RANDY AUNG
HR Career Advice
Human Resources ("HR") Management is essential for an organization to attract, develop, and motivate highly qualified individuals. Therefore, I consider HR Management as a specialty like Accounting or Supply Chain Management. Like any specialty, it can be challenging to enter the field of HR Management - as I have experienced myself. That's why I wrote a comprehensive career guide for those interested in HR. Below I share advice based on personal knowledge, research, education, and personal experience.
Topic List: (click one below)
Undergraduate degrees include:
When you apply for a job, you're a just a piece of paper. That's why it is important to distinguish yourself with a work history that is related to HR Management. In HR, its important to decide whether you want to be an HR Specialist (someone who focuses on one aspect of HR such as recruiting) or an HR Generalist (someone who does everything). Once you make that decision, plan your career path by using some of my examples:
HR Generalist Career Path
HR Specialist Career Path
HR Work Performance
HR Certification
Now that you have the work experience, its time to get certified as an HR Professional. You may think that its not necessary. But, when employers are choosing between two final candidates for an HR Manager position, guess which candidate they will choose? An HR certification distinguishes you from the rest. Below are some information on the various HR certifications available.
HR Generalist certifications include the following:
Click here to go back to Topic List
or continue reading below
Topic List: (click one below)
- HR College Education
- HR Career Paths
- HR Job Boards
- HR Work Performance
- HR Certification
- HR Organizations and Publications
- HR Networking
- Conclusion
Undergraduate degrees include:
- BA in Business Administration with concentration in Management and an emphasis in HR Management (Cal State Fullerton)
- BS in Business Administration with a concentration in Management and Human Resources (Cal Poly Pomona)
- BBA in Human Resources (Loyola Marymount University)
- BS in Sociology (many schools)
- BS in Psychology (many schools)
- MBA in HR Management (Loyola Marymount University)
- MBA in HR Management (Cal Poly Pomona)
- MS in HR Management (Chapman University: University College)
- MA in Organizational Leadership (Chapman University: University College)
- MA in HR and Organizational Development (Azusa Pacific University)
- MS in HR Design (Claremont Graduate University)
- MA in Organization Behavior and Evaluation (Claremont Graduate University)
- MA in Positive Organizational Psychology and Evaluation (Claremont Graduate University)
- MS in Organization Development (Pepperdine University)
- Ph.D. in HR and Organizational Behavior (UCLA)
- Ph.D. in Organization and Management (UC Irvine)
- Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology (Claremont Graduate University)
- Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior (Claremont Graduate University)
- Certificate in HR Management (Cal State Fullerton: University Extended Education)
- Certificate in HR Management (UC Irvine: Extension)
- Certificate in HR Management (Loyola Marymount University: LMU Extension)
- Certificate: Online Advanced HR Management Certificate (Loyola Marymount University: LMU Extension - Online)
- Certificate in HR Management (UCLA: Extension)
- Certificate in General Business Studies with concentration in HR Management (UCLA: Extension)
- Certificate in Business Administration with concentration in HR Management (UCLA: Extension)
- Certificate in Strategic HR Management (Cornell University: eCornell - Online)
- Certificate in HR Studies (Cornell University: eCornell - Online)
- Certificate in Systems and Processes in HR (Cornell University: eCornell - Online)
- Certificate in HR: Benefits and Compensation (Cornell University: eCornell - Online)
- Certificate in HR: Selection and Staffing (Cornell University: eCornell - Online)
- Certificate in HR: Foundations of Employee Relations (Cornell University: eCornell - Online)
- Certificate in HR: Performance Management (Cornell University: eCornell - Online)
- Graduate Certificate in HR Development (Chapman University: University College)
- Graduate Certificate in Organizational Leadership (Chapman University: University College)
- Graduate Certificate in Organization Development (Chapman University: University College)
When you apply for a job, you're a just a piece of paper. That's why it is important to distinguish yourself with a work history that is related to HR Management. In HR, its important to decide whether you want to be an HR Specialist (someone who focuses on one aspect of HR such as recruiting) or an HR Generalist (someone who does everything). Once you make that decision, plan your career path by using some of my examples:
HR Generalist Career Path
1. Entry level (0-3 years of experience)
2. Mid Level (3-5 years of experience)
3. Management Level (5-8 years of experience)
4. Director Level (8-10 years of experience)
5. Executive Level (10 or more years of experience)
HR Specialist Career Path
- Staffing
- Compensation and Benefits
- Compensation/Benefits Administrator
- Compensation/Benefits Specialist
- Manager of Compensation/Benefits
- Director of Compensation/Benefits
- Training and Development
- Employee Relations
- Employee Relations Coordinator
- Employee Relations Representative
- Employee Relations Manager
- Director of Employee Relations
- Employee Relations Coordinator
- Risk Management and Compliance
- Union Relations
- Labor Relations Coordinator
- Labor Relations Representative
- Labor Relations Manager
- Director of Labor Relations
- Labor Relations Coordinator
- HR Information Systems (HRIS)
- Payroll
- Environmental Health & Safety
In addition, there are jobs at Staffing Agencies such as a Account Manger and Branch Manager. In HR Consulting firms, you can find jobs such as Principal Consultant or Senior Consultant. The public sector also has many career opportunities in HR such as HR Analyst for the County of San Bernardino. Whether you work with a private employer, staffing agency, consulting firm, or public agency, a career in HR is waiting for you.
