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I'm a recent graduate of Oakland University (08/08) with a bachelors degree in Human Resources Development, and minor in Training & Development. I live in Michigan and i have had no luck what so ever in getting work in my field.
I remember when i started the program they were talking about how this field was supposed to grow as fast as average and I never imagined that i would be struggling this much to so much as get my foot in the door somewhere .
I interned at the County Governments Human Resources Department but couldn't get a job there after the internship expired because they are going through a hiring freeze and are deep in the hole financially. I got my Bachelors degree, over a year of experience, and im not getting anywhere.
Anybody have any advice and/or know of any places that are hiring? I go through the job postings on monster and careerbuilder almost daily, as well as a few others but can't seem to find work.
One of the problems ive come across is that most places want 3-5 years experience IN ADDITION to my Bachelors Degree!! Its like where in the heck was i supposed to get that kind of experience while i was still in school?? That saying "everybody wants experience, but nobody is willing to give it" holds extremely true for me....
It is almost impossible to get a job in HR unless you are:
A real pretty woman 25-35 years old
Have a perky outgoing over-sized personality
Have a PHR or SPHR
Strong public speaking skills
Have really good clerical, computer, and typing skills.
Second most important is technical skills. Are you a generalist or a specialist?
If you are a generalist, unless you are a young pretty girl, you must know these things backwards and forwards:
Affirmative Action
Benefits
Compensation
Employee Relations
Staffing
Training
(How do I know? I spent 20 years in HR and hired many HR Professionals)
It is almost impossible to get a job in HR unless you are:
A real pretty woman 25-35 years old
Have a perky outgoing over-sized personality
Have a PHR or SPHR
Strong public speaking skills
Have really good clerical, computer, and typing skills.
Second most important is technical skills. Are you a generalist or a specialist?
If you are a generalist, unless you are a young pretty girl, you must know these things backwards and forwards:
Affirmative Action
Benefits
Compensation
Employee Relations
Staffing
Training
(How do I know? I spent 20 years in HR and hired many HR Professionals)
I never knew that but by george I believe you are right
All I seem to interview with are young HR women, however I did meet one man and he was tall and handsome
HR is horsesheet... its the most cliquey department in any organization.. and its day to day responsibilities do not produce anything for the organization other than looking for new outlets to justify their positions... and once you're in.. you'll be one of the last to be laid off...in the past anyway
this economy is making companies have to look more at all departments and expenditures and they're finding... HR serves a purpose... but they're finding out they can do away with much of it.
Maybe you can try a recruiter service or headhunter. Try temp agencies and temp with a chance for perm hire.
Sometimes it makes me wonder about a college degree. If a person with one has as much trouble finding work as a person with no degree then what's the point? I know the importance of education, I was awarded a full 4 yr academic scholarship out of high school. But I know too many people with degrees that never even work in their field!
HR is horsesheet... its the most cliquey department in any organization.. and its day to day responsibilities do not produce anything for the organization other than looking for new outlets to justify their positions... and once you're in.. you'll be one of the last to be laid off...in the past anyway
this economy is making companies have to look more at all departments and expenditures and they're finding... HR serves a purpose... but they're finding out they can do away with much of it.
I agree!
I teach Human Resources classes to budding new HR professionals. Most are women and most are silly fools. But I still like teaching and the money.
I teach Human Resources classes to budding new HR professionals. Most are women and most are silly fools. But I still like teaching and the money.
its true...
small organizations have secretaries that keep things in order.. large corporations looking after large amounts of information, records, and documentations have HR departments.. which essentially are just a department full of secretaries given jobs and duties that the rest of the organization cannot be bothered with. Problem is.. with technology and the computer age.. most graduates have a background of office procedures and can type 50 words per minute or better, as well as having office tools that can organize everything for them. The only thing that keeps HR around is the hiring process and retention etc..to compete with independent employment agencies.. they have to keep creating new "things" to justify their position.
When you're in charge of hiring and formulating job descriptions.. its easy to ensure your job stays around and you can find a million reasons why someone else needs to go...
If it really is your interest.. I'd look at working for independent agencies who hire for large corporations... otherwise you're looking at a dumbed down insult your inteligence experience.... but with security mind u...
If you've ever experienced the frustrations that come with the hiring process... that alone reflects the essence of the HR department...
be aware of the drama and politics you're about to subject yourself to..
good luck
If you've ever experienced the frustrations that come with the hiring process... that alone reflects the essence of the HR department...
be aware of the drama and politics you're about to subject yourself to..
good luck
There could not be a better assessment or warning said.
What really grinds my gears (ala Peter Griffin from Family Guy) is that I now have to complete an online profile and submit to each job directly through their website. One large apparel company that shall remain nameless, does not want to see any paper resumes at all. I called their Human Resources department just to see if there is a better way to get my resume in the hands of an actual human being, and I can honestly say I received a very curt response of "hell no" by a very young sorority girl in HR. It's like the web has become an endless pit of electronic resume submissions. No longer do you get an actual email address for the hr person handling the job search, you now get a link to their website. It's so impersonal and frustrating. My mom keeps telling me how different it was back in her day. The company advertises for a position, you send them your resume, they call you for an interview the same day or the next day, by then end of the week you are working if you got the job. She was stunned when earlier this year she went to a university to apply for an evening clerical position. This was in March, she took the typing test and typed 75 wpm (the requirement was 35wpm) she also had a ton of experience. Imagine her surprise when she didn't receive a call back. Now lets fast forward to the week of September 22nd. Someone in HR called her back and asked her if she was still interested and they had a position available during the day part time. My mom, being from the old school, said "that's impossible I run a daycare and didn't it say on my application that I can only work evenings?". The hr rep said "yes but I figured we would give you a call". My mom then says "I applied for a position in March and it's now September do you normally wait so long to call people and also the Human Resources Manager put a note on my application that I can only work in the evenings, did you miss it?". It was hilarious to hear but also sad because a person could have starved and died waiting to hear from them.
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. My mom keeps telling me how different it was back in her day. The company advertises for a position, you send them your resume, they call you for an interview the same day or the next day, by then end of the week you are working if you got the job. She was stunned when earlier this year she went to a university to apply for an evening clerical position. This was in March, she took the typing test and typed 75 wpm (the requirement was 35wpm) she also had a ton of experience. Imagine her surprise when she didn't receive a call back. Now lets fast forward to the week of September 22nd. Someone in HR called her back and asked her if she was still interested and they had a position available during the day part time. My mom, being from the old school, said "that's impossible I run a daycare and didn't it say on my application that I can only work evenings?". The hr rep said "yes but I figured we would give you a call". My mom then says "I applied for a position in March and it's now September do you normally wait so long to call people and also the Human Resources Manager put a note on my application that I can only work in the evenings, did you miss it?". It was hilarious to hear but also sad because a person could have starved and died waiting to hear from them.
