Future Human Resources Professional Key Thoughts

The Spring Semester has started and you’re probably into the full swing of your classes, but have you considered this one thought – What are my plans going forward? What will I be doing over Spring break and Summer break to make myself more marketable later when it’s time to transition to the corporate/business world? Benjamin Franklin once said that "If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail", which translates into the modern version of "Failing to plan is planning to fail," so to help you plan to make the transition, here are a few key thoughts for 2015 and beyond as well as some pointed questions from a future Human Resource professional.

Three Key Thoughts for 2015:

1.Your resume is the most important component of a job hunt. Do you have one?

2.Recruiters are also sourcing candidates via LinkedIn. Do you have a LinkedIn profile?

3.Expanding your professional network greatly helps in landing the right internship or job? How big is your professional network?

Student HR Questions:

1. For an entry level, newly college graduate, what skills and knowledge are employers looking for in a candidate?

a. Let me answer that question by quoting a study commissioned by Bentley University, where 58 percent of respondents, including business decision makers and recruiters, gave recent college graduates a letter grade of "C" or lower on their preparedness for their first job. (www.businessinsider.com/how-to-prepare-students-for-business-2014-1)

b. The study recommended the following to better prepare students to succeed in the working place.

i.Early exposure to work and career planning

ii.Using online tool to better assess skills

iii.Training in "soft skills" like communication and problem-solving

iv.Partnerships between businesses and schools to provide real-world experience

v.Experiential learning that reflects modern workplaces

c. The Job Outlook study conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers reflects the following "Top 10 Candidate Skills/Qualities Employers Seek." (http://www.naceweb.org/s10022013/job-outlook-skills-quality.aspx)

i. Ability to verbally communicate with persons inside and outside the organization

ii. Ability to work in a team structure

iii. Ability to make decisions and solve problems

iv. Ability to plan, organize, and prioritize work

v. Ability to obtain and process information

vi. Ability to analyze quantitative data

vii. Technical knowledge related to the job

viii. Proficiency with computer software programs

ix. Ability to create and/or edit written reports

x. Ability to sell or influence others

d. The reality is that you must have the requisite major, GPA, and relevant work experience, coupled with the soft skills. However, the bottom-line is that employers want good communicators who can make decisions and solve problems, while working effectively with a team – now that’s what makes the difference.

2. If you have little human resource experience, what would you recommend that others do in order to pursue a human resource career? (www.wikihow.com/Gain-Experience-in-Human-Resouces)

a. Find an internship in an HR department

b. If currently employed, look for projects in the HR department that need staffing

c. Volunteer for a non-profit organization doing HR related work

d. Consider taking an administrative support job in human resources, where there is the potential for promotion to a full-time HR role

e. Work for a staffing company

f. Join an organization for HR professionals

g. Pursue certification as soon as you are eligible

h. Network online with people in HR. The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) has a member-only section on its website called "HR Talk" which allows members to discuss a variety of HR-related topics.

i. Be open to starting out in different disciplines within HR

j. Recommend anyone wanting to pursue a career in Human Resources review the following website: www.education-portal.com/articles/Human_Resources_How_Does_One_Become_a_Human_Resources_Professional.html

3. Due to Human Resources careers being so competitive, what is your advice to stand out from other applicants?

a. Be the person that has the knowledge, skills and abilities to take on any task given.

b. In addition, be the person that takes on the challenging task and becomes the "Go To" person when task need to be completed in a timely manner.

4. Is being a part of a Human Resource organization like SHRM, really beneficial to an entry-level employee or is it mainly for management employees?

a. Being a member of SHRM offers a wide range of benefits, not just for the more seasoned HR professional, but for the entry-level HR professional as well.

b. Here are just a few of the many benefits offered that will make the entry-level employee’s job much easier, while gaining valuable knowledge in the profession.

i. SHRM Online – Premier HR internet site with advanced search features, daily news updates, on-line bulletin board, HR job openings, white papers, surveys, research, toolkits, sample forms, and other related HR information.

ii. HR Knowledge Advisors – Ever wanted to make your job easier, then you have ready access to advisors that research and provide pertinent information to HR related questions.

iii. On-line membership directory

iv. In addition, publications, professional development resources, and conferences in vary subject matter disciplines.

c. This only covers a few of the many resources available to all SHRM members. Why stop there, you have District Directors, State Councils and Local Chapters that are another resource for continued growth and development. Being a part of and actively participating in SHRM related activities and events greatly increase your worth as an HR professional.

Questions submitted by Alexandria S., UTSA Senior

Final Note

The time is quickly approaching for the 2015 SHRM Case Competition and Career Summit. The links below provide info on the changes made for 2015, as well as the locations. The most important thing is to register early. Each year many colleges and universities are turned away, because they did not register in time. The year you can compete in any region; however, only 28 teams are being accepted for each region. In addition, the first cut will be made virtually. Oral presentations for teams moving forward will take place at the competition. Not competing, then the Career Summit is for you. Keep in mind that you might not be able to attend the Case Competition, since seating will be limited for these events. Have more questions, reach out to me and let’s get them answered at Otis.scott@utsa.edu.

http://conferences.shrm.org/student-conferences

http://www.shrm.org/communities/studentprograms/pages/hrgames.aspx