This question is so important for people who want to work in the field of Human Resources that I thought I'd post the question and its answer here. A reader, who is working on a two year degree, which according to her college, would assure her of an HR job upon graduation, has received different information from her HR contacts working in the field. I burst her bubble further. Agree or disagree with me? I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Reader Question: "I am currently working toward my associate's degree in Human Resources. I have spoken to a few people who work in human resources and they tell me that without a bachelor's degree, I have no chance of getting hired in the HR department.
The college I'm attending, assured me that I would be able to obtain employment with an associate's degree. I'm a little confused as to who I should believe. I wasn't planning on going for my bachelor's degree when I finish with my associate's. Now I don't know what I should do. Anyone out there who could help me?"
Answer: Here's the bad news. You don't identify, but I suspect you may be attending a community college. What people who want professional careers should do at the community college level is to take all of their basics such as English, Math, Social Studies, etc.
Most accredited colleges will not even accept two year business credits in HR from a community college or like college. They want you to get the basics there and then attend the four year college for the actual degree credits. If it's a non-accredited, non-community college program, I don't even know where to start.
I can't speak for the rest of the world, but in my world, a two-year degree will not qualify you for a job in HR. The person might get a job in recordskeeping and administration. In this work world, a posted job for an HR Administrator (beginning HR job), that requires a Bachelors degree and two years of experience, pays $30,000, if you're lucky, attracts 100+ qualified applicants.
Many of these applicants have the degree plus experience, internships, and more, so I would never consider an applicant with a two year degree. And, this is my experience posting jobs.
The worst part of it is the nightmare you will have transferring the credits. A substantial four year college will not accept them and so you will be forced to turn to an adult-friendly, generally less respected institution that gives "life credit" and sometimes college credit for your courses. These degrees are less respected by employers who are familiar with the major colleges in their region - and their strengths and weaknesses.
It is probably going too far to say you will never get a job in HR, because I don't know you or your other credentials, your work experience, your circumstances, and so forth. But, it is getting much harder these days to get into HR without a degree.
Especially if you want to eventually sit at the executive table, many of your fellow execs will have degrees. Competition for HR jobs is fierce and many applicants have degrees. In this day and age of applicant tracking systems and keyword finding HRIS systems, getting invited for an interview is difficult.
I don't hire anyone into a beginning position in HR these days with less than a Bachelors degree. I'll bet a lot of employers are just like me.
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- It depends. Some HR leaders have experience that trumps the need for a degree.
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I think this is a pretty crappy article to say the least. To dash someones hopes because of your particular hiring practices is cruel. I happen to be one of the few that works for a great company and does work as the HR Manager and do not and I happily repeat at this time, do NOT have my Bachelors degree and make well over 30k annually.
Respectfully~
I was looking into getting into HR but i was just going to try to get an associates degree at a community college because I can’t afford to add more school loans onto what i already have and i need to be working now, even if its a crappy job or part time to pay for things. I have a bachelors degree in elementary education, a math minor, and a masters degree in reading + reading specialist. How likely would it be for people to look at me for HR? I know without any experience, it’s really hard, so what can i do? I can’t even get calls for receptionist jobs i apply to in my area b/c jobs are so few and far between now and i live in western pa (pittsburgh area) so teaching is horrible (budget cuts and furloughs). I can’t waste a ton of time and money like that and i’m hoping some things i have will transfer b/c i was an accounting major for about a year and a half during my undergrad.
Hi Mary,
I’m not sure that you need more degrees although training in some business and HR topicsis good. Have you tried to pursue a paid or unpaid internship to gain some experience? You might also try to hold some informational meetings with HR people in your area to get advice about what is needed.
See: http://humanresources.about.com/od/glossaryi/g/informational_interviews.htm and http://humanresources.about.com/od/humanresourcesjob/f/jobs-in-hr-management.htm and look at some of the transition stories here: http://humanresources.about.com/od/hrbasicsfaq/tp/careers_in_hr.htm
Best wishes, Susan
I don’t think she was saying that NOBODY will EVER get hired without a Bachelors degree, but you cannot deny that it does, indeed, help.
I find this article ridiculous. I have an Associates degree and I’m a Director of 60 people with a track record of continued success, awards and most importantly, staff that share in the same success. I write and speak more professionally than most others with their precious Bachelors and/or their Masters! It takes a lot more than a certain degree to create success! Natural aptitude, communication skills, people skills, work ethic and attitude are all much more important to me!
