Considering an HR Career? 'Follow Your Passion', Experienced HR Pros Say
Author: Mark Crail, Head of Salary Surveys and HR Data Benchmarking Services, XpertHR UK
June 5, 2014
A panel of 231 experienced HR professionals surveyed by XpertHR as part of a study looking at the careers of those working in HR offers this advice for the next generation of HR professionals: "Follow your passions," "love working with people" and, above all, "learn how the business works."
The survey found that while a small minority of HR professionals now regret their career choice and feel undervalued by their own senior managers, the great majority say that they would do it all again and have words of encouragement for anyone on the brink of an HR career today.
The following is just some of the advice given by the panel to those just starting out:
"It is more than just people. To be successful, you have to be a business professional first and foremost."
HR shared services manager, large manufacturing company.
"You can learn everything you need to know from a book, but if you are not a people person, you will not do well ... and you will not be happy in this profession."
HR coordinator, city government.
"Follow your passion. If you have a drive to help people while also being successful in the business aspect of things, HR may be for you. Once you have begun your role in HR, make sure to keep a good balance between friendly and helpful, while also being able to enforce the company rules and standards. You are the person that people come to if they need something, while also being the individual who deals with corrective action up to and including termination."
HR generalist, business services company.
"Make a lot of relevant professional contacts because it's all about whom you know, not what you know."
HR coordinator, private sector services company.
"Find an organization that shares your personal beliefs and values or you will struggle with the tasks you are asked to do."
Director of HR and administrative services, private sector services company.
"It is important that today's HR professionals establish open lines of communication and collaborate with other areas of the organization. In addition to knowing HR, know the business you are in, the industry in which you compete and how your organization makes money. Together, these components make HR professionals an integral part of their organization."
Tracy Morley, SPHR, XpertHR Legal Editor.
The report is based on the findings of an XpertHR survey of 231 experienced HR professionals working in organizations large and small across the US and in all sectors of the economy. Together, the organizations they work for employ 1,715,187 people.