So You Want to Work in HR?
Three picks for resources to help you accomplish your HR professional goals.
By Crystal LaBeau, WGU SHRM Virtual Student Chapter, Secretary and
Bachelor in HR Management Student
Here at WGU, students get the knowledge and education they need to succeed in their various fields—whether it be in marketing, computer science, or, for the sake of this blog, human resources. The background and foundations that our education presents us with can help us in several HR positions, from recruitment to employment law, and the resources given to us can help us continue learning post-graduation, attract that first employer, and proceed to have a successful career. Here are my top three picks for resources to help you accomplish those goals you’ve set for yourself as an aspiring HR professional.
SHRM, the Society for Human Resource Management.
WGU has one of the largest virtual chapters for SHRM, an organization dedicated to educating HR professionals, networking, and providing certifications. Students at WGU can register for a “student membership” with SHRM, which grants you access to their HR magazine, message boards, and mailing lists and can help you save money on your SHRM certifications.
To sit for your SHRM-CP (Certified Professional) exam, a student is eligible if they have a minimum of 500 hours of relevant HR experience and must be in their final year of study in their HR degree program. 500 hours of relevant experience may seem like a lot, but it’s not necessary to hold a position such as an HR assistant or HR generalist to rack up those hours. Those hours can come from a combination of the Body of Applied Skills and Knowledge (SHRM BASK™) in your day-job or internships.
In addition to providing certification, SHRM also provides sample forms, updates to employment law, and a job board—so you can educate yourself on current workplace issues, post your résumé, and apply for jobs all on the same website.
LinkedIn.
LinkedIn has skyrocketed as the premier networking social media site. With options to browse for alumni from your school, search and apply for jobs in your area, or join WGU’s SHRM Virtual Student Chapter, it’s a one-stop-shop for reaching other professionals in your field to form connections, get advice, and launch your career.
Fun Fact: Did you know that WGU Alumni have access to LinkedIn Learning, a section of LinkedIn dedicated to education and professional development? You can view training videos and attend classes directly from LinkedIn, share your accomplishments directly to your timeline for your colleagues and friends to view, and post your LinkedIn certificates to your résumé with the tap of a button. These classes and videos can also give you CEU’s (Continuing Education Units) for professional organizations such as SHRM.
HR.com
It feels pretty simple to just say “HR.com,” but that’s exactly what it is. HR.com grants you access to message boards, jobs, forms, and a network of more than 1.7 million HR professionals. There’s a place for certification prep-courses, such as SHRM-CP or HRCI’s aPHR certification, directories of HR leadership education for colleges and universities, and virtual events for current workplace issues.
There is access to free content, such as blogs from other HR professionals and forms and templates, or there’s a “prime membership” which grants you access to a legal benefits platform, an HR hotline, and member pricing for products and certification products.
So what resources and websites would you recommend to the aspiring HR professional? I’d love to see them shared in our Virtual Student Chapter on LinkedIn to see what everyone recommends!
