I know having experience in a field you're applying for will definitely be a plus point on your resume and when having a job. My question is this : of course as a fresh graduate you typically have no experience or very minimal experience, so my question is, how do I get some HR-related experience? and does it HAVE to be HR-specific experience?
From Canada, Windsor
From Canada, Windsor
4
no the thing is the program that I'm studying right now does not offer internship placements and co-op oppurtunitiy. However I can apply for volunteer internship placements, but they rarely have anything for HR. It's mostly marketing stuff for volunteer placements. So what should I do? But I have lots of experience in group and team building from in-class projects and I've held many senior positions for clubs and societies in my college days. I wonder if this is enough...
From Canada, Windsor
From Canada, Windsor
Before you get onto the field, you have to get into the locker room.
Your background is impressive - shows initiative, drive and ability/willingness to take responsibility - but you need more than that. You need 'hands-on" practical experience.
My first position in the HR field was as a Personnel Assistant, responsible for benefits, hiring plant personnel and safety. 5 years later, I was Supervisor of Labor Relations and never looked back.
My suggestion to you is "get into the locker room". Take an entry level position, learn all you can about those areas of HR that interest you most.
Be sure your supervisor knows of your ambition, not only by words but by action. Volunteer to assist on projects. Get involved with the line personnel, and employees, find out what their problems/concerns are and see if you can address those issues. You may not be able to do it by yourself, so you build a circle of resources, starting with your boss.
That is the basic tenant of Human Resources - personal problem solving - no matter how trivial an issue may seem to you, it is the most important thing on the person's mind.
From United States,
Your background is impressive - shows initiative, drive and ability/willingness to take responsibility - but you need more than that. You need 'hands-on" practical experience.
My first position in the HR field was as a Personnel Assistant, responsible for benefits, hiring plant personnel and safety. 5 years later, I was Supervisor of Labor Relations and never looked back.
My suggestion to you is "get into the locker room". Take an entry level position, learn all you can about those areas of HR that interest you most.
Be sure your supervisor knows of your ambition, not only by words but by action. Volunteer to assist on projects. Get involved with the line personnel, and employees, find out what their problems/concerns are and see if you can address those issues. You may not be able to do it by yourself, so you build a circle of resources, starting with your boss.
That is the basic tenant of Human Resources - personal problem solving - no matter how trivial an issue may seem to you, it is the most important thing on the person's mind.
From United States,
hey Paladin!
Thanks for the great advice! I like the way you used the metophor "get inside the locker room"....
but that leads to my next question:
how do I get into the locker room?
I have had discussions with my professors on my career path and many have told me that fresh graduates USUALLY dont get into entry level HR positions. Is this really true?
My next question is this : what sort of HR-entry level positions do you usually get into? I know payroll is a common one...but what else?
I have applied for HR internships in the summer, but they arent in big corporations, infact they're just volunteer placements. But lets see how it goes, hopefully I get somewhere.
From Canada, Windsor
Thanks for the great advice! I like the way you used the metophor "get inside the locker room"....
but that leads to my next question:
how do I get into the locker room?
I have had discussions with my professors on my career path and many have told me that fresh graduates USUALLY dont get into entry level HR positions. Is this really true?
My next question is this : what sort of HR-entry level positions do you usually get into? I know payroll is a common one...but what else?
I have applied for HR internships in the summer, but they arent in big corporations, infact they're just volunteer placements. But lets see how it goes, hopefully I get somewhere.
From Canada, Windsor
Don't let those professors, who probably have never ventured into the real world of work, dampen your spirits. While "many" have offered a negative opinion, obviously some have provided positive guidance and encouragement. Build on this input and follow your instincts.
As I stated my "entry level" position was as a Personnel Assistant - working with the Benefit Administrator I came to know, in depth, the various nuances of the Health Care industry. (Today, in the US, it is a hot topic due to rising costs and employer's cost shifting strategies.); Safety, including OSHA, as well as Worker Compensation, and Accident Investigation; Recruitment, Selection, and Orientation.
Never did Payroll, each Company I worked for had a separate Payroll Department, or outsourced it.
You have taken the first step to "get into the locker room" by looking into HR internships. Although not with "big corporations", exposure and how you approach the opportunity could be beneficial in the future.
Consider: "Do you want to be a small fish in a big pond, or a big fish in a small pond?? "Big corporations" don't offer the job security they once did. More challenges and growth potential are found in small, "start-up" companies who have the flexibility to respond quickly to market changes.
