The HR Career Guide: Great Answers to Tough Career Questions

198 Pages·2018·1.796 MB·English

by  Martin J. Yate

The HR
Career Guide
Great Answers to
Tough Career Questions
MARTIN YATE, CPC
New York Times Bestselling Author
Society for Human Resource Management
Alexandria, Virginia | www.shrm.org
Strategic Human Resource Management India
Mumbai, India | www.shrmindia.org
Society for Human Resource Management
Haidian District Beijing, China | www.shrm.org/cn
Society for Human Resource Management, Middle East and Africa Office
Dubai, UAE | www.shrm.org/pages/mena.aspx
Great Answers to
Tough Career Questions
The HR
Career Guide
Great Answers to
Tough Career Questions
Copyright © 2018 Martin Yate. All rights reserved.
This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information regarding the subject matter
covered. It is sold with the understanding that neither the publisher nor the author is engaged in rendering legal
or other professional service. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent,
licensed professional should be sought. The federal and state laws discussed in this book are subject to frequent
revision and interpretation by amendments or judicial revisions that may significantly affect employer or employee
rights and obligations. Readers are encouraged to seek legal counsel regarding specific policies and practices in
their organizations.
This book is published by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). The interpretations, conclusions,
and recommendations in this book are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the publisher.
This publication may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in whole or in part, in any
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SHRMStore at www.shrmstore.org.
The Society for Human Resource Management is the world’s largest HR professional society, representing 285,000
members in more than 165 countries. For nearly seven decades, the Society has been the leading provider of
resources serving the needs of HR professionals and advancing the practice of human resource management.
SHRM has more than 575 affiliated chapters within the United States and subsidiary offices in China, India, and
United Arab Emirates. Please visit us at www.shrm.org.
Interior Cover Design Shirley Raybuck
Manager, Creative Services James McGinnis
Manager, Book Publishing Matthew Davis
Vice President, Editorial Tony Lee
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Yate, Martin John, author.
Title: The HR career guide : great answers to tough questions / Martin Yate, CPC.
Description: First edition. | Alexandria, Virginia : Society for Human Resource Management, [2017]
Identifiers: LCCN 2017053965| ISBN 9781586444761 (pbk. : alk. paper) | ISBN 9781586444785 (epub) | ISBN
9781586444792 (mobi)
Subjects: LCSH: Personnel management--Vocational guidance. | Career development.
Classification: LCC HF5549 .Y387 2017 | DDC 658.30023--dc23
Printed in the United States of America FIRST EDITION
PB Printing 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
61.15021 | 17-0957
Contents
Acknowledgements .........................................................................................................................................ix
I. Introduction: This Is Your Life, Make It Shine ..........................................................................1
II. Starting and Guiding Your HR Career ......................................................................................... 7
1. Taking the First Steps Toward an HR Job ......................................................................................................8
2. Making the Transition to U.S. HR ......................................................................................................................9
3. Do You Need a College Degree to Work in HR? .......................................................................................11
4. Work Your Way into HR Management ..........................................................................................................13
5. Applying for Jobs Before Graduation ...........................................................................................................14
6. Mind the Experience Gap ................................................................................................................................16
7. Developing General HR Skills as a Specialist ............................................................................................17
III. Resumes .........................................................................................................................................................21
1. Refocus for Results ............................................................................................................................................22
2. Tell the Story of Your Career ...........................................................................................................................23
3. How Much Experience Is Too Much? ...........................................................................................................25
4. How to Write a Resume that Recruiters Will Read ....................................................................................26
5. The New Rules of Resumes ............................................................................................................................28
6. The Real Benefit of Cover Letters .................................................................................................................29
7. Seeking Advancement After 17 Years in Same Job ................................................................................30
IV. Job Search ....................................................................................................................................................33
1. Preparing for Job Transition ............................................................................................................................34
2. Too Long in an Organization? .........................................................................................................................35
3. How to Determine Your Asking Salary .........................................................................................................36
4. Best Time for Job Search ................................................................................................................................38
5. Working with Headhunters..............................................................................................................................40
6. How to Job Search in a New Field with a Disability .................................................................................42
7. Growing Your Consulting Practice ................................................................................................................44
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vi The HR Career Guide: Great Answers to Tough Career Questions
8. Worried that Skills Won’t Translate with Age ..............................................................................................45
9. HR Generalist Looking to Be Strategic Partner .........................................................................................47
10. What to Do When Your Job Search Is Stalled ............................................................................................49
11. How to Plan and Execute a Stealth Job Search ........................................................................................50
V. Networking ....................................................................................................................................................53
1. Networking as a Critical Career Survival Skill ............................................................................................54
2. Back on Track from an Economic Derailment ............................................................................................55
3. Putting Your SHRM Chapter Membership to Work ...................................................................................58
4. The Perils of Job Boards ..................................................................................................................................59
5. Social Media and Networking Tips for Job-Seeking Introverts .............................................................60
6. How to Ask for Help ..........................................................................................................................................62
VI. Interviews .....................................................................................................................................................65
1. Getting the Job Offer ........................................................................................................................................66
