HR Certifications –where do these lead you?

Like most other fields, HR is a domain where you have to keep learning and become better at your job. You need to keep improving and build new skills. For HR professionals, certifications are the way to go to advance in the career. In fact, HR certifications are increasingly becoming mandatory to advance in an HR career. How?

There’s a reason to believe so. According to a PayScale report, HR certifications help professionals get more dollars, faster promotion, and more. Simply put, certifications are the new growth drivers for HR professionals. Some reports even suggest that certifications are a preferred credential over graduate degree among employers.

Benefits of certifications

Salary growth, hike, and promotions directly translate into growth. However, the benefits of taking certification courses in HR indirectly translate into performance of professionals.

1. Increased efficiency – Employers that hire certified HR professionals report that certified professionals perform better and are more efficient than non-certified professionals.
2. Strategic execution – HR function is increasingly becoming a strategic business function than an administrative function. Thus, it is increasingly important for HR professionals to think and execute strategically. Best HR certifications equip candidates with skills that help them perform and think HR function strategically. Some organizations have reported that certified HR professionals make an impact on the organization’s financial performance.
3. Confident – Certified HR professionals are more confident about their skills, role, and their contribution to their organization. Many professionals feel putting a certification on their resume helps them standout and makes them feel valuable to organizations.
4. Soft skills – Interpersonal and communication skills are a big chunk of skills required in the HR profession. Certifications help candidates to hone these skills, making them better at these skills.

Apart from above, having a certification shows that a professional is serious about his job and that he takes a keen interest in pursuing opportunities to advance their career. 

HR is diversifying. Enterprises are broadening their human resources operations to include sub functions: compensation and benefits, learning and development employee, etc. So HR certifications help to establish credibility in a sub field and make you an expert. Best HR certifications are generally specialized courses that make you an expert.  

Additionally, certifications in emerging and forward-looking areas like talent management equip professionals with new-age and strategic management skills, which are increasingly becoming imperative to excel in this career. Talent management certifications offer a comprehensive skillset to acquire, develop, and retain talent, while achieving business goals.   

Another benefit of HR certifications is the possibility for the diversification of career. It’s important for HR professionals to broaden their skillset to move ahead in the career. Most convenient medium to do so is to pursue certification courses in HR.

Short term courses may offer self-pace and on-demand online learning, equipping you with tested-and-proven human resource management strategies. Plus, these courses will be cost-effective. On the other hand, pursuing a full-time degree, another way to build skills, will cost more with added expanses of accommodation, books, food, etc.