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Gaining Work Experience

Probably the hardest challenge for new HR workers, whether just out of college or transitioning from another field, is proving you have the skills and aptitude to do the job even though you have no actual work experience.

It’s the familiar catch-22: You can’t get a job without experience, and you can’t get experience without a job.

But there are more than a few things you can do to show prospective employers that you’re worth hiring                                                                                                           despite not having job credentials on                                                                                                       your resume.

The Value Of Temp Work

One way is to take temporary assignments. Working as a temp may not be your ultimate goal, but when you’re launching a career, you want to get experience any way possible. A temporary job allows you to hone your skills, establish a track record and make contacts in the HR field. If a permanent position is your goal, a series of temporary assignments can help you get there.

The term “temp” is often avoided as it connotes administrative work to many. Some agencies refer to temporary assignments as “contract” or “project” work. Is it all the same? Not quite. With contract assignments, the length of time is typically established from the start. It can range from, say, two weeks to six months or longer. Temporary work generally does not have a set time period.

Temporary jobs typically do not pay as well, especially for those without much experience, but they do allow people to sample options early in their careers. Do you want to continue with networking? Get involved with databases? Working in the field helps you clarify your thinking about what you want to do.

The Internship Experience

There’s no such thing as a perfect internship. But you can figure out which one aligns best with your career goals, and then tap your own initiative to turn that internship into an experience that will grab the attention of future employers.

You need to decide what companies to approach about internship programs and make sure that the work you’d be doing aligns with your job goals.

Once you connect and get the internship don’t just do whatever tasks are given to you. Be proactive in finding and learning all you can about the business and ongoing HR projects. The goal is to gain as much experience and skills as you can.

You won’t be able to accomplish everything, and you’ll almost certainly be saddled with some grunt work in any internship. But if you ask the right questions beforehand and uncover informed answers to them, you’ll find the internship that’s perfect for your future career.

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