Military or Civilian, Human Resources Management Could be the Career for You

By Dr. Daniel Hladky
Faculty Member, Human Resources and Management at American Military University

Since I began teaching human resources management classes with American Military University (AMU), many military as well as civilian students have asked how they can transition into a career in human resources management (HRM).  As a former military member and retired sergeant major with the U.S. Army for over 23 years, I understand first-hand how daunting and almost overwhelming the transition from the U.S. military to a civilian career in any field–including HRM–can be, especially given our current economic environment.

Just recently I spoke with a young man who spent more than 10 years in his chosen field in the U.S. Army. He had served two tours in Afghanistan and felt that he had accomplished as much as he could and that his work was not providing him with a sense of accomplishment any longer. Furthermore, he felt his chances for promotion and advancement was virtually non-existent as the military was in the process of downsizing his career field.  After taking several classes at AMU he found a true interest in the field of HRM and requested additional information as to how to become an HR professional.

Another student expressed her desire to enter the field of HRM after her upcoming retirement from the U.S. Air Force in several months. She had been taking classes with AMU over the years and was close to completing her graduate degree. Her professors at AMU and the courses she had taken made her realize an interest in the field of HRM.

There are some tips I would highly recommend for anyone considering a career in HRM:

1. First things first, what do you know about the field? Be honest with yourself and assess your strengths and weaknesses. For example: what is your experience level, formal education, and basic knowledge of the field of HRM?
2. “Interview” one or more HR managers at various organizations to learn what they look for in a new hire. One way to do this is by contacting them through LinkedIn. Find out the essential experience needed and the formal education requirements required to enter the field and compare those requirements against your current qualifications.
3. Study and learn the “jargon” and lexicon associated within the field of HRM. Come to understand the terms and acronyms that are significant and associated within the profession so when you interview for an HRM position you speak the language.
4. Join the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).  The society will keep you current and abreast of HR topics and strategies, legal issues and public policies, publications, research, and many other issues affecting the field of HRM.
5.  Continue your formal education within the HRM field and obtain as many professional certifications and official designations as possible. Seek and complete your certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).
6. If you are still on active duty with the military visit your Installation Education Center for assistance, stop by the Transition Assistance Center for help with writing a professional resume, and find out what specific education benefits are available to you both while you are on active duty and after you leave the military.
7. Finally, make yourself as professionally attractive as possible. Prepare a formal resume designed to “get the interview”.  Remember, the skills you learned in the military as a leader and manager are extremely valuable in the civilian sector as well. The values and ideals that made you successful in the military will make you successful in the civilian workplace as well

Learning and education are life-long endeavors.  Today’s HR managers are not the personnel managers of the past. HRM has become an integral component to an organization’s overall success. HRM touches every facet of the organization including recruiting, staffing, employee selection, training and development, workforce diversity, and compensation and benefits. At every level, HRM is a fascinating and exciting field and a very rewarding and challenging profession.

About the Author:

Dr. Daniel Hladky (Dan) has been a professor with American Military University (AMU) since 2001. During that time, he has taught both graduate and undergraduate classes in various disciplines including management and human resources development. His academic background includes a Ph.D. from Northcentral University in Business Administration and Human Resources Management, and a Master of Arts (MA) from Webster University in Human Resources Development (HRDV). In his “prior life” he was a Sergeants Major with the U.S. Army, and is now the education and training coordinator for a large financial services firm. In his spare time he enjoys running and scuba diving in Florida.