I have to agree with HR MGR. Someone with a great work ethic, attitude and integrity far exceeds a degree. With organizations like SHRM, HR learning is an on-going process…getting a 4-year degree or even a Masters doesn’t guarantee a job these days. I do agree somewhat with Susan since I think that the overall idea is to have the opportunity to create an environment with the most continuous learning and training available, since much of HR is based on changing laws and regulations affecting the workplace. Getting into the habit of being educated is part of being an HR person these days since you have to keep in step with the regulations that affect the employment arena. I know many “degreed” HR people who don’t have a clue about HR, and many ‘on-the-job’ trained HR people that stay abreast of the laws and regulations of the EEOC/ADA and Dept of Labor items that affect the workplace overall. Additionally, having your PHR and SPHR is really the standard now in the HR world, so if someone has an associates degree and their PHR, I’d be inclined perhaps to hire them over someone with only a Bachelor’s degree. Additionally, I know several (hundred) HR people without a degree; many have the work experience without a degree that was allowable in the 1970′s and 1980′s. The willingness to learn can far exceeds the qualifications. We are also within a society of continuous learning and off-shore job sourcing, online HR advisories (like this website) and packaged HR outsourced companies (i.e. TriNet), so on-the-job training sometimes far exceeds the degree and training that needs to be continuously renewed.
I was hired into the HR field over 20 years ago with “only” an associate degree. I was promoted within one year, and have continually climbed the ladder, as I continued taking courses to complete a four year degree. In 2000, I completed my bachelor’s degree, and in 2005, I completed my master’s degree. I am currently an HR Director and got this job two years ago primarily because of my experience, not necessarily my degrees. Ms. Heathfield has very unrealistic expectations regarding the current educational process and the present and future workforce.
I also am an HR Manager withOUT a bachelors degree and make more than $30k. If it’s your first job, the advanced degree may open more doors initially, but it’s quite possible to achieve this level without it as you gain experience. Don’t let this discourage you from going for the job you want!
How crazy – I do have my degree but it is 30+ years old. I do not have my postion because of the degree, I have my postion because of my drive, ambition, attitude, knowledge, decision making ability, and work ethic. I too make in excess of 30K but so do my employees and they do not have HR degrees but they are all excellent employees and know their jobs. As I interview for a new employee, a four year degree does not carry near as much weight as 4 years of actual experience doing the job. A degree might get you in the door but it is job performance that keeps you there. Susan, I am glad I am not your employee.
Maybe it depends on the area of the country in which you live or the type of company for which you want to work. I am job-hunting now (with a BBA in HR) and find it difficult to break into an HR Generalist role without a Master’s or PHR designation. Many Fortune 500 companies also desire Six Sigma certification (esp. manufacturing)–for an HR role. Many companies are not willing to let you learn “on the job” anymore. I say go for the Bachelor’s–it can’t hurt.
While a degree is an asset, I think practical experience is just as important. Aptitude and knowledge, communication, attitude, integrity and work ethic, etc. are invaluable.
I have seen a few graduates and recent degree holders without practical experience and with a ridiculous attitude thinking they know everything and in reality are completely lacking the soft skills required in HR. It is not always so easy to apply what you’ve learned in school to a practical setting, with success.
I’m the person that the initial question came from. I am so thankful that so many of you commented in such a positive way (you’ve no idea how much). I am still working toward my A.A.S. part-time and proudly holding down a full-time job. I work for a contracted company and my department works in conjunction with the HR department. I have been advised that within the next few months I will be getting transfered to our own HR department. I may not be at the top yet, but with some hard work and perseverence I will make it there. I just posted to “confused” in our discussion area.
Thanks again everyone!!!
Janice
Janice, so nice to hear an update from you. I posted your forum question here because I figured you’d get a wider range of responses, but also because I receive this question, or variations of it, frequently. I thought the responses would be of interest to many readers. Again, thanks so much for the update. It sounds as if your story will have a happy ending. And, that’s because of you.
Four year colleges do accepts course work taken at community colleges. At least in the state where I live. As a matter of fact four year colleges work closely with community colleges to insure students are taking the proper courses that are transferable.
Thanks Susan,
Everyone has a lot of useful feedback for me to consider. I appreciate everyone’s comments and knowledge. Being a newbie I can use all the advise and wisdom I can get.
Thanks again!!
Janice
I completely disagree, I just saw a job opening in a small but very influential city ( which is beautiful I might add) for a HR director of the city , requirements were min 2yr degree with 3 to 5 years experience or,, 4 year degree with 1 to 2 years of experience, starting pay from $ 50,000 to 75,000.
