Choosing a career path is no simple task. For many people, this takes a lot of soul-searching and research to try to land on something that makes sense to them. If you’ve gone through the process and come to the realization that a career in human resources could be the right path, you want to be sure you have what it takes to be successful. Here are some of the questions and considerations to take into account as you make a final decision on your career.
Do You Have the Training and Skills Necessary?
Jumping into a career without any knowledge, training, or skills is not only foolish but it’s not very realistic. If you have dreams of being a human resource manager, then you’re going to need to put in the groundwork and get your human resources degree first.
Having your degree means you’ll be bringing valuable skills to the table, which makes you much more desirable in terms of hiring. It shows employers you understand the role and are ready to hit the ground running as soon as you start. Your degree will also help you stand out from the competition, which is huge, especially in today’s competitive landscape.
If you’re currently working full or part-time and don’t want to give up your paycheck while you get your degree, consider enrolling in an online program that offers much more flexibility in terms of your schedule.
Are You Able to Multitask and Work in a Fast-Paced Environment?
This question is a two-part question. First, ask yourself if you can handle multi-tasking and working on many tasks at once, all while staying organized. Now ask yourself if you can accomplish these tasks in a fast-paced environment without getting flustered and stressed.
Sure, not every company is fast-paced, but human resource managers must be able to juggle all kinds of issues, tasks and responsibilities at once. Considering your job will be to plan, coordinate and then direct the various administrative functions in a business, that’s a lot on your plate.
Are You Approachable?
This is a simple question but a very important one. As a human resources manager, people need to feel comfortable coming to you to discuss issues and problems they may be having. Sometimes these can be sensitive and emotional situations that an employee has gone through. You need to be a great listener, not judge and have an open-door policy so people know they can come to talk to you.
How Do You Deal with Conflict Management?
This leads us to the next skill you’ll need, which is strong conflict management. Not everyone gets along in the office place, and sometimes it will fall upon you to solve conflicts. You need to be fair, and straightforward, and put your critical thinking skills to use. People don’t have to be friends, but they need to be professional in the workplace. Conflicts only hold people back, and they can limit productivity.
A job as a human resources manager can be a fabulous career path for the right person. To be successful you’ll need a combination of proper learning/education, training, skills and hands-on experience.
alison luri