Click here to go back to Topic List
or continue reading below
HR Job BoardsClick here to go back to Topic List
or continue reading below
Not all employers post jobs on Monster and CareerBuilder. Many organizations attempt to use creative recruiting strategies in order to lower costs or shorten the time to fill a position. Some employers post jobs on small job boards that are more affordable like Craig's List. Some employers don't post jobs at all. Instead, they find candidates who post their resume online. Another case is where some employers use staffing agencies or headhunters. Due to all of these creative recruiting strategies that organizations use today, it is important to look for a job in the right places. Below are few suggestions.
Job Search Engines
The websites Indeed.com and SimplyHired.com are the two leading search engines for job seekers that search thousands of job websites at once - so you don't have to go to ten different websites to find jobs. Employers don't post on Indeed or SimplyHired, but these engines search other job boards that may not be as popular as Monster. You'll find jobs that are posted on small job boards, newspapers, associations, and even company career pages. I use Indeed and SimplyHired regularly. I recommend using both just incase one doesn't pick up a job, the other one would. Here's how it works:
Popular websites such as Monster and CareerBuilder still need to be monitored for new job listings. Even if you use Indeed and SimplyHired, you still need to use Monster and CareerBuilder because many large companies post with these job boards. Hot Jobs is not as popular because many of its job postings are staffing agencies or spam. However, some large companies still use Hot Jobs, so don't count it out.
Craig's List
When you hear about Craig's List, you may associate it with a negative feeling. However, many employers post jobs on Craig's List because it is much cheaper than, but just as popular as Monster and CareerBuilder. Many small businesses post on Craig's List because they simply can't afford posting on Monster or CareerBuilder. You can also find mid-size and large businesses post on Craig's List if they are smart enough to do so.
School Job Board
Another great source for jobs is your school's job board. Usually only students have access to the job board so you need to contact your school's career center for login information. The reason why school job boards are a great source for jobs is because some employers post only on school job boards because they know that current college students are able to learn and grow with their organization unlike very experienced job seekers who are may be too used to doing things their way.
Posting Your Resume
Before employers post jobs online, they sometimes look at resumes that are already posted by job seekers. This will save them money from the job posting fee and shorten the time to fill the position. The best places to post your resume online are Monster, CareerBuilder, Hot Jobs, and Craig's List. I recommend creating a separate e-mail address and putting that e-mail address on your resume. This is to avoid compromising your primary e-mail address since publicly revealing your address can invite spam. I also recommend hiding your phone number or getting a second cell phone in order to avoid spam. You can open an account with a wireless provider that is prepaid, to avoid appearing on your credit report.
Staffing Agencies
If you're having trouble finding a job, you may consider using a staffing agency. A staffing agency is a third-party organization that serves as the middle-man between the employer and you. Employers often use agencies if they have many positions to fill, have hard-to-fill positions, or do not have the resources for recruiting. Usually jobs posted with agencies are temporary, unless the employer chooses to hire you afterward. Some popular staffing agencies in Southern California include:
E-mail Job Alerts
Many of the above job boards allow you to subscribe to "Job Alerts" where the job board automatically e-mails you the jobs you specify. Follow the instructions on the specific job board to learn how to activate job alerts.