Now this may be rare but the job was never filled and they are still looking.
I’m not a graduate in HR, but am a HR Mgr now. I didn’t plan for it, but I guess my work experience paved the way to where I am now.
I have a HR graduate in my department now and obviously she is not performing as good as another one who does not have a HR degree. Therefore, from my own experience, i can say that it depends on the individual. Perhaps the personality test would be more suitably used to identify a suitable candidate for a HR post. Having said that, how do we do it during an interview? I would say, set questions that are related to the the personality tests. Those would help, in terms of whether the person you select for the post would develop a long-term career in HR.
I think there was a time when you could get into HR without a degree and be successful. I think this is changing . HR needs to be more strategic and be a part of the inner circle. In order to get into that inner circle, you need to be seen as an equal with something to offer. This is not to say that isn’t possible without a degree but I think the degree does earn you some credibility. There are still a lot of people out there with degree’s that I would not hire due to a lack of common sense, business sense, soft skills, attitude, etc. But the degree helps get your resume looked at sooner in my opinion.
The question was, can you GET a job in HR not, as some have interpreted it, can you hold down an HR job.
A degree doesn’t prove your worth. If you are already doing the job and proving yourself, there’s no problem. But there might be when you apply for a job outside your company.
When I have a choice I employ a degree. It just tells me a little more about the person. So, while it might not be true that you CAN’T get a job without one, you are limiting yourself and your options as a new person in the job market by limiting your studies.
I don’t know about the States, but in South Africa HR is considered a soft option. EVERYONE does something in HR (including horrendous part-time courses of three months, where they are also told they will get an HR job). As a result you are competing against hundreds of other applicants for every HR job. I think Susan’s point is, make yourself more marketable. I wouldn’t call that crappy advice; I’d say thank you and try to adjust.
While I see some valid points with the degree being very important, there is NOTHING that holds it’s own as much as experience and then the validation of that experience with Certification i.e. SPHR or PHR for a successful career in HR. I always recommend someone who wants to get into the field to find some way to get involved with the HR Dept. in your current company. Volunteer to work ar Job Fairs, help with job specific training, or start/participate in a mentoring program. Do things that can show an HR Aptitude…..then if an opportunity occurs, they will be thought of for an internal placement. That is how I “happened” on HR (then Personnel) 20 years ago when I was a Sales Manager and had a Marketing degree.
With all due respect, I think your response was very limiting. While your answer might be accurate in the context of larger companies and perhaps governmental agencies and health care, it is not accurate in the context of smaller and/or family-owned businesses. Nor is it accurate when you are talking about an entrepreneurial environment.
With my two-year degree, PHR certification (going for my SPHR this year) and over 25 years of office experience in hand, I began practicting in HR in 2001. I knew nothing, but I work hard and studied hard – often on my own time and often with the financial support of my employer. For the last 3 years, I’ve been practicing at the Director level.
I know where my experience would be welcome and I know where it would not be, and I target any job search accordingly.
I can’t be the only one out there. There must be many, many HR professionals who are valued for their experience, knowledge, and contributions to their current and past employers.
Your response to this student should have included information on the different kinds of employers as well as on how she might structure her job search with the degree and experience that she has.
And I think it is foolish biased people such as yourself who pass up perfectly eligible people because they don’t have that precious piece of paper that proclaims they are so much smarter than the average Joe because they received a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree..it’s hogwash..I know of a woman who only finished HIGH SCHOOL and works in Human Resources and does an excellent job for them! She is very talented but couldn’t afford college..she has been with this same company almost ten years so when you say you wouldn’t even look at an application with a two year degree my blood just boils!!!!
I happen to agree with an earlier post about getting vs. holding. I have been in the HR arena for about 6 years now and currently work as an HR Manager (non-supervisory) making over 80k. I have had 4 HR jobs in my work career, and ALL of them required a 4 yr degree to get into the door. With that being said, in my last team we had one individual who obtained an entry level HR rep position without a degree. However, she had been employed in this large company since the age of 16 and it took her 16 years to get into the HR rep role. So while it is not 100% accurate that you need a degree to get an HR job, its puts you on a faster track and opens many more doors.
An update about the aforementioned co-worker; when looking at other jobs OUTSIDE of the current employer, she realized she would be limited (she couldn’t spend another 10+ years starting and the bottom and proving/working her way up) so she began going to school part time for her BA. I would suggest you get in the field now in whatever form you can, then go ahead and get your degree AND your PHR/SPHR certification. Just my two cents from my experience….
