Moving to the US with an MBA in HR: What Courses Should I Take to Boost My Job Prospects?

I have pursued a full-time MBA in HR and have more than 5 years of generalist experience in India. Recently, I have moved to the US after getting married, as my husband is on a project here. I will soon be looking for HR jobs here. I am confused about which courses to take or how to enhance my knowledge to get related jobs. I request suggestions.

Thanks & Regards,
Kanwaljeet

Many thanks for the reply, Mr. Babu. I have been searching on the Internet for courses here. There are not many courses available at the postgraduate level. Therefore, I asked for expert advice from those who are familiar with the job market here to help me make a decision.

Best Regards,
Kanwaljeet

My comments to you are both as a former VP of HR and as a professor of management at the University of New Hampshire. Given your background and expertise, I would first seek courses that would allow you the opportunity to understand the policies, procedures, and idiosyncrasies of managing HR in the United States. These courses would include both state (the state in which you are working) and especially the federal laws and regulations.

Secondly, it might be helpful (though not required) for you to enroll in a course that would speak to the norms and behaviors of both management and workers. A course in "leadership," "organizational behavior," or the such would "do the trick."

Good luck in your search and welcome to the United States.

Regards,
Dr. Bill Hassey

How much would the certifications offered by SHRM, CHRM, or ASTD help her in getting hired? Would Kanwaljeet need to focus on specific areas in HR relevant to the state she is planning to work in?

Thank you.

Regards

Recognized HR Certifications

The first two, SHRM and CHRM, are more recognized for the breadth of HR responsibilities, while the latter, ASTD, is more applicable to the "development" side of HR. However, you could find courses and information from any of the three that would be helpful in being acceptable for certification.

Regards

Dear Dr. Bill Hassey & Ms. (Cite Contribution), Thank you for taking the time to reply to my query. I sincerely appreciate the time you spent reviewing my career goals and giving suggestions. Your advice has surely given me a new perspective on the opportunities available.

I will definitely check out the related information on these recommended courses.

Best Regards, Kanwaljeet

Hi,

In addition to the wonderful responses and suggestions from Dr. Bill Hassey and Mr. Suri Babu, the very first thing you need to remember is that your experience as an HR Generalist with Indian labor laws and work systems will not directly help you in the USA. Therefore, you must gain knowledge of the US work system and labor laws. Without this knowledge, it might be a bit difficult for you to secure a good job related to your career line.

Your current knowledge and experience can help you understand the work system there, but to get a start in the USA, you must acquire some basic skills and knowledge. Doing some certificate courses, as suggested by Dr. Bill, would work for you as value-added skills. This will help you attract the interest of recruiters and allow you to get a new start.

You also need to use Google to read and understand their laws and work system/style. You can also seek the help of your husband's local contacts in this regard.

My special thanks to Dr. Bill for his kind response.

Dear Mr. Anil Arora, Thank you for your insightful feedback. I am definitely certain now about how to get started. As of now, I have shortlisted 1-2 courses based on the suggestions given in the earlier posts by the seniors. Also, for the start, I spend 1 hour on Google every day to understand the basics in HR, which introduced me to some of the websites and e-books related to our field.

Best Regards,
Kanwaljeet