RSS Feeds
Known as "Really Simple Syndication", an RSS feed is a constant stream of content. RSS feeds are useful when there is a large amount of news or updates published frequently. This is especially useful for jobs because there are a large amount of jobs posted everyday. I recommend using RSS feeds for Indeed, SimplyHired, and Craig's List. To organize them, you can use an RSS Feed Reader such as Mozilla Thunderbird or Google Reader. You can set it up so that multiple RSS Feeds are sent directly to your inbox. As a result, all the jobs from Indeed, SimplyHired, and Craig's List will all go to your inbox and ready for you to view, just like e-mail. Once you saved your RSS feeds into Mozilla Thunderbird or Google Reader, refresh the feeds regularly to receive the latest job postings. I usually refresh the feeds daily because you never know if a "dream job" is posted. Here is how to do it:
If you are actively looking for employment, I recommend checking for new jobs daily from all the sites: Indeed, SimplyHired, Craig's List, Monster, CareerBuilder, and your school's job board. From my experience, I know that the hiring process for some employers could take several weeks, but some employers call people back the next day. Once you find the job postings that interest you, apply by the end of that day to ensure that you are considered for the position.
Job Search Engines
The websites Indeed.com and SimplyHired.com are the two leading search engines for job seekers that search thousands of job websites at once - so you don't have to go to ten different websites to find jobs. Employers don't post on Indeed or SimplyHired, but these engines search other job boards that may not be as popular as Monster. You'll find jobs that are posted on small job boards, newspapers, associations, and even company career pages. I use Indeed and SimplyHired regularly. I recommend using both just incase one doesn't pick up a job, the other one would. Here's how it works:
- An employer posts a job opening for an "HR Assistant" on two unknown job boards such as Hcareers.com and Jobing.com.
- Job seekers can go to Indeed or SimplyHired and search for "HR Assistant"
- The search results will include the "HR Assistant" job opening that was posted on Hcareers and Jobing.
- Therefore, you can go to Indeed or SimplyHired to search many job sites at once.
Popular websites such as Monster and CareerBuilder still need to be monitored for new job listings. Even if you use Indeed and SimplyHired, you still need to use Monster and CareerBuilder because many large companies post with these job boards. Hot Jobs is not as popular because many of its job postings are staffing agencies or spam. However, some large companies still use Hot Jobs, so don't count it out.
Craig's List
When you hear about Craig's List, you may associate it with a negative feeling. However, many employers post jobs on Craig's List because it is much cheaper than, but just as popular as Monster and CareerBuilder. Many small businesses post on Craig's List because they simply can't afford posting on Monster or CareerBuilder. You can also find mid-size and large businesses post on Craig's List if they are smart enough to do so.
School Job Board
Another great source for jobs is your school's job board. Usually only students have access to the job board so you need to contact your school's career center for login information. The reason why school job boards are a great source for jobs is because some employers post only on school job boards because they know that current college students are able to learn and grow with their organization unlike very experienced job seekers who are may be too used to doing things their way.
Posting Your Resume
Before employers post jobs online, they sometimes look at resumes that are already posted by job seekers. This will save them money from the job posting fee and shorten the time to fill the position. The best places to post your resume online are Monster, CareerBuilder, Hot Jobs, and Craig's List. I recommend creating a separate e-mail address and putting that e-mail address on your resume. This is to avoid compromising your primary e-mail address since publicly revealing your address can invite spam. I also recommend hiding your phone number or getting a second cell phone in order to avoid spam. You can open an account with a wireless provider that is prepaid, to avoid appearing on your credit report.
Staffing Agencies
If you're having trouble finding a job, you may consider using a staffing agency. A staffing agency is a third-party organization that serves as the middle-man between the employer and you. Employers often use agencies if they have many positions to fill, have hard-to-fill positions, or do not have the resources for recruiting. Usually jobs posted with agencies are temporary, unless the employer chooses to hire you afterward. Some popular staffing agencies in Southern California include:
E-mail Job Alerts
Many of the above job boards allow you to subscribe to "Job Alerts" where the job board automatically e-mails you the jobs you specify. Follow the instructions on the specific job board to learn how to activate job alerts.
RSS Feeds
Known as "Really Simple Syndication", an RSS feed is a constant stream of content. RSS feeds are useful when there is a large amount of news or updates published frequently. This is especially useful for jobs because there are a large amount of jobs posted everyday. I recommend using RSS feeds for Indeed, SimplyHired, and Craig's List. To organize them, you can use an RSS Feed Reader such as Mozilla Thunderbird or Google Reader. You can set it up so that multiple RSS Feeds are sent directly to your inbox. As a result, all the jobs from Indeed, SimplyHired, and Craig's List will all go to your inbox and ready for you to view, just like e-mail. Once you saved your RSS feeds into Mozilla Thunderbird or Google Reader, refresh the feeds regularly to receive the latest job postings. I usually refresh the feeds daily because you never know if a "dream job" is posted. Here is how to do it:
- Craig's List
- Go to www.craigslist.org and choose your city.
