Human Resources- A realistic goal?

[katie79]

I have decided to go back for either my MBA or MPS (Master in Professional Studies). I need a concentration and I am seriously considering HR Management.

However, are there enough job openings in HR to make this concetration realistic?

Also, what else can you do with "HR Management"? Are there other fields you can go in that relate to that field of study?

 

Experiences, comments, suggestions, and criticism are helpfull.

 

*and yes, I do plan on seeing a career counselor! I just want opinions from the outside world.

[HokeyReligions]

They are there -- as much as any other office administrative management position. There are offshoots, like specializaiton in payroll or benefits administration, training, HSE, Accounting--those are all connected and I've moved around between many of them. Also look at industry-specific roles. There are some specializations there too. I've been in the O&G industry or Engineering (civil & upstream) most of my life , and now marine management (offshore/FSO/FPSO) (I'm in Houston--there is no other industry here!) And some of the HR roles here are specific to the industry. I have not worked in manufacturing so I would have to learn a whole different set of regulations, policies, and about the industry before I could do the same tasks for them that I do in my area. In the Marine area for example, you could work in operations or crewing and have to deal with international flag authorities, foreign taxes & politics, etc.

 

If you really like placing people check into the placement agencies (temporary & permanent). That's a LOT of work though and most of it is commission. You have to go out and meet & greet and be able to get clients and match candidates. I know some people make very good livings at that, but like I said -- it is a LOT of work. It might be great experience though, and lead other places.

 

Good Luck & I applaud your decision to continue your education and keep growing!

[moimeme]

HR has been listed as one of the big growth fields in terms of careers. By all means go for it. Go to an HR professional association's site and you should find a bunch of information about careers in HR.

[alphamale]

In large Fortune 500 companies the HR Dept is usually female dominated, at least at the companies I have worked for.

 

If you want to move up the corporate ladder at a big company I would suggest a concentration in either Management or Finance.

 

MOIMEME is wrong when she says HR is growing. Actually many HR depts are getting smaller because now there are many software packages that are doing a lot of the work and big companies are making their employees use self-service sites to administer their own benefits.

[moimeme]

Well, [color=green]ALPHAMALE[/color], why don't you go read the stats instead of blathering off the top of your head. In fact, companies' HR departments are shrinking - because HR is increasingly becoming a function that is contracted out to specialist companies.

 

Employment in administrative and support and waste management and remediation services will grow by 37 percent and add 2.8 million new jobs to the economy by 2012. The fastest growing industry in this sector will be employment services, which will grow by 54.3 percent and will contribute almost two-thirds of all new jobs in administrative and support and waste management and remediation services. Employment services ranks among the fastest growing industries in the Nation and is expected to be among those that provide the most new jobs.

http://www.bls.gov/oco/oco2003.htm

 

 

[alphamale]

Originally posted by moimeme

Well, [color=green]ALPHAMALE[/color], why don't you go read the stats instead of blathering off the top of your head. In fact, companies' HR departments are shrinking - because HR is increasingly becoming a function that is contracted out to specialist companies.

 

 

http://www.bls.gov/oco/oco2003.htm

 

 

well MOIMEME, you've never worked for a large company so how would you know. I am giving the orig poster real world advice from experience. And are your stats Canadian or what??

[MWC_LifeBeginsAt40]

Originally posted by moimeme

Well, [color=green]ALPHAMALE[/color], why don't you go read the stats instead of blathering off the top of your head. In fact, companies' HR departments are shrinking - because HR is increasingly becoming a function that is contracted out to specialist companies.

 

HR consultants make the big bucks!!!

[katie79]

I can make one agreement here: I do notice HR is female dominated. Also, at least in my experience, I notice a lot of blonde women are in that field (and I'm blonde too, lol!)....but I doubt that is true everywhere, I know that was just my experience.

 

I don't know if I could say HR is growing smaller, I haven't noticed that. I don't know if software can take care of everything, you really need people in HR as much as any position!

[HokeyReligions]

I understand what you mean Alpha, in some ways it seems that they are shrinking, but what is happening is the field itself is changing and some of the responsibilities within HR are shifting to electronic and the course of management or administering these things is changing a lot. There is a division emerging and people w/o the education are being replaced by software, or some duties are going to administrative assistants so the middle-management (me ) is where the cut-backs are coming. It's a step down to an admin level or a step up to Sr. Management. I don't want to make that step, because I want less stress, but I may be forced to because I need the larger salary. So the growth is on one side and down-sizing is on the other. --You and Moi are both right.

 

Overall growth is largely because of recent college graduates who are starting low and working their way up -- more people, but not always at the highest paying level. Many HR generalists and HR secretaries must be college graduates now. In fact, in many businesses the secretaries, administrative assistants, etc. have a college degree and it's required, even though they are not in a decision-making position.

 

I'm in a small company now and I do a lot more than I would do in a large company who have people in specialized areas. Because they deal with more people, more issues, etc. they need more separation or specialization of HR responsibilies and that means people with higher education -- like a Masters degree.

