Navigating HR Certifications: Are HRBP and HRMP Right for My Career Comeback?

Hello Dear Seniors, I recently got to know about the HRBP and HRMP certifications. I am an MBA-HR graduate and have 1 year of work experience in an HR Generalist role in an IT company, along with 10 months of experience in non-IT recruitment. I left my job 2 months ago due to maternity leave, and I am planning to return to work after a year-long break.

Certifications and Career Path

I would like to know if these certifications would be beneficial for me. Will they help me secure a position in a reputable organization? If not, could you please suggest which course I should pursue instead—perhaps SAP or any other relevant course that would allow me to make good use of this 1-year gap? Please note that I am not interested in roles requiring night shifts. Kindly recommend a suitable HR certification course accordingly.

Thank you.

It's good to know that you would like to get back to working post your maternity. You have mentioned that you already have an MBA in HR and have some experience in HR, especially in recruitment.

I honestly believe that at this stage, doing an additional course (in addition to your MBA) would be a waste of time and money. May I know what your intention is behind doing this course? Is it purely to secure a job afterward, or is there something specific you would like to learn?

Thank you.

Hi Aditya, I have an MBA degree, but I could not pursue it from a reputed institute, which has resulted in a lack of knowledge in certain areas of HR. For example, I do not have much knowledge of payroll, compensation-benefits, and labor laws. Therefore, I thought I'll pursue a certified course to enhance my knowledge and improve my job prospects.

Thank you.

Hi Aditya, I do have an MBA degree, but I could not pursue it from a reputed institute, which resulted in a lack of knowledge in certain areas of HR. For example, I do not have much knowledge of payroll, compensation-benefits, and labor laws. Hence, I thought I'll pursue a certified course to help me gain knowledge and improve my job prospects.

Since you have completed your MBA and have job experience, you can acquire practical knowledge through leading journals, website materials, and by attending specific training programs or seminars conducted by training organizations or business associations like FICCI. After reading and acquiring knowledge, you can also discuss in this forum for any clarifications. This approach will save you time and money, while enhancing your skills.

Regards,
P K Mishra

You may consider a Diploma in Administration and Labour Laws or a Diploma/Certificate in Social Work, which, along with your MBA, would be beneficial for your job search.

Thank you.

What you are saying is good, but if you are facing an interview, the company is more interested in your past experiences or practical knowledge you have (e.g., which software you have worked on, the minimum number of employees handled for Payroll). How can we meet these expectations without proper training/experience, especially in a Generalist profile?

I am also planning to restart my career after a gap of almost 4 years. I have experience in IT, mainly in recruitment. I am looking forward to some good suggestions as I need to dive back into action. I will be completing my MBA (distance) by August.

Considering Private Institutes for HR Training

Can we rely on private institutes that provide training in HR courses and guarantee job placement? What points should we verify before considering this option? Your suggestions are appreciated.

Kindly advise.

HRBP/HRMP courses are from HRCI (a very well-recognized US-based institute). They definitely help to improve overall HR skills. My suggestion for you is the HRBP course.

In addition, if you are looking for any job-specific skills courses such as for PAYROLL, the NAIP certification course may be a good option. Similarly, for compensation and benefits, Job Evaluation, and Job Description courses may help too.

Hope you find it useful.

Thank you and best regards,
Nellaiappan S Pillai

Hi Aditya, I do have an MBA degree, but I could not pursue it from a reputed institute, due to which I lack knowledge in some areas of HR. For example, I do not have much knowledge of Payroll, Compensation-Benefits, and Labour Laws. Hence, I thought I'll pursue some certified course which will help me gain some knowledge and also help me get a good job as well.

Real Learning in HR

I feel it's okay if you do not know about other verticals in HR. I believe that one should not look at various courses as a means to get jobs. The real learning happens on the job, especially in HR. I am also an MBA not from a reputed institute, and I realize that we are stuck with it for the rest of our lives. But you have the option of focusing on getting a job first. Maybe you can do a course on law part-time. But don't pin all your hopes and all possibilities of a job on doing some course. It's not a magic wand that will change the condition.

Regards