HR director – the name itself incites a sense of respect and prestige. This professional occupies a senior position in the organization, strategizing human resources. Their typical tasks would include taking care of employee well-being, overseeing the work of HR managers, promoting inclusivity, and recruiting the best-suited candidates.
Among the many skills needed to fulfill this role, the most important are solid communication, problem-solving, time management, adaptability, and leadership. The current US labor or workforce shortage stands at a shocking 70%. People are looking for work, but not all of them will be suitable.
Now, more than ever, forward-looking HR directors are required to ensure organizational growth. This scenario is expected to continue in the upcoming years. Now is the best time to understand how you can turn from an aspirant to a visionary HR director.
This article will discuss precisely that. Keep reading to understand what it takes to become an HR director.
Pursue a Relevant Degree
Like any other career field, you need to have a relevant degree to become an HR director. This is where things become interesting. An HR director is a unique role that supersedes an HR manager’s.
So, you will need to pursue a regular Bachelor’s in psychology, sociology, or administration. Once that degree has been acquired, you also need to gain a master’s in a similar field. Some aspirants on their road to becoming an HR director pursue additional degrees in employment relations or law.
This is done to create a strong foundation for employment standards and the current labor laws. Now, if you wish to work in a larger enterprise, the HR director’s role will extend to overseeing the entire department. This would include generalists, recruiters, and HR managers.
However, this would be more of a leadership role and may call for pursuing offline or online Doctorate in Education programs. Having such a degree with a leadership specialty would be of major help when it comes to conducting HR-specific research. Leaders can then make the right decisions that would promote organizational growth.
According to Spalding University, HR executives can gain a fresh perspective on becoming collaborative and transformational leaders. The course is usually interdisciplinary and diverse to help the professional lead their team ethically and strategically. So, depending on what kind of driver of change you wish to be, pursue basic and additional degrees.
Gain Some Experience
Prestigious as it is as a profession, the role of an HRA director is seldom an easy and stress-free one. There are an umpteen number of challenges that must be overcome. Studies have found that 36% of HR leaders admitted to not having adequate resources to attract top talent.
Then there is the sad statistic of 30% of new hires leaving within 90 days. An HR director must address such issues surrounding labor shortages over and above others. They must use various strategies like workforce planning, employee development, retention, and more.
To truly be able to excel in such crucial areas, you will need hands-on experience following the various degrees. This would naturally start via internships where you will have the opportunity to learn from experts walking the same path.
Then, your work experience in other HR roles like assistant, coordinator, specialist, generalist, and manager will be added to the resume. This is because HR directors require at least five years of work experience in most cases to qualify.
Receive Industry Certification
A wide range of industry certifications are available for HR directors and managers. Once you’ve climbed the corporate ladder in the HR department, it’s time to pursue such certifications to show employers that you’re fit for the role.
This type of certification can be received from top HR organizations such as the International Society for Performance Improvement or the Society for Human Resource Management. This will further add credibility to your existing role. Interviewers like to select candidates who walk the extra mile and acquire relevant skills beforehand.
Upskill Yourself Continuously
This point would closely tie to the one mentioned above. As per the World Economic Forum (WEF), upskilling oneself is the only way to stay relevant in today’s highly competitive business landscape.
This applies to all job roles, especially that of HR since the workforce of the 2020s is one of constant evolution. HR directors can only fulfill their role well when they’re thorough with the latest labor market trends and embrace new learning experiences.
Upskilling may best happen by collaborating with similar professionals across industry verticals. This will broaden your horizons and offer new perspectives on existing issues. When you can think from different angles, it becomes easier to make growth-oriented decisions.
We hope this article offers you insights into your journey from an aspirant to an HR director. It may seem far-fetched at times but long-term goals are equally important as short-term ones, if not more. Start with baby steps, keep steady, and you will reach your desired destination soon enough.
