How Can Fresh Graduates Gain HR Experience Without Prior Work in the Field?

I know having experience in a field you're applying for will definitely be a plus point on your resume and when having a job. My question is this: of course, as a fresh graduate, you typically have no experience or very minimal experience, so my question is, how do I get some HR-related experience? And does it have to be HR-specific experience?

Have you tried approaching organizations for projects, internships, or temporary employment?

This revised version corrects the spelling of "organizations" and adds a comma after "internships" for better clarity. It also ensures proper paragraph formatting with a single line break between paragraphs.

No, the thing is the program that I'm studying right now does not offer internship placements and co-op opportunities. However, I can apply for volunteer internship placements, but they rarely have anything for HR. It's mostly marketing stuff for volunteer placements. So what should I do?

But I have lots of experience in group and team building from in-class projects, and I've held many senior positions for clubs and societies in my college days. I wonder if this is enough...

Before you get onto the field, you have to get into the locker room.

Your background is impressive - it shows initiative, drive, and ability/willingness to take responsibility - but you need more than that. You need "hands-on" practical experience.

My first position in the HR field was as a Personnel Assistant, responsible for benefits, hiring plant personnel, and safety. Five years later, I was Supervisor of Labor Relations and never looked back.

My suggestion to you is to "get into the locker room". Take an entry-level position, learn all you can about those areas of HR that interest you most.

Make sure your supervisor knows of your ambition, not only by words but by action. Volunteer to assist on projects. Get involved with the line personnel and employees, find out what their problems/concerns are, and see if you can address those issues. You may not be able to do it by yourself, so you build a circle of resources, starting with your boss.

That is the basic tenet of Human Resources - personal problem-solving - no matter how trivial an issue may seem to you, it is the most important thing on the person's mind.

Hey Paladin!

Thanks for the great advice! I like the way you used the metaphor "get inside the locker room" but that leads to my next question: how do I get into the locker room?

I have had discussions with my professors on my career path, and many have told me that fresh graduates USUALLY don't get into entry-level HR positions. Is this really true? My next question is this: what sort of HR entry-level positions do you usually get into? I know payroll is a common one, but what else?

I have applied for HR internships in the summer, but they aren't in big corporations. In fact, they're just volunteer placements. But let's see how it goes; hopefully, I get somewhere.

Don't let those professors, who probably have never ventured into the real world of work, dampen your spirits. While "many" have offered a negative opinion, obviously some have provided positive guidance and encouragement. Build on this input and follow your instincts.

As I stated, my "entry-level" position was as a Personnel Assistant - working with the Benefit Administrator I came to know, in-depth, the various nuances of the Health Care industry. (Today, in the US, it is a hot topic due to rising costs and employers' cost-shifting strategies); Safety, including OSHA, as well as Worker Compensation, and Accident Investigation; Recruitment, Selection, and Orientation.

Never did Payroll, each Company I worked for had a separate Payroll Department, or outsourced it.

You have taken the first step to "get into the locker room" by looking into HR internships. Although not with "big corporations", exposure and how you approach the opportunity could be beneficial in the future.

Consider: "Do you want to be a small fish in a big pond, or a big fish in a small pond?" "Big corporations" don't offer the job security they once did. More challenges and growth potential are found in small, "start-up" companies who have the flexibility to respond quickly to market changes.

Should the internship not come through, search the web for entry-level HR positions. Browse websites, such as Monster.com, Yahoo.com, and the local Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). In addition, your College placement office, and the local employment service may be of service.

Hello sir,

Thank you for your reply you have given on HR experience in an organization. In the case of marketing and finance, a fresher can certainly work at the very initial stage by giving them targets required by the company. HR is a field where you have to analyze and work accordingly to find out people's mentality.

At the time I did my summer project, the company did not involve me in training and selection processes where I wanted to study many things. You have given me very good suggestions to get in at an entry level and try to achieve the goals.

Thanking you,
Ajit Mathai.

Hi,

Your best way to get into the HR field will be to start with a consultancy. Begin as a recruiter, learn the tricks of the trade, and then broaden your horizons. Perhaps you may even receive good leads from the consultancy itself. Gather ideas from about ten people and then make your choice. 😊

Hello Paladin sir,

I have completed my M.B.A. 1st year and am about to start the 2nd year in H.R. I have finished my 1-month summer training and am preparing a project on it. However, the people in the company where I went were not of much help to me. So, I have to do my project manually. Before going to the company, I thought it would be a very good experience since the Senior manager there had assured me that he would help me. But later, they said that they could not give me any sort of work and were willing to provide just the manual information I need for the project.

Just a few days ago, a company from Pune approached our college. They needed two HR students who could assist them in their recruitment process for just 1 day. They mentioned that they would also provide us with a certificate for that. My friend and I were sent to assist them. I thought it would be a great experience to work with some HR professionals, even if it's only for one day. However, I didn't find it very useful from a professional experience standpoint. They simply wanted two people to handle their registration process.

I am eager to know how I can gain more knowledge before entering the HR field. Can you also tell me what sub-fields are included in HR so that I can focus more on those that interest me? What should I do to try and gain actual experience?

A lot of companies engage freshers for assistant roles in wage administration, including tasks such as attendance tracking, overtime management, and filling out forms. The salary offered for these positions may range from 4k to 12k. While the pay might be low, it is essential to work hard and view it as a starting point in one's career.

Interestingly, these companies do not even require MBAs; plain graduates are considered suitable for these roles. It is a good opportunity for individuals to gain experience and begin their professional journey.

Regards,
Surya