The human resources (HR) sector is a vast field. Professionals set up design programs, administer benefit packages, ensure employee safety, hire and fire staff, train employees and executives, and communicate company-wide sensitive information. In a field that covers so many different disciplines, some professionals need help finding ways to start their careers or expanding their areas of expertise. Here are some tips on how to gain experience in this area.
Steps
Step 1. Do an internship in a personnel department
Since internships are designed specifically to gain experience in that field, they are the first step for many people who want to learn more. Since there is a great deal of administrative work in HR, many departments of large and medium-sized companies regularly hire interns for help.
Step 2. Try to work in this department at the company where you are hired
If you are currently employed, there may be projects underway in your company's HR department for which there is a need for staff. Contact your Human Resources representative and ask if you can help. Not all projects involve handling confidential data, so you may be able to gain practical experience in the industry and learn. If you already work in one area of the HR department, volunteer to help in other areas. For example, if you work in the benefits department, you could offer to help with interviewing candidates for the next hiring campaign.
Step 3. Volunteer for a non-profit organization
Many small non-profit groups do not have specific HR professionals and do not require special credentials. If you're willing to work for free to gain HR experience, volunteering can help you gain experience for higher-level jobs than you might find in a first HR induction.
Step 4. Consider administrative support work
Since the human resources field has a large amount of documents to process, several administrative positions are usually required. Many people try to make careers in HR by avoiding entry-level roles, but the people who fill them often get promoted over time. Many HR leaders started out as administrative clerks or switchboard operators.
Step 5. Work for an interim company
Joining an agency that proposes and offers temporary staff can be a great way to gain experience in areas that overlap with human relationships. Recruiting companies evaluate, interview, offer and place large numbers of candidates, and gaining experience in these areas can help you find a job in a larger HR department. Unlike HR departments, temp agencies often hire people from commercial or recent graduate positions and usually don't require industry experience to get started.
Step 6. Join an organization of HR professionals
Networking with other HR professionals can help you find opportunities to enter the industry that you can't find anywhere else. Many open positions are not advertised, but they are known through word of mouth. Joining a professional association and regularly attending meetings and other networking events will help you meet people who are filling HR positions. Most HR organizations hold an annual conference - another opportunity to show yourself to professionals and learn more about various topics in the field.
Step 7. Get certified
Inquire online or at the chamber of commerce to obtain a recognized qualification in human resource management. You can find many training opportunities, including preparation courses for various certification levels.
Step 8. Network online with other people in HR activities
There are numerous blogs, Facebook and LinkedIn groups, Twitter lists, and other online networking opportunities available for people who want to connect with other industry professionals. Many HR associations offer various online networking opportunities, so you can connect with other professionals outside of your geographic area. There are many companies and associations on the internet, do your research and join these groups.
Step 9. Be prepared for a variety of HR disciplines
The human resources sector is a profession with a large subset of sectors, from reimbursements and benefits, to recruiting. Most HR professionals (especially those who reach an executive level) spend time dealing with multiple industries at one point or another. It's generally easier to find benefits jobs in the fall, when HR departments are preparing to open enrollments. Recruiting services tend to be busiest at the beginning of the fiscal year and after the holidays when choosing new hires, so these are the best times if you want to volunteer. Compensation services typically have cyclical steps to review payment practices, so being able to determine that period will help you choose the best time to offer your services in order to gain experience.
