3 Ways to Fast-Track Your Career Progression as an HR Professional

The human resources field has a lot of headroom. One can start their HR journey as an HR assistant doing the day-to-day administrative tasks of a company’s HR department.

From there, one can become an HR coordinator in charge of finding and recruiting talent, or an HR specialist specializing in a specific HR function like payroll, employee relations, and training and development.

With years of experience plus training — say, the completion of human resource courses in Abu Dhabi — one can become an HR generalist, an HR manager, and then an HR director. Further on, one can become a junior vice president of people operations, a senior vice president of people relations, and ultimately a C-suite level executive, the chief human resources officer.

Yes, the journey is challenging and the competition fierce. While there is ample vertical space to move up in the human resources field, you also have to work for every inch of gain you make.

Is it worth it? Definitely. The fulfillment and the payout of making it in HR make the climb worthwhile.

If you plan to make HR your lifelong career, here are a few ways to help you fast-track your career progression.

1. Get the CHRP (ILM-UK) Qualification

If you want to move from your entry-level HR position to at least an HR specialist position, prove that you have what it takes to perform HR specialist functions.

There are two ways you can do this:

First, you can remain an HR assistant for years. By creating the new hires’ onboarding documents, preparing benefits charts, logging absences, and doing many other HR-specific tasks according to your supervisor’s instructions, you will inevitably become experienced in HR specialist functions.

Another way — and the much better way — is training. Instead of waiting years to learn the basics of HR, invest in training that will let you grasp HR concepts and develop relevant and specific skills much quicker.

One of the best HR courses in Abu Dhabi is the Certified Human Resources Professional course.

Completing this course will prepare you for the CHRP assessment. If you pass that exam, you will earn a CHRP certificate and the ILM UK CHRP designation, an internationally recognized credential that tells anyone in the HR field you have specific knowledge about HR functions and the critical skills an HR role demands.

2. Job Hop Strategically

You’ve heard the stories of people switching companies to get ahead. They are called job hoppers, and job-hopping has an undeniable advantage.

There can be limited opportunities to grow in a company, especially a small one. For instance, suppose you work in a mid-size company where:

• There’s only one HR manager role.
• There are ten of you in HR specialist roles.
• You are not the next in line for the HR managerial position.

Suppose, also, that you:

• Have a bachelor’s degree in human resources.
• Are a certified human resource professional.
• Have five years experience in HR.

In this scenario, applying for a role in another company can be a strategic means to fast-track your ascent to HR manager or an equivalent position

Indeed, you can take advantage of job-hopping to:.

• Get a salary increase.
• Get a promotion.
• Move laterally to a position with more growth opportunities.

In the case of the last item, you can switch companies to take up a position equivalent to the one you currently hold, even one that may not have the same benefits.

For instance, one might move from a managerial role to become an executive secretary in an HR firm if the position means executive secretary training and an opportunity to interact with decision-makers, learn the ropes of an HR business, and be first in line for an executive post.

Caveat: Do not move companies just because you’re bored, and don’t jump ship for every little advantage. Furthermore, consider the context.

If you are in the United Arab Emirates on a work visa sponsored by your current company, you might have more limited options. Likewise, if your industry is so small that moving means engendering unpleasant sentiments on both sides of the fence, it might be best to reconsider your plan.

3. Volunteer for Projects

If you want to get promoted quickly, you must build a track record of excellence. Thus, do your job correctly and efficiently.

However, you cannot be content with the projects assigned to you. If you want to boost your career progression, you need to volunteer for other projects, especially challenging ones.

Therefore, if your manager wants someone to build an employee training program, volunteer to headline the project. If your company needs someone to evaluate the current pay structure, volunteer for that, too.

The key is to volunteer for projects aligned with your skill sets, although if you want to gain more experience, venturing out of your comfort zone can also be extremely rewarding.

Fast-Track Your HR Career

There are many opportunities for career growth in the HR field. To take advantage of these opportunities, earn an HR professional certification, job hop strategically, and volunteer for projects.

If you are ready to fast-track your HR career, enroll in our HR training courses in Abu Dhabi.