- Under "Jobs" select "Human Resources" (or a category of your choice)
- Scroll down to the end of the page.
- On the bottom right, you will find the words "RSS"
- Right click "RSS" and select "Copy Link Location" or "Copy Shortcut"
- Paste the link you copied into Mozilla Thunderbird or Google Reader by following their instructions
- Indeed
- Go to www.indeed.com and search for a job.
- On the top of the results page, you will find "Save this search as an e-mail job alert or RSS Feed"
- Right click "RSS Feed" and select "Copy Link Location" or "Copy Shortcut"
- Paste the link you copied into Mozilla Thunderbird or Google Reader by following their instructions.
- SimplyHired
- Go to www.simplyhired.com and search for a job.
- On the top of the results page, you will find "Get email alerts for this search or view as RSS Feed"
- Right click "RSS Feed" and select "Copy Link Location" or "Copy Shortcut"
- Paste the link you copied into Mozilla Thunderbird or Google Reader by following their instructions.
If you are actively looking for employment, I recommend checking for new jobs daily from all the sites: Indeed, SimplyHired, Craig's List, Monster, CareerBuilder, and your school's job board. From my experience, I know that the hiring process for some employers could take several weeks, but some employers call people back the next day. Once you find the job postings that interest you, apply by the end of that day to ensure that you are considered for the position.
HR Work Performance
Once you get that dream job in HR, don't forget to perform well. Many organizations promote from within, but they won't just promote you because you worked there a long time. Promotions are based on performance evaluations. If you prove to your employer that you can handle the tasks of a Manager, then you might just get promoted. Here a few tips to ensure you're success:
- Take on extra tasks: If you are willing to take on extra duties, then your employer will notice. When I was an HR Intern, I always made sure my work was top quality because I wanted to demonstrate to my supervisor that I was serious about my internship.
- Don't be late: Not only can this get you fired, but tells you're employer that you don't take your work seriously.
- Stay current: Since the HR body of knowledge is constantly changing, attend training seminars to keep your knowledge and skills up to date. This will also show your employer that you are eager to learn (and eager to get that promotion!).
- Keep on good terms: If you want to move up in your career and think that you don't have a future in your current organization, you may want to look for a new job. However, you should do it the right way by giving them adequate time to find your replacement. It's important to keep on good terms with your current employer because you never know when you need them for a reference. In addition, letters of recommendation are often required if you want to go to graduate school or if you want a job in the public sector. I remember seeing a job posting for an administrative HR position with a public school district. The district desired 2 or 3 letters of recommendation. Therefore, its important to keep on good terms with your previous employers.
HR Certification
Now that you have the work experience, its time to get certified as an HR Professional. You may think that its not necessary. But, when employers are choosing between two final candidates for an HR Manager position, guess which candidate they will choose? An HR certification distinguishes you from the rest. Below are some information on the various HR certifications available.
HR Generalist certifications include the following:
- PHR: Professional in Human Resources certification
- SPHR: Senior Professional in Human Resources certification
- GPHR: Global Professional in Human Resources certification
- PHR-CA: PHR with state certification in California
- SPHR-CA: SPHR with state certification in California
- CPLP: Certified Professional in Learning and Performance
- CCP: Certified Compensation Professional
- CBP: Certified Benefits Professional
- GRP: Global Remuneration Professional
- WLCP: Work-Life Certified Professional
- CPP: Certified Payroll Professional
- FPC: Fundamental Payroll Certification
- CSP: Certified Safety Professional
Click here to go back to Topic List
or continue reading below
HR Organizations and Publications
The field of HR is always changing. New laws are being passed and new people strategies are being developed. Therefore it is essential to keep your HR body of knowledge up to date. What better way to do this, than to join an organization? Organizations often send you regular communication that keeps you updated on the latest changes and developments in HR. Below are a few of those organizations and publications:
Professional Organizations:
Click here to go back to Topic List
or continue reading below
Once you settle down with a college degree and a great job, it's important to network with other people. They could be your co-workers or other people who share the same passion for HR that you have. Networking can expose you to new job opportunities. When a job opportunity becomes available, it usually comes to the attention of current employees through an internal e-mail or newsletter. Many opportunities offer referral bonuses if current employees refer their friends and family. Employers feel more comfortable hiring someone who is recommended rather than someone who is unknown.
