Any advice for a job seeker looking to get into HR?

8 Comments

1. AnonymousDecember 18,2025 at 5:52AM UTC

   I would suggest researching the businesses you want to work with and people associated with them. Join events where they are attending and talk shop with them. That will help leave a hopefully good impression on them and may lead to a job referral.

2. AnonymousDecember 18,2025 at 1:42PM UTC

   Try to do some internships if you can. Register with some temp agencies looking for HR people.

3. AnonymousDecember 18,2025 at 1:48PM UTC

   First - why do you want to get into HR? This is not an attack, but I just want to understand why and what area of HR interests you (or even what industry).

   I graduated in spring 2008 so that was fun times back then, too. And also, it was still the "you need the experience to get the job, but you need the job to get the experience." I was a nontraditional student so took about 8 years total - between earning an associate degree and then a few months off and then earning a bachelor's degree including several major changes before ending up right back where I started (HR). Because I was a nontraditional student, I had several years working before and during my education as a secretary. I ended up finally landing an HR role (thanks to Office Team) in fall 2010 - as an admin assistant in an HR department (tiny depart at that time) for a local corporate HQ. I wish I knew then, when I was going to school, what I learned once finally in HR - internships are so important in getting that first post-college break. The right internships. And, who you know can help, too (I'm not one of those well-connected people but boy did I see that play out over the years - not just HR either). Lastly, consider getting involved in your local SHRM chapter (yes, SHRM itself is under fire right now, and for good reason, but don't lump all HR professionals in that shit show).

4. Valerie RiegerDecember 19,2025 at 2:23PM UTC

   Consider the work experiences and skills you have that are transferable to HR. You may have been doing HR work without having an HR title.

   Accept that you may have to start in an entry level position and work your way up.

5. Kim PfeifferDecember 19,2025 at 4:07PM UTC

   Apply anyway.

6. AyianDecember 20,2025 at 1:13PM UTC

   Consider a temp agency both as a candidate and a recruiter. As a candidate, you can be placed in roles even temporarily that will provide the experience job listings want you to have before you are considered seriously. As a recruiter, you'll be doing many HR functions as well as being paid for commissions, which can be a lucrative career in itself.

7. AnonymousDecember 21,2025 at 1:23PM UTC

   I made a career transition a few years ago from a therapist (with a master’s in psychology) into HR. I had some transferable experience, but when I was first applying, no one was interested. It wasn’t until I got an HR certification that I started getting calls for interviews. You might want to look into certifications either through HRCI or SHRM. With my master’s and certification, I was able to skip entry level HR into a mid level position. Also the information I learned from studying for the test was extremely beneficial since my degree isn’t in HR, and has served me well in my HR career.

8. AnonymousDecember 27,2025 at 6:11PM UTC

   30 years in HR here, worked my way up from HR assistant to CHRO. If you're currently employed, I recommend project work as a way to get some experience and see what you like in the field of HR - think about things like helping prep and staff a recruiting job fair, assist in annual benefits enrollment, or be part of the team that handles new hire orientation.

   You don't say if you have a specialization, but HR is incredibly broad and because it deals with people, your formal education is merely a starting point for the knowledge you'll need. I've hired dozens of HR professionals over the years and in many HR jobs 10 years of directly relevant experience is just starting to scratch the surface of this complex work. You need high judgement and what I like to call "pattern recognition skills" and the hard truth is that only comes from years of actually doing the work the right way, often in multiple companies.

   If you're job searching, I'd urge you to think about an HR specialist role for entry level, such as leave administration, compensation analyst, or recruiting coordinator. Secure a role in the largest HR department you can find because that's where you'll learn from seasoned pros and leaders who will show you the ropes (and hopefully the correct, compliant way to do things). Many large companies have HR call centers for employees to use that are not outsourced and this can be a good starting point as well.

   I love what I do and wouldn't have it any other way. But this is hard work and the burnout rate is really high. In HR you'll see a lot of things behind the scenes (especially manager and executive behavior and decision making) that you'll wish you didn't - and they'll pass the buck straight to you. You'll need a really thick skin, but it's rewarding when you introduce something or fix something that impacts people in a positive way.

   TL;DR: The only way around is through. Congratulations on your MBA and it will serve you well in HR - eventually. For a true career change, you need to get the experience and that may mean starting at square one. Good luck!