I was looking into getting into HR but i was just going to try to get an associates degree at a community college because I can’t afford to add more school loans onto what i already have and i need to be working now, even if its a crappy job or part time to pay for things. I have a bachelors degree in elementary education, a math minor, and a masters degree in reading + reading specialist. How likely would it be for people to look at me for HR? I know without any experience, it’s really hard, so what can i do? I can’t even get calls for receptionist jobs i apply to in my area b/c jobs are so few and far between now and i live in western pa (pittsburgh area) so teaching is horrible (budget cuts and furloughs). I’ve had long-term teaching positions but nothing permanent. I can’t waste a ton of time and money like that and i’m hoping some things i have will transfer b/c i was an accounting major for about a year and a half during my undergrad.
Unfortunately, I think this article is spot on. I graduated 2 years ago with an associates in HR from a community college. Nothing… never even get a call or email back when I apply for something in that department. Wish I would have known this $12,000 dollars ago
There are levels of opportunity in HR like there are in other fields. Some are accessible with an Associate’s level education, but the majority of the ads I see (and I look often) are asking for a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree so Susan’s opinion is valid. It has been well pointed out here (somewhat defensively I might point out) that there are exceptions, but in the larger HR world a minimum of a Bachelor’s is the gateway to most jobs in HR. Community colleges are running around telling prospective students about the transferrability of their credits for a reason. What you don’t often hear from is the college placement offices – because they cannot tout the successes they once had. Yes, 20 and 30 years of experience will often qualify someone with the equivalent of a higher degree… and, yes, 20 and 30 years ago the Associates was a more valued degree (job-wise) than it is today.
This is a tricky question, I think that it depends on the opening, the company, the hiring manager and your work history. The likelihood of getting to the executive table is slim without a degree, however I have met many generalists, coordinators and even some managers without them. One thing I’ve run across a lot is the hiring manager factor. If the hiring manager got where they are without a degree or with minimal education, they may be more open to others with the same background. Additionally, if the company is a smaller mom and pop operation, they will often hire someone with practical experience who then wears many hats and eventually could be promoted into a high level HR position. The more competitve (and usually the more corporate) the company is the less likely you will get through the door without a Bachelors. Don’t give up hope, each situation is unique.
I guess it really comes down to whether you would rather go to school and get a bachelors degree in 4 years, get an entry job in HR, and hop on a faster track. You would have that degree be completely transferrable wherever you go. Or as an alternative, work at a company for 8-10 years to get to the same level (entry level) and possibly risk another company not acknowledging that work because of your lack of a bachelor’s degree. Also SHRM/HRCI requires a bachelor’s degree to sit for any of their exams. Continuing education and starting off with the basics in HR is imperative. HR is the cornerstone and protection from liablity and negligence for any company biggest resource, their workforce. Federal financial aid is availiable and if you are working you couldl supplement the aid to pay for books. Personally going to school shows that you are motivated and willing to get the credentials needed to be a success and an asset to your organization. Would you go to a doctor that said I do have an MD, I’ve just been doing this for 20 years! I know that’s a little exaggerated but if you look into employment law cases you would see most mistakes are made from ignorance of basic HR practices you learn in business school.
.Doesn’t it come down to “you need experience to get the job but you need the degree + experience to get the job to get the experience?”
Am a student who has just finished a Diploma course in Bus. Administration looking for job. Can you please help me? Am from GHANA.
Hi,
This is not a job searching site, so I suggest that you check with this site for helpful information: http://jobsearch.about.com. If you are looking in HR, check at:
http://humanresources.about.com/od/jobsearchsites/tp/jobs_in_hr.htm
Good luck and best wishes,
Susan
As a person who graduated Cum Laude with a BS degree in HR, I have found it extremely challenging to advance in the field. Had I known that competition would be so high, I would have chosen a different major.
I was able to land a HR Assistant position in 2000 and after 5 years and a relocation, I found myself either over or under-qualified for additional HR jobs and unemployed for 4 months. For the last 8 years, I have served as a leader in a different capacity but not directly in the realm of HR.
In my humble opinion, it is too competitive of a field right now. College students would be wise to major in something else that is less competitive.
I find it very funny that someone teaching people about HR would be so small minded! I have never hired anyone for any position because of the Degree they hold and I have an excellent work force. Work, life experience together with other skills such as attitude, personal skills and latteral thinking are much more important.