A great way to network with others is through the professional networking site Linked In. Here you can create a profile showcasing your knowledge and experience. When you find one of your friend's profile, click "Get Introduced Through a Connection". Then your profile will show how many connections you have. Your friend can even submit a recommendation and have it shown on your profile. Employers who utilize Linked In will notice the number of connections you have and will notice the recommendations people write on your profile. You can view my Linked In profile by clicking the button below:
or continue reading below
A career in HR Management can both be challenging and rewarding. You have to balance the needs of management with the needs of workers. However, at the end of the day you will find out that your role as an HR Professional allows your organization to thrive with highly talented and highly motivated workers. I hope that my career guide helped you in learning about all of the opportunities that await you in HR. If you have a few minutes, I would like to hear your feedback on my HR career advice, whether it was useful or if there is something missing. You can post a public comment on my Guestbook by clicking here. Otherwise, if you would like to send a private message to me, please click here.
Here are the most important websites to visit:
Click here to view the list of services I provide
Click here to go back to Topic List
Professional Organizations:
- SHRM: Society for Human Resource Management
- PIHRA: Professionals in Human Resources Association (chapter affiliate of SHRM)
- NHRA: National Human Resources Association
- ASTD: American Society for Training & Development
- APA: American Payroll Association
- World at Work: Focused on compensation and total rewards
- NASP: National Association of Safety Professionals
- HR Magazine: Monthly magazine focused on general HR topics. Published by the Society for Human Resource Management
- T+D: Monthly magazine focused on Training & Development in the workplace. Published by the American Society for Training & Development
- PAYTECH: Monthly magazine focused on payroll. Published by the American Payroll Association.
- Payroll Currently: Biweekly electronic newsletter focused on payroll compliance. Available from the American Payroll Association.
- workspan: Monthly magazine focused on compensation and total rewards. Published by World at Work
- WorldatWork Journal: Quarterly journal focused on compensation and total rewards. Published by World at Work
Click here to go back to Topic List
or continue reading below
HR Networking
Once you settle down with a college degree and a great job, it's important to network with other people. They could be your co-workers or other people who share the same passion for HR that you have. Networking can expose you to new job opportunities. When a job opportunity becomes available, it usually comes to the attention of current employees through an internal e-mail or newsletter. Many opportunities offer referral bonuses if current employees refer their friends and family. Employers feel more comfortable hiring someone who is recommended rather than someone who is unknown.
A great way to network with others is through the professional networking site Linked In. Here you can create a profile showcasing your knowledge and experience. When you find one of your friend's profile, click "Get Introduced Through a Connection". Then your profile will show how many connections you have. Your friend can even submit a recommendation and have it shown on your profile. Employers who utilize Linked In will notice the number of connections you have and will notice the recommendations people write on your profile. You can view my Linked In profile by clicking the button below:
or continue reading below
Conclusion
A career in HR Management can both be challenging and rewarding. You have to balance the needs of management with the needs of workers. However, at the end of the day you will find out that your role as an HR Professional allows your organization to thrive with highly talented and highly motivated workers. I hope that my career guide helped you in learning about all of the opportunities that await you in HR. If you have a few minutes, I would like to hear your feedback on my HR career advice, whether it was useful or if there is something missing. You can post a public comment on my Guestbook by clicking here. Otherwise, if you would like to send a private message to me, please click here.
Here are the most important websites to visit:
- SHRM: Society for Human Resource Management: Learn more about the field of HR with valuable resources from SHRM such as HR Magazine and professional membership.
- HRCI: Human Resource Certification Institute: Stand out of the crowd with a certification from the HR Certification Institute. More employers prefer certified HR professionals.
- Linked In: Stay connected by advertising your knowledge and skills on Linked In.
- Indeed and SimplyHired: Use one website to search career opportunities in thousands of major job boards, newspapers, associations and company career pages
- Craig's List: One of the most popular websites on the internet has turned into one of the most popular sources for career opportunities.
- Monster and CareerBuilder: These major job boards still need to be visited for job openings, especially for openings with large multi-national corporations.
Click here to view the list of services I provide
Click here to go back to Topic List