How can you gain exposure to HR functions and advance your career?

To gain exposure in the HR field, you need to enhance your LinkedIn profile and connect with HR professionals. Work volunteer with various HR platforms and enroll in CHRMP or SHRM and many other HR-related courses.

Engage in activities that allow you to get to now better your company's business and the leaders behind most important decisions. Contribute with those decision by understanding how an HR perspective could make less impact on employees satisfaction, engagement or reduce staff costs. Try to experiment with those decisions in a safe environment and always consult with colleagues or industry experts.

To gain exposure to HR functions and advance your career, actively seek opportunities to collaborate on cross-functional projects within your organisation.

Advance your HR career by proactively seeking cross-functional collaboration and volunteering for HR projects in your current role. Attend industry events, workshops, and webinars to stay current on HR trends and expand your professional network. Enhance your skills through relevant certifications and courses, showcasing your commitment to HR knowledge. Express your career aspirations to managers and HR professionals, seeking mentorship for guidance. Engage with HR professionals on social media for connections and industry insights. Join HR-related professional associations to access resources and networking opportunities. Blend on-the-job experience, continuous learning, mentorship, and networking for a successful career advancement in HR.

Volunteer: Assist HR with projects in recruitment, onboarding, or training. Shadow HR pros: Observe their daily tasks and decision-making. Earn HR certifications: Boost your knowledge and credibility. Network with HR professionals: Build connections and gain insights. Apply for entry-level HR roles: Leverage your experience and qualifications to land your first HR job.

Suppose you've attempted to find opportunities to immerse yourself in the HR field but haven't had any success. In that situation, a highly recommended approach is to explore non-profit organizations that are in need of interns or trainees. While monetary compensation may not be provided, you can acquire valuable experience that will enhance your chances of securing your initial position in human resources. Personally, I had the opportunity to participate in a project focused on organizational psychology through the organization Inkua, they offer free training to students who are seeking hands-on experience in a particular area or department but haven't had the chance to gain it.

Offer to assist with HR initiatives within your current organization or seek out opportunities to collaborate on HR-related tasks. This hands-on experience allows you to gain practical skills, demonstrate your commitment to HR, and expand your professional network.

Try to participate in HR projects that are cross functional and ideally that stretches into segments of HR you are not familiar with, or that you have a strong preference for. Stretch assignments are also a great way to get hands-on exposure into HR projects, and it is often a way to test if you like a specific specialisation of HR or not. Pro-tip: understanding the business of your HR unit is an invaluable advantage. When stretching into HR projects, try to stretch into the HR vertical of the business unit you have most experience in.

Volunteering for HR projects allows you to showcase your initiative, ???????????????????? ??????????????????, and commitment to professional growth and development. Take ownership of projects, demonstrate accountability, and deliver results that ???????????????????? to the achievement of organizational goals and objectives.

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To advance your career from a recruiter to an HRBP, focus on upskilling through certifications like SHRM-CP or PHR. Engage in critical projects to gain practical HR experience. Seek mentorship from experienced HR professionals to guide your growth. Network with HR luminaries at conferences or online platforms. Attend webinars to stay updated on industry trends. My success story involved obtaining SHRM-CP certification, leading key HR projects, and seeking mentorship from senior HR leaders, which helped me transition from a recruiter to an HRBP role, gaining exposure to diverse HR functions and advancing my career.

Actively seek feedback from colleagues, mentors, or supervisors to identify areas for improvement and refine your HR competencies. Consider seeking out a mentor or coach who can provide guidance, support, and valuable insights to help you navigate your career path in HR effectively.

??There are other excellent options available for HR professionals seeking continuous learning opportunities. Platforms like Coursera offer a wide range of HR-related courses from top universities and institutions worldwide, providing access to high-quality content and expert instruction. Furthermore, many universities host webinars and workshops on HR topics, offering valuable insights and networking opportunities.

Enroll in online courses or workshops focused on various HR topics such as recruitment, employee relations, performance management, or HR analytics. Platforms like LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, or Udemy offer a wide range of courses led by industry experts, allowing you to upskill at your own pace and convenience.

Attend HR networking events, conferences, or seminars to connect with professionals in the field. Building relationships with experienced HR practitioners can provide valuable opportunities for learning, mentorship, and career advancement. Don't underestimate the power of LinkedIn as well; actively engage with HR professionals in your network by sharing insights, participating in discussions, and seeking advice.

If possible, explore opportunities to shadow or observe HR professionals in different roles within your organization. This hands-on experience can provide valuable insights into the day-to-day responsibilities of HR practitioners, allowing you to gain a deeper understanding of various functions within the field.

The best way to start your career as an HR is to actually start with Recruitment as this is the base of HR. Once you understand how recruitment functions and this way you would get to know everything about every role in the organization. When you actually speak to 100s of candidates you get to learn more and more about different mindset and the journey of various individuals. Some of them are inspirational and you could be an inspiration to many of them. One interview if conducted properly could shape the life and career of the candidate in a positive direction. Considering these aspects as per me Recruitment is the best way to start your journey as an HR.

Volunteer for initiatives that involve HR, enhancing your visibility and knowledge. Attend workshops, webinars, and pursue certifications in HR-related areas. Engage with HR professionals through industry events and social media platforms. Seek a mentor within HR to gain insights and guidance. Regularly seek feedback on your performance and areas for improvement.

Stay informed about emerging trends and technologies shaping the HR landscape, such as artificial intelligence in recruitment, remote work policies, and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Continuously seek opportunities for growth and development, whether through attending workshops, obtaining certifications, or pursuing advanced degrees in HR or related fields. Remember to maintain a proactive and adaptable mindset as you navigate your HR career journey.

One of the best ways is to look for and do "Stretch assignments and projects" where other HR functions teams need a help on. This will not only give you a learning exposure to a wing-to-wing function at the same time, will build your network and rapport with the other functions. And then whenever there is an opportunity, it gives you an edge with prior hands on working. However, one has to be open , flexible, and willing to take some such learning opportunities seriously and accordingly deliver on the expectations. ProTip : Remember such "Horizontal" work stream experiences and learnings can propel your "Vertical" growth in the organization

One of the easiest ways to gain exposure to HR is to offer to help with recruiting for a few positions, especially if you work for a company that has a lot of openings. Talent acquisition is a great way to gain experience and, typically, recruiters are very grateful when they get some help. Another option is to offer to pitch in as a steward of an important HR initiative. For example, if the company is trying to promote engagement survey responses, do your part to get people to take the survey. Or, if HR is pushing a new wellness challenge, get colleagues to sign up. A big part of being in HR is demonstrating the ability to influence through others to achieve organizational objectives.