How Can I Boost My HR Skills for Sponsorship Opportunities Without Grad School?

Dear Industry Seniors,

I recently graduated from a university in America and am committed to a career in HR. However, I do not have authorization to work here and did not major in Human Resources (though I did graduate from a prestigious university). I have completed a few HR internships, primarily focusing on recruiting. I have learned that obtaining H1B sponsorship is easier with a generalist role. I am wondering about ways to enhance my HR knowledge to better prepare for a position that could potentially provide sponsorship within a year, excluding the option of attending graduate school at this moment. I currently have OPT, allowing me to work in the US for a year.

Thank you all for your assistance!

Amanda

Dear Amanda,

"Improving knowledge" is a subjective term. For example, if you were to start by simply identifying about five domains of HR functions/SOPs, you may then proceed by exploring how various organizations work either segment-wise or industry-wise. This information can be found on the internet, in HR practice magazines, and in literature available in good libraries like BCL in Delhi.

Subsequently, you should find a mentor, typically a senior HR manager or above. When you have questions or discussion topics to brainstorm over, talk to them. Try to negotiate an opportunity to shadow them once or twice a week and observe how they work. Essentially, you will get to see how they organize things when there are protocol or strategic requirements. This is one of the methodologies commonly used by many.

See if this approach works for you. My advice is to be patient and give the process some time. Only then will you be able to identify more specific areas that you wish to understand more deeply.

I hope this guidance is helpful. Best of luck.

Regards

Thank you so much for the response. It is really helpful. I guess what I meant was, what type of certifications are out there that will help my credentials look better? I have been trying to learn more HR knowledge in my own time; however, there really isn't a way to prove that I have learned the information unless I take a test. I know I am still way too junior to get my PHR. Therefore, I was wondering what certificates are useful out there that are also offered for someone who doesn't have that much experience yet.

P.S. I have had most of my HR experiences in recruiting and would like to balance out because I would like to ultimately pursue a generalist role. What then would be some certificates that I could obtain that will prove a more balanced background of mine?

Thanks a lot for your help and sorry about the confusion of questions!

Amanda

Dear Amanda,

Thank you for appreciating the response. You have correctly pointed out your current status in securing a position in the HR portfolio. That's a good start. Also, now you have moved on to another specific question, which is the next step [Good Going]. The question you have raised about certifications is an important one.

There are two types of certifications that you can typically pursue. The first is a proper PG diploma, usually from an A or B level B School [e.g., PGMP/PGMPX, etc.]. These programs are offered by various colleges across India, typically IIM, GLC, XLRI, etc. The catch here is that it is advisable to pursue these courses within 4-5 years of employment in a single organization rather than switching jobs frequently. For example, if you have worked for ABC organization for 2 years and then moved on to another for 2 years, it may reduce your chances of being selected by top-ranking colleges. Ideally, showing a progressive job profile within one organization for 4-5 years strengthens your chances of being admitted to such programs.

The second type of certification is T&D-based, typically short-term or a few days programs. These are designed for specific functional requirements, such as assessment-related courses for hiring purposes that introduce new theoretical and practical techniques for screening candidates [e.g., training on PRISM 7 16PF]. There are also management-oriented programs like Six Sigma, Train the Trainer, and more.

Starting with the latter type allows you to explore new trends in T&D. Subsequently, engaging in a vocational degree and showcasing your participation in programs such as mentioned above can attract more potential employers. The choice between the two paths depends on your interest in gaining functional expertise over time.

You now have the opportunity to decide between these two paths, among others. I recommend discussing this with a mentor to gain perspective and evaluate your interests and options.

I hope this information is helpful to you. Keep aiming for a successful career! :-)

Regards