The military deals with Employee Relation more so in the HR world. With that, I made it a point to become smart on Benefits and Compensations and joined the local HR Chapter with SHRM. Also, I'm working on my International Coaching Federation (ICF) certification for Executive Coaching. Which I believe serves well in the HR profession. I'm looking to advance moving forward in the HR profession and would like any advice from those that are ambitious or served over 10 years in the HR world. Thanks in advance.
Answers
Hi Bruce,
The first question I'd ask you to think about is what do you want to do in HR? If you want a generalist role, you don't need to be a specialist in compensation and benefits because every company's programs are different. Most HR Business Partners (as they are widely referred) handle employee relations issues, help develop strategic onboarding and recruiting strategies, they understand the business and help their line managers address human capital needs. I would suggest talking to/interviewing as many HR generalists as you can to learn more about what their day-to-day work is like and how best to get that experience. If you want more of a specialist role, e.g., Comp & Benefits, Learning & OD, etc., then you could get involved with your local SHRM and participate in workshops addressing the specialty area. Either way, get involved with your local SHRM to take workshops and network.
HR has become a more influential and vital role in organizations. Good luck in your journey!
I would say that you’re off to a good start by diversifying your HR skill set. There has been much debate about the specialist vs generalist career path and I’m a firm believer in the generalist or general manager skill set. You don’t need to be an expert at everything but if you’ve got a bit a relevant experience in many if not most of the HR skill set you will have more opportunities to contribute and advance your career. The most successful HR leaders I’ve seen have followed the generalist track. You can get certificates for various skill areas or spend some time working in different areas. International HR experience is another great idea as I think there are not a lot of HR practitioners with international experience. I hope this helps and good luck!
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