The HR department is crucial to any business in maintaining the work environment, and while a career in HR may seem like a wonderful path, you should know about its unique challenges before making your decision. So, here are some key considerations that will help you make a better decision regarding your career choice and help you know for sure if HR is the right path for you.Â
What courses can you study in HR?
To qualify as an HR professional, you would need to study a Human Resources bachelor’s degree in HR Management. That said, you could also choose to do one of several bridging courses after studying for another undergraduate degree in a field similar to an HR degree. Here are some courses you can study:
- Graduate diploma in HR management
- Master’s in HR management
- Master of Science in HR Management
- Graduate certificate in HR management
Key considerations to make before pursuing a career in HR
Like any job, HR will come with its own challenges. Before you decide to pursue a career in HR, we recommend understanding the job and its requirements. Here are some points to help you:
- The human side of HR
HR can often be filled with policies and compliances that may cloud your first priority: people. As an HR professional, you’ll be working with people who are all unique, with different personalities, emotional maturities, and professional language. You’ll need to learn to work with people’s strengths and weaknesses and place them where they’re improving and add to the company in a meaningful way.Â
- How to leave a lasting impression
Because you’re in a position where you’re directly responsible for other employees or for the staff at large, you have a real opportunity to leave a long-lasting impression on those you work with. This impression could be positive or negative. From the get-go, work as hard as you can and go the extra mile for people, and you’ll build your worth and credibility in the company, leaving a long-lasting legacy for others to remember.
- Integrity, trust, and respect are key
In HR, multiple employees will come to you with their concerns and frustrations. Every interaction with another employee matters. Trust, respect, and integrity are also essential characteristics that you will need to display in order to truly make a difference in the lives of the people in your company.
- Your day-to-day
Many people think that HR involves having people in your office every day with a dispute or issue regarding where they feel the company is falling short, in their opinion. While this does happen, it’s not as often as you may think. Your day-to-day job would mainly be to ensure that the right procedures, policies, benefits, and training methods are followed so that employees stay productive. If employees are in your office on a regular basis, then something is wrong.
- Some situations can’t be rushed
Following a similar line as above, when conflict arises between employees or management, you may be called upon to mediate and bring reconciliation. Or, there may be issues within the business operations that are making employees feel unhappy. Because of this, you might feel the need to bend over backwards to find a solution.
While this is a good desire, you need to learn that not all situations will have an immediate solution. You’ll need to encourage employees to be patient as you and the other HR staff work out a solution.
- Find the right fit
Look for the right HR position. Not all HR jobs are the same. In some positions, you may be the only HR professional, while in others, you might have a team to rely on. Consider the environment you would like to work in, and make sure you find a good fit for yourself.
Final Thoughts
On the road to being an HR professional, there are a few unique challenges that you need to be prepared for, and you’ll need to master communication, conflict resolution, and problem-solving skills in order to succeed. With the right aptitude and attitude, HR can be a very rewarding and fulfilling career, but ensure you’ve considered every aspect of the career path before pursuing it.