Should the internship not come through, search the web for entry level HR positions. Browse websites, such as Monster.com, Yahoo.com, and the local Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). In addition, your College placement office, and the local employment service may be of service.
From United States,
As I stated my "entry level" position was as a Personnel Assistant - working with the Benefit Administrator I came to know, in depth, the various nuances of the Health Care industry. (Today, in the US, it is a hot topic due to rising costs and employer's cost shifting strategies.); Safety, including OSHA, as well as Worker Compensation, and Accident Investigation; Recruitment, Selection, and Orientation.
Never did Payroll, each Company I worked for had a separate Payroll Department, or outsourced it.
You have taken the first step to "get into the locker room" by looking into HR internships. Although not with "big corporations", exposure and how you approach the opportunity could be beneficial in the future.
Consider: "Do you want to be a small fish in a big pond, or a big fish in a small pond?? "Big corporations" don't offer the job security they once did. More challenges and growth potential are found in small, "start-up" companies who have the flexibility to respond quickly to market changes.
Should the internship not come through, search the web for entry level HR positions. Browse websites, such as Monster.com, Yahoo.com, and the local Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). In addition, your College placement office, and the local employment service may be of service.
From United States,
hello sir,
thank u for your reply u have given on HR experience in an organisation. in the case of marketing and finance a fresher can certainly work on the very initial stage by giving them targets that are required by the company. HR is a field where u have to analyse and work according and find out the people mentality.
at the time i have done my summer project, the company have not involved me into training, selection process were i want to study many things from that. u have given me a very good suggession to get in as an entry level and try to acheive the goals.
thanking you
ajit mathai.
From India, Bangalore
thank u for your reply u have given on HR experience in an organisation. in the case of marketing and finance a fresher can certainly work on the very initial stage by giving them targets that are required by the company. HR is a field where u have to analyse and work according and find out the people mentality.
at the time i have done my summer project, the company have not involved me into training, selection process were i want to study many things from that. u have given me a very good suggession to get in as an entry level and try to acheive the goals.
thanking you
ajit mathai.
From India, Bangalore
Hi,
Your best way to get in to the HR field will be to get in to a consultancy. Start as a recruiter, learn the trick of the trade and then spread your wings. Who knows, you might get good leads from the consultancy itself. Get ideas from about ten people and make your choice... 8)
From India, New Delhi
Your best way to get in to the HR field will be to get in to a consultancy. Start as a recruiter, learn the trick of the trade and then spread your wings. Who knows, you might get good leads from the consultancy itself. Get ideas from about ten people and make your choice... 8)
From India, New Delhi
Hello Paladin sir,
I have completed my M.B.A. 1st year and about to start the 2nd year in H.R. I have finished my 1 month's summer training and preparing a project on it. But the people in the company, where i went, were not of much help to me. So, i have do my project manually. Before going to the company i thought that it would be a very good experience, since the Sr. manager there had assured me that he would help me. But later they said that they could not give me any sort of work and they were willing to give just the manual information i need for the project.
Just few days ago, a company from Pune approached our college. They needed two HR students who could assist them in their Recruitment process, just for 1 day. They said that they would also give us certificate for that. Me and one of my friend, were sent to assist them. I thought that would be a great experience to work with some HR professional, even it's foe one day. But i didn't find it much useful from the point of professional experience. They just wanted two persons to handle their Registration process.
I just wanted to know that how can i get more knowledge before getting into HR field? Can you also tell me what sub-fields are included in HR, so that i can concentrate more on that which would interest me more? What i should do to try and gain actual experience?
From India, Pune
I have completed my M.B.A. 1st year and about to start the 2nd year in H.R. I have finished my 1 month's summer training and preparing a project on it. But the people in the company, where i went, were not of much help to me. So, i have do my project manually. Before going to the company i thought that it would be a very good experience, since the Sr. manager there had assured me that he would help me. But later they said that they could not give me any sort of work and they were willing to give just the manual information i need for the project.
Just few days ago, a company from Pune approached our college. They needed two HR students who could assist them in their Recruitment process, just for 1 day. They said that they would also give us certificate for that. Me and one of my friend, were sent to assist them. I thought that would be a great experience to work with some HR professional, even it's foe one day. But i didn't find it much useful from the point of professional experience. They just wanted two persons to handle their Registration process.
I just wanted to know that how can i get more knowledge before getting into HR field? Can you also tell me what sub-fields are included in HR, so that i can concentrate more on that which would interest me more? What i should do to try and gain actual experience?
From India, Pune
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