In previous years, the only job of HR was to manage employees, i.e., hiring, firing, managing employees’ schedules, and a few other things. However, over the past few years, people have started to realize the importance of the field of HR and organizations have even started to invest in their HR department.
The reason people have realized the importance of HR is because of the changing trends and practices in the industry. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic was something that no one was aware of beforehand, which ultimately caused the world to come to a shutdown point. In this time of severity, businesses had to completely shift their business models online, from the workplace to the dealings, all of it was managed virtually. Although some of the businesses thrived in the pandemic, some businesses even faced huge losses just because they could not comply with the sudden changes.
During the pandemic, when remote workplace situation was introduced to the entire world, this led to a huge change for many businesses. Managing employees in an online setting was the biggest hurdle businesses faced. Not only this, but the companies also had to downsize and make several risky decisions in terms of HR, which eventually raised the significance of Human Resources.
Today’s HR does not only focus on managing current employees and performing two to three tasks daily, but it has increased its scope on a completely different level. HR professionals today handle compensation and benefits, recruitment, training and development, performance management, and so on. Therefore, individuals who still think that the field of HR does not have any potential to grow in the future are highly incorrect.
The field of HR is constantly growing, therefore, HR professionals have to stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends and practices. The best way to do this is by taking online HR courses with certification. HR certifications increase your knowledge, enhance your credibility, enlarge your skill set, and open numerous doors of opportunities for you.
How to get an HR certification
After the pandemic, several online institutes have been established to cater to a large audience. However, you need to find an institute that is renowned and provides accredited and globally recognized certifications. The process of getting an HR certification is:
The first task is to find a certification program. As said earlier, several institutes offer multiple programs, but you need to find the best one from the clutter. Some of the top globally recognized institutes that offer HR certification programs are HR Academia, AIHR, HRCI, ATL, etc.
You can also opt for online colleges that offer HR certification. These programs can be good if you do not have enough time to go to physical classes. However, many of these institutes are for-profit and, therefore, may not hold as much weight as one from another university or a credentialing program.
Step 2 – Pick a Certification Course
Many institutes offer a variety of self-directed certification programs that you could choose depending on your career level. While choosing a certification exam, you need to consider that the course content should offer you practical knowledge, rather than putting you through courses. Therefore, it is severely important to choose a certification course that could help elevate your career and not just earn an insignificant certificate.
When you choose a certification exam, you will also find out the requirements of certain exams. Most require some combination of HR experience and a degree, while some have no strict requirements, again depending on the institute and your career level.
Almost every certification course will include an exam at the end to earn you a certificate. The certification you receive is just an exam you take to prove your knowledge. Therefore, before you take the exam, you need to prepare for it. Many institutes provide their own preparation materials and course content for free and for purchase.
Once you have studied for the exam and are confident to test your knowledge, then you need to schedule your exam. Some institutes offer a year-round examination schedule, while some have a predetermined time according to which you need to register. Moreover, some institutes mandate an in-person exam, while some even give flexibility to candidates to take an online exam.
Till the day of the exam, you need to go through all of your course content thoroughly. Some institutes have preset criteria for passing the exam, which you should be aware of beforehand.
If the examination is to be conducted online, make sure your internet connection is stable throughout the test and your device is completely charged. Keep yourself away from all the distractions, which is why it is advisable to take your exam privately in a room.
If you have registered for the physical exam, you must arrive at the center at least 20 minutes ahead of time. Bring the required documents with you that are needed to prove your identity (most institutes highlight which documents to bring at the examination center), such as a government-issued ID, a driver’s license, or a passport. The test is usually conducted via computer.
Once you pass the exam, you automatically get certified. Some institutes provide you with the credentials instantly, while some take a few days to send the original document. The certificate is usually sent in a soft copy, which can be downloaded and sent to prospective employers.
Becoming a certified HR professional is very easy in this tech-savvy world. However, if you have some requirements of your own, such as online exam feasibility, low price, less course content, etc. then you need to select a program that supports your requirements. You will need to select multiple institutes and evaluate the best among them. Learning is the key to personal growth!
