How Do You Start Your HR Career?

Seeking advices and tips from all the seniors:
I have 1 friend who will graduate with a Degree in HR in 2 years time. I've looked at job ads and classified, most of the position for HR Officer/Exec require at least 2-3 years of experience.....
1. As a HR freshy, what kind of position she should look for? Is Admin/Trainee position in Recruitment agency a good starting point?
2. What specialisation she can aim for if she tries to avoid heavy mathematic/accounting routine task in her carrer?
3. Can anyone give some example of HR career path? (eg. mine is Network Security Analyst -> Team Lead -> Consultant -> Manager....)
Please kindly share with me your own past/experience as HR freshy and other advice which i overlooked. Thanks.
:)

Dear Friend,
Before starting a career in HR be confirm in which function you have to move, like whether you have an interest in recruitment processes, Training only, complete HR functions and likewise in which sector or Industry you have to move on.
Then only you should think for your steps to make your career,how will you move further.
Even i know at the initial stage you may not get the job of your choice but gradually after getting some experience definitely you will get a job of your interest.
But yes if you have to make a career in corporates then never try to move ahead with recruitment only.
Regards,
Amit Seth.

Hi AMIT,
I just happened to see this post. I could not understand what you have written in the last line.
Actually i myself am working with a recruitment firm but i want to move to HR sector. My recruitment experience will not help me in that direction

hi there,
even i want to get in " hr field" as a fresher , i was thinking that i'll work in a consultancy as a recruiter or????????
can anybody suggest me , what exactly i can look for??to get in hr field and make my career in hr.
i dont want any sales target or heavy mathematics involved in my job.......plzzzzzzzz help me out.
regards,
rekha
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hi,
As your HR undergraduate looking for job. according to my view its better to start your career as a recruiter as it is a intial stage for you to learn some work.If directly you go for admin, you don't know the work and it will spoil your carrer. Its my opinion.

Hi All,
From all the posts its evident that there is serious concern whether recruitment experience will help in generalist HR profile. My experiences suggests that with the emerging trend and expansion of companies all functions of HRD will be segregated. There will be no longer a term which will define HR Generalist. Different responsibilty centres like talent engagement, recruitment, performanace management, benefit administration etc will be formed within the umbrella of HRD. Demand for HR professional with specific skill set will be on rise. For me Recruitment, Talent Engagement is two very hot areas within HRD. I dont see any harm in persuing careers with one specific skill set and mastering it.
Please note that there are no heavy mathematics involved in recruitment but yes there will be targets. We all strive to achieve our targetted goals so if you are focussed achieveing targets should become a winning habit.
Please let me know your thoughts on the same.
regards,
Partha.

hi all,
i just went through this discussion....i agree that being a fresher we people ( i am also a MBA HR FRESHER) only get entry in recruitments..i feel it is ok to work with a consultancy in start of your career..then u can move on to hard core HR side by side by developing your networking and commmunication skills.
do tell me if i am wrong anywhere

hi all,
listening to the opinion of all,i agree that starting of a career is a very important step to be taken by an individual.so one should think and get in recruitment , training etc. but my concern is to be a hr-generalist . now i am completely into recruitment. so is there a possiblity for me to step into diffrent roles. even if i dont know much in that.
thanx

Hi Lincy,
If yor interest lies in Generalist HR profile, then you can persue the same for sure, however you need to do self knowledge developmenet. You have to keep yourself abreast with the latest HR trends, understand statutory compliances, HR management strategeies etc & you can do them all through the strong medium of internet. After you have gathered sufficient knowledge on different HR skills you can start applying for generalist positions. In inetrviews donot focus too much on your recruitment skills but elaborate on your new found knowledge as well..
All the best for your career!
regards,
Partha.

1. She should look a position of Management Trainee in HR department of any reasonable firm.
2. There are many specilization like, Recruitment, Compensation, Training & Development, HR Policies & Procedures, General HR Practioners and Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS), HRMS.
3. There are also different career in HR as mentioned in para-2, different career path for each area of specilization. e.g. in Recruitment: Associate, Specialist, Generalist, Consultant. in general there may be HR Assistant, HR Officer, HR Executive, Assistant Manager, Deputy Manager, Manager, Director and so on.
I tried a lit bit to inform but any senior in Cite may guide you better. Thanks