspirants, given that they are well-prepared at two critical fronts - Skillset & Perseverance. Prepare religiously for your first interview, and the chances are, you will succeed with flying colors.
