I have an MA in Human Resource Management and two years’ HR experience from three companies. I joined my current employer six months ago, and I’m already getting frustrated in my job
Q. I have an MA in Human Resource Management and two years’HR experience from three companies. I joined my current employer six months ago, and I’m already getting frustrated in my job. I am working for a blue chip company where I should have the potential to progress, but it is difficult to climb the career ladder. I want to move into a generalist adviser role, but feel that I don’t have enough experience. How can I get over this problem?
A. Take charge of your destiny! Starting out in any career can be challenging, even with the qualifications, drive, passion and motivation to succeed. Once you find the right organisation to start building experience, maximising learning and demonstrating potential, this is where your professional career begins.
These days, many organisations, and particularly those ahead of the game in the talent attraction and retention challenge, have a mandate and proactive internal sourcing strategies for all opportunities. Similarly, their leadership and development experts are ensuring connectivity, engagement and opportunity to enhance learning and development from within.
It can be daunting when you begin working in an organisation as there are many aspects of the role and organisation to understand. The key to a successful career is to be proactive and treat your career path as an ongoing project.
The best advice that I can give is to take charge of your career. Rather than jump too fast, investigate ways to ensure this role is not only a value-add to your career and skills enhancement, but also your employer, by: nominating yourself to be involved with specialist projects; being open and proactive with your manager as to the direction of your career; conducting a training needs analysis of your current competencies; setting in place a development plan with ideal and realistic timeframes; identifying a career mentor and sounding board; ensuring you have solid commercial business acumen; and interview other HR professionals who have achieved what you are wanting to and find out how they achieved success.
This will not only enhance your current role, it will improve your value proposition for further career opportunities and progression with your current employer.
You mentioned that the role you’re in should offer “the potential to progress” which is a very interesting comment. You have possibly realised by my earlier suggestions that potential exists both within the individual and the organisation.
Through identifying your potential and opportunities for development through internal and external networking, as well as conducting a detailed analysis of your development needs, you can set in place a strong strategy to tap into the organisation’s and your future potential.
There are some key core competencies that are essential to the success of a HR professional. These include: solid understand of core technical competencies; sound business acumen and understanding of commercial impacts; exceptional consulting and customer service; project management capability; and initiative.
In a world of continuous learning, the workplace holds out a wealth of information and experience that is ready to be tapped into. By taking charge of your own destiny you can make you career take the desired direction and provide your organisation with an outstanding talent moving forward.
My advice is to be proactive in your career management and planning, be clear on what you want to achieve and engage others to help you achieve your objectives. Good luck and enjoy.
By Sue Ritchie, regional manager, Victoria, Staff & Exec/HR Partners. Tel 03 9642 0500.
