Gaining HR Knowledge

We all learn something new each day, especially when dealing with the complexity of humans. Working in HR can be overwhelming, but with the right resources, it doesn't have to be. Here are five ways to gain HR knowledge:

1. Become a Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) member

SHRM memberships can be a bit pricy at $219 per year, but it is well worth it when you see what it has to offer. Becoming a SHRM member means gaining access to key tools and resources such as sample policies, latest HR news, webinars and more!

2. Join a local HR group

Joining a local HR group is a great, more affordable way to be around people who understand your struggles. Having access to this network gives you the opportunity to ask questions and share ideas. I highly recommend looking for a local SHRM chapter which provides regular meetings on trending HR topics and the much needed networking.

3. Certifications

There is always the option to go to school specifically for HR, but a lot of times, people fall into HR without intending to do so. One of the best ways to gain HR knowledge is committing time and money to a HR certification. Studying for the certification of your choosing allows you to deep dive into a variety of HR sections: HR strategy, DEI, employee relations, risk management and much, much more! The two most common HR certification providers are SHRM and HRCI.

4. Find a mentor

Mentoring relationships will look different depending what you want to get out of them. When seeking a mentor, have an idea of who that person is and what you hope to gain from them. After finding a mentor, you will be able to better navigate the best way to communicate, whether that is quarterly lunches, a text chain, etc. Regardless of how your mentoring relationship looks, both parties will gain knowledge from each other.

5. Learn from your mistakes

This might sound very cliché, but what is worse than making a mistake? The answer is, of course, making the same mistake 2 or 3 times. Every situation in HR is going to be different, but knowing what has and has not worked for you and your business will help you make better HR decisions.

Overall, we will never have all the answers working in HR, and that's what happens when you work with humans. You will be surprised many times in your career, but having these resources will help you grow professionally.