2. Owning Your Job-Hopping Mistakes ............................................................................................................67
3. Overcoming Hurdles .........................................................................................................................................69
4. Dealing with Incompetent Interviewers .......................................................................................................71
5. Interviewing for Introverts ...............................................................................................................................73
6. “Why Did You Leave That Job?” ....................................................................................................................75
7. The Effect of Communication Skills on Winning Job Offers and Promotions ...................................77
VII. Job Stability ...............................................................................................................................................81
1. Four Ways to Make a Fast Start in a New Job ...........................................................................................82
2. How to Increase Your Job Security ...............................................................................................................84
3. Struggling in New HR Position .......................................................................................................................85
4. How to Get Skill Development Opportunities ............................................................................................87
5. Changes on the Job ..........................................................................................................................................90
6. Leveraging a Lousy Job ...................................................................................................................................91
7. Preparing for the Worst ....................................................................................................................................93
8. Preparing for and Surviving a Layoff ............................................................................................................94
9. Offer Rescinded .................................................................................................................................................96
VIII. Leadership ................................................................................................................................................99
1. Gaining Credibility in a Volatile Environment ...........................................................................................100
2. Building HR from the Ground Up .................................................................................................................101
3. Are You Manager Material? ...........................................................................................................................102
4. Negotiating and Managing Up .....................................................................................................................104
5. How to Develop Leadership Skills in an Entry-Level Position .............................................................105
IX. Promotions and Transfers..............................................................................................................109
1. How to Get Promoted .....................................................................................................................................110
2. How to Accelerate Your Career ...................................................................................................................111
3. What to Do When Promotions Pass You By ..............................................................................................113
4. The Importance of Professional Certifications .........................................................................................116
5. HR Transition Within a Company .................................................................................................................116
6. Getting Ahead in an HR Department..........................................................................................................118
Contents vii
7. Moving Up to Manager ..................................................................................................................................119
8. Targeting Your Next Step and Gaining the Credentials.........................................................................121
9. Making the Most of Difficult Transitions .....................................................................................................123
X. Job Change .................................................................................................................................................125
1. Turning a Job Interview to Your Advantage .............................................................................................126
2. Tailor Broad Experience to Specific Jobs..................................................................................................127
3. Should I Stay or Should I Go? .......................................................................................................................129
4. Challenges for Nonprofit-to-Commercial Sector Transitions ...............................................................131
5. Where to Go When Your Career Options Are Limited ...........................................................................132
6. Taking a Step Back to Re-Align and Take Two Steps Up ......................................................................135
7. Coming to America..........................................................................................................................................136
8. How to Recognize When It Is Time to Leave a Job ................................................................................137
XI. Career Change .......................................................................................................................................141
1. Prepping to Switch Careers ..........................................................................................................................142
2. Career Crossroads ..........................................................................................................................................143
3. Pursuing Professional Development in HR ...............................................................................................145
4. A Complete Career Change .........................................................................................................................146
5. Career Change at Midlife...............................................................................................................................147
6. Making the Switch from HR to Headhunter ..............................................................................................149
7. Research and Transferable Skills to Ease Career Change ................................................................151
8. Finding Fulfillment ...........................................................................................................................................151
XII. Step Ahead to a Successful, Secure and Fulfilled Life ..........................................155
1. Best Career Advice from a Career Advisor ...............................................................................................156
2. Be Smart, Choose a Practical Core Career ...............................................................................................163
3. Plan of Attack ....................................................................................................................................................169
Index .......................................................................................................................................................................173
About the Author ..........................................................................................................................................183
SHRMStore Books Approved for Recertification Credit ................................................185
Additional Books by Martin Yate ......................................................................................................187

Acknowledgements
This is my 18th career management book, and never have
I worked with an editorial team so sincerely dedicated
to creating a truly useful work. Thank you, Tony Lee,
Matthew Davis, Beth Mirza, and all the SHRM staff who
have worked so diligently behind the scenes on my Q&A
column and in crafting this book.
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