 

 

 

PS: as for HR being female dominated -- yes. It's because generally women are the nurturers and that is a good trait to have in HR departments.

[alphamale]

Originally posted by HokeyReligions

Many HR generalists and HR secretaries must be college graduates now. In fact, in many businesses the secretaries, administrative assistants, etc. have a college degree and it's required, even though they are not in a decision-making position.

Almost all large companies including Fortune 500 won't even interview you unless you have a 4 yr degree. Even if you are applying for a janitor position.

 

We have administrative assistants here that have Masters degrees.

[moimeme]

well MOIMEME, you've never worked for a large company so how would you know. I am giving the orig poster real world advice from experience. And are your stats Canadian or what??

 

[color=blue][font=century gothic]ALPHAMALE[/font][/color] you don't know a thing about me or my life. I have worked, in fact, for the largest company on the planet. Your 'real-world experience' is the (erroneous) conclusion you have made based on your personal observations in what - three organizations? The stats were from your own US Department of Labour.

 

Even Fortune 500 companies have to have their mail boys, [color=blue][font=century gothic]ALPHAMALE[/font][/color] so your brag isn't all that impressive.

[katie79]

as far as the admin asst goes...

I must say I have seen postings for admin positions requiring a AAS or BA degree.

I'm an admin now. It's ok.

I feel I could do better.

 

I went to the open house for the MBA program and spoke with Dean's, professors, and counselors.

One did say that a program, PeopleSoft, which is a very expensive program, is taking over HR. However, HR is needed and because it's very "law-based", there are even related fields you can go into. I am going to expolore my options by networking with an HR firm of professionals associated with the University. They will inform me all I need to know about HR, and they will be honest. They may tell me to run for my life, or they could tell me it's the best field to go into. I'm leaning towards that, but my options for concentration are totally open.

I have choices in the following concentrations:

Management

Finance (which I'm not such a great math person, otherwise I would go for that)

Marketing

HR Management

Technology

[HokeyReligions]

You don't have to be great in math to be in a finance position. I know that from experience! I was horrible in math in school and avoided it like the plague. I ended up spending 10 years in a tax department, eventually being the person who completed all the Sales & Use, Ad Valorem taxes for a fairly large O&G company and I got that position when the CPA who used to do it left. I didn't take my first real accounting class until I got THAT job! Before that I was completing smaller schedules, 10-K's, balance sheets, and some GL duties because they kept getting shifted to me. It was enough to know that I could do it, and more than enough to know that I didn't want to do it!

 

Math and finance are two very different things! All you have to remember is, if you have a debit, you must have an equal credit and vice versa. The COA had over 1500 categories I had a chart on the wall for a while to remind me which accounts should have a debit balance, and which should have a credit balance. They laughed at me, but I never made a mistake that I couldn't find myself and there were some finance majors and CPA's who couldn't claim that!

 

PeopleSoft is the industry standard now. I don't know it, but I've thought about taking a course in it. If I don't stay where I am and go looking for a new position in a larger corporation, that is on the top of my TO DO list.

 

I've been toying with the idea of going back to school (again) but right now I have waaaaay too much going on in my life to do justice to the education, and I don't want to ruin my current GPA. I graduated with a 4.0.

[katie79]

It's good to hear you don't have to be good at math to major in finance(or have a job in it)!

Unfortunetly, I have to avoid that field altogether b/c I had to declare backruptcy last year.

I went into credit card debt because some very unfortunate events happened during my college years which effected me being able to pay my credit card payments, the interest grew higher, than I couldn't pay it off.

And I know many companies wont even consider you if you have that on your records, even if you have excellent work experience, great references, and an MBA with a 4.0 average. It sort of discourages me from even trying

 

I am seeking another job now and hoping I could find one.

Thanks for all yoru help hokey!

[katie79]

They also offer "Waste Management" as a major, but I don't know if that takes place in a professional atmosphere. Can someone direct me? Waste Management...is that considered a professional position?

[moimeme]

Depends what aspects of it. My department has a whole bunch of scientists and engineers who work on just that - in terms of management of waste around watersheds and in terms of contaminated and special wastes, among other things.

 

I suggest you look up the website or call the department and ask what the program entails.

[Beth]

Originally posted by katie79

They also offer "Waste Management" as a major, but I don't know if that takes place in a professional atmosphere. Can someone direct me? Waste Management...is that considered a professional position?

 

I interviewed for a position a long time ago for department in a water filtration corporation. Very professional, lots of scientists, engineers, etc. I would have been working with the techs in the waste treatment department and their big conversations were all about "floatables"!

 

Waste management seems to be popping up more and more. It encompasses a LOT more than picking up trash or water filtration. I think as our population continues to grow and we generate more overall waste (by-products with no current use of plastics/oil, etc. --- not just individual waste like trash, or, err....) the field will continue to grow. Might be worth checking into.