Do you enjoy working with people, solving problems and being a valued resource for others? If so, a career in human resources (HR) could be a good fit for you. We talked with Herzing student Sara Guissane about why she chose to pursue a career in HR and what interests her most about the field.
1. Tell us why you decided to study HR.
I’ve always had a desire to help, ever since I was a little girl. It didn’t matter how big or small the task was; if there was a way I could provide assistance and make someone’s life simpler, it was something I was interested in doing.
I started working at age 17, and my first experience was working with an HR manager. I struggled at first, but my boss Shelly took her time and explained to me in detail exactly what I needed to do and why.
I not only appreciated what she did for me, but I also noticed how she worked with other associates and showed compassion and respect. Working with Shelly taught me life lessons that shaped my professional goals. Seeing how her work positively affected every employee in the organization, I knew that human resources was the career path I wanted to take.
2. What HR trends are you learning about?
How are companies hiring today? More and more companies are using social networking sites as a screening method to determine if an applicant is a good fit for the company. One of the topics we’ve been discussing in class is whether or not companies should allow hiring managers to look at an applicant’s social media profiles and use those as a source of reference during the hiring process.
Students and job seekers need to be aware of how companies are conducting the hiring process and should be careful about how they present themselves on social media. However, it’s also important for employers and HR managers to act ethically and think critically about the decisions they make during the hiring process.
3. What is your dream career and why?
Working in any organization whether big or small, there will always be disputes, tension and disagreements. My dream career is to work as an industrial-organizational psychologist. Industrial psychology focuses on increasing productivity and employee engagement and solving problems in the workplace.
Throughout my working career, I’ve seen and experienced setbacks. As an industrial psychologist, I would like to work with leaders of organizations to review practices or policies that would cause an employee to feel sidelined and work to correct those issues so that all employees feel valued and engaged.
4. What are three tips you would give other students pursuing a bachelor's degree in HR?
Before enrolling in the human resources management program at Herzing, I had no idea that there were so many different areas of HR. My first advice would be to research different career paths within HR, find what you are passionate about and specialize in that field.
Also, never hesitate to contact your professor. Getting to know your professors can come in handy if there is ever a time when you need extra help on an assignment or with a class. Some people have a hard time reaching out for help, but building a relationship with your instructors could make it easier to reach out to them when needed.
Learn More About Our Human Resources Program
* Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics 2022 / Occupational Outlook Handbook 2022. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.
