by Kathleen Hart SPHR, Mountain States Employers Council; Leon Cerna SPHR, Adams County Government; and Jon Drogheo, IHS -- all members of the Colorado Human Resources PAC

Congratulations - you have landed your first job in human resources. You have likely recently received a degree or obtained your HR certification (PHR) and now you are ready to contribute to your new organization. The transition from the Academia world to the business world can be tricky. During your first year you will need to blend your education experience with the needs of the organization. Oh and by the way you have limited knowledge of the business so how do you move forward… keep in mind the following as keys to your success.

Know Employment Laws: Knowledge of employment laws and regulations provides the rules for the HR playing field. Laws have become more complex and continue to evolve from the Family Medical Leave Act to the Americans Disability Act to Sarbanes Oxley. In addition, non-compliance with employment laws can be very costly to the organization.

Talk in terms of risks/options: Rather than be a rule maker with focus on what the organization can’t do, ask the “what if” question – if we do this what will that do? Explore the risks of each alternative. Make it more of a collaborative decision making process. The foundation of knowing employment laws helps you better assess and risks and options.

Build Business Savvy: Learn all aspects of the business from the operations to the financials. Find out the goals and values of the organization and be able to connect any HR project to the company’s strategic plan. Ask senior management what metrics they focus on when they look at the success of the HR function.

Develop Relationships with Managers: Look for ways to build trust with managers and establish credibility. Find ways to support managers to meet their goals. Attend departmental meetings and look for ways to partner together especially in the areas of staffing and performance management. When you have a conflict, look at common interests and win/win solutions.

Get to Know the Employees: Walk around your office and introduce yourself to the employees you will be supporting. This is a great way to balance the knowledge you will gain from your manager, company information and client managers. Take some time to understand their positions and their view of the company. This is also a great opportunity to build trust and establish relationships.

Expand Your HR Expertise: Read trade publications focused on HR (e.g. Workforce Magazine, HR Magazine, Go Jobing) along with other major business publications. Studying for the Professional Human Resources Certification (PHR) also provides a great way to learn about the HR body of knowledge: strategic management; workforce planning and employment; human resource development; compensation and benefits; employee and labor relations; and occupational health, safety and security. For more information see www.hrci.org.

Tap Into Available Resources: While you don’t have to have all the answers, you do need to be aware of what you don’t know. If you don’t know the answer, don’t fake it. When something doesn’t “feel right” look into it and ask good questions. Take ownership of your own development by tapping into resources. Internal resources include: your own company groups or initiatives and finding a mentor to help you learn and understand the business. External resources help you to broaden your perspective within your industry or profession (e.g. Society of Human Resource Management).

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