Show Notes: Episode 170 – Advice for Early Career HR Professionals

Transcript: Episode 169 – Finding the Right Job for You

May 22, 2023

Transcript: Episode 170 – Advice for Early Career HR Professionals

June 5, 2023

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Click here for a full transcript of the episode.

We’ve interviewed a lot of business leaders and HR executives over the years, but we haven’t talked through how someone new to our profession might get up to speed as quickly and effectively as possible. In this episode, we share our perspectives from starting our own careers in HR, meeting HR people in a wide range of organizations in our work as consultants, and teaching HR professionals across the country.

As a new HR professional, JoDee was given the advice to get certified, which was very important for her as she transitioned from accounting to human resources. Certification gives you credibility with the people in your organization. Susan got a lot of pushback when she moved into HR, and she’s so glad she didn’t take that advice; if you think HR is what you want to do, you should do it!

Our hosts both highly recommend finding a mentor who can give you advice and help you learn the ins and outs of HR. Their mentors from early in their HR careers are still friends and trusted advisors today. Be proactive and volunteer for HR-related projects if you’re looking to move into HR or learn about different areas that aren’t covered by your role. Understand your organization’s business and industry, and keep learning about it; businesses change over time. And there are plenty of free resources out there that can help you learn more about HR and grow your knowledge and skills.

Be an active listener and think about the big picture; don’t just keep your head down and assume you know more than you really do. Remember to get both sides of the story and not jump straight to “fixing” someone who’s had a complaint lodged against them.

In this episode’s listener question, we’re asked what to do about job candidates ghosting you. In the news, in a US Labor Department report 72.5% of businesses reported that their employees teleworked rarely or not at all in 2022.