This is an exciting time to be a human resource professional.  Whether positive or negative, there is a huge spotlight on our profession, forcing our leaders to ensure all the “ducks are in a row” so to speak.  From monumental changes in employment law to health care reform, HR pros are on a first name basis with the business community.

I have been in the HR field since I graduated from college in 2004.  Since that time I have watched and actively participated in our profession gaining momentum.  We have gone from finally winning that seat at the table to fighting to keep it.  Some may consider having to fight to keep our seat a negative aspect of our jobs but I disagree.  This type of fight forces us to stay abreast of all the groundbreaking concepts, opinions and research surrounding our field.  It keeps us in the foreground of a monstrous business field, where the finance department usually gets all the attention.

The evolution of HR has been a long time coming and with tools like social media, it will continue to have a huge impact on how we do our jobs.  It excites me to see the unlimited opportunities for the improvement of our profession through technology.  For example, the HR blogging community now has clout, not just for interesting opinions on tough subject matter but for initiating necessary discussions to help us progress.  China Miner Gorman, Chief Global Member Engagement Officer for the Society for Human Resource Management believes:

“Blogging, micro-blogging and social media are no longer viewed as taboo.  In fact, they are becoming much more mainstream for HR, and our SHRM members are very interested in understanding what’s happening out there.  Blogs, for instance, are a venue where people tend to say what’s really on their mind, whether constructive or negative.  For HR, the value is in knowing what people (employees, customers and other stakeholders) really think about policies and practices.  As you know, at the SHRM Annual Conference in New Orleans, we held our first-ever session on HR blogging.  The beauty of that panel was that we had four very different types of HR bloggers on stage talking about how they got into blogging and what it has meant to their professional development and their professional effectiveness.  Their experiences were in some ways similar, yet different – but they were all blogging for and about HR.  That’s what was really motivating to see.  HR is making its voice heard like never before.”

HR bloggers have become “celebrities” in our field.  With their help there has been a push for more education in linking HR with technology.  I recently talked with Ben Eubanks of Upstart HR and posed the following question:  Is linking technology with HR essential?  He replied, “No it’s not essential to link technology and HR.  Human resources can go on with its traditional role, planning the office birthdays and making sure people take the exact number of sick leave hours.  It can also sit in the corner when real strategies are being planned.  However, if HR is going to be something bigger and better, then embracing technology is an amazing way to make a difference.  Communicate with employees.  Capture, analyze and forecast metrics.  Use technology to make HR indispensable.”

A great example of how far we’ve come is the advent of HRevolution, an “un-conference” that will focus on integrating technology like social media and blogging with functional human resources. The event will be held in Louisville, KY on November 6^th and 7^th (register here).  When I first heard of this event I was very excited.  To that end I had a discussion with HRevolution co-founder and blogger for HR Ringleader, Trish McFarlane who said, “For me, the idea came from hearing so many HR people involved in social media talking about how conferences were not delivering relevant information on social media for HR.  I hope that each person that comes will be able to teach what they know and how they apply social media to HR.  I also hope that each participant walks away with some actionable take aways from what they learned.”  Sharing is a big part of the evolutionary HR movement and is essential to its success.

I hope by now you are actively participating in the evolution of our industry.  If not, why?  Get involved – take an active stand and show your company why you deserve to be respected.  Don’t be the quiet HR pro who just “goes with the flow.” Do something that provides value to the industry.  I’m not saying you need to start your own blog but you can read, comment and initiate conversations with this community.  I promise…you won’t be disappointed.

Job seeking and the strategies and preparation involved in the job search can be expensive.   Let me clarify that the frugal job seeker is one whose money conscious yet very strategic in how they manage their job search and the tools and resources they choose to use and invest in.  Like any marketing campaign, it is important to select and manage your resources.  If done carefully, you can effectively prepare and market yourself for under $500.  Money well spent.  In my own experience, the frugal yet strategic job seeker can lessen the amount of time in the job search by 25-50%.  From a finance management perspective, this is a phenomenal return on investment.  Here are some insights.

Personal Branding Consultation.  ($300) Just like a real estate home stager, a personal branding consultant can get you off on the right foot.  Home stagers provide an unbiased opinion and are trained to highlight your home’s strengths while downplaying its weaknesses.  Most consultants and career coaches including myself are willing to provide a personal branding and marketing consultation for perspective clients.  Xceptional HR provides a basic career package of a resume, cover letter, reference check, and intial consult for $300.   By meeting with an expert, you can get a feel for the market, have custom designed marketing materials, and a sense of direction that highlights your strengths and downplays your weaknesses.

Professional Business Cards.   ($50) Professionally designed business cards are essential for job seekers of all backgrounds.  I recommend using a design company to help you design your business cards instead designing and printing them yourself.  It is important to include your contact information, your professional website or LinkedIn profile url, as well as a memorable tag line or description that differentiates you from the rest.  Using color appropriately is also important.  A business card can be a difference maker that shows companies and professionals that you are serious about your professional job search.  For the seriously frugal job seeker, Vista Print offers 250 free business cards and has templates and colorful backgrounds that you can take advantage of.

Professional Dress.  ($125) A great suit and accessories can make a lasting impression.  Purchase items that you can mix and match to get the most bang for your buck.  For the ladies, purchase a nice suit that includes pants, skirt, and blazer.   Use different accessories like scarves, jewelry, and also blouses for different looks.  I encourage men to do the same with ties, cuff links, and dress shirts.  Department stores like J.C. Penny’s, Kohls, Target, and also thrift stores offer professional yet affordable options.  When making a clearance or thrift store purchase, you can have your suit tailored to fit your body type at an affordable price.  I once purchased a $350 suit at Nordstroms for 75% off.  I had it custom tailored for $75 and walked into an interview looking like a million bucks.

Networking Events.  ($25) Use Social Media sites LinkedIn Groups, Meetup.com, Wimgo.com, FaceBook events, and your network to find free networking events.  $25 includes the cost of gas to attend these events.  Since many of these events are Happy Hour Networking events, order a water with lime to save on the cost of alcohol while ensuring that you are professional no matter what the circumstance.

Keith Ferrazzi

Anyone who read my earlier post is aware of how much I have been looking forward to hearing Keith Ferrazzi speak at HR Florida.  Keith presented one of the Masters’ Sessions entitled “Relationships for Group Success”.  He is the author of two bestselling books emphasizing the importance of relationships in our personal and professional lives.

Keith’s two hour presentation included several “group work” sessions in which we were encouraged to use his relationship development ideas.  Each attendee’s experience was affected by what they learned through listening and interacting with others. It has taken several days of reflection to summarize my “take homes.”  Here they are:

*Relationships are fundamental to our success!

*Deep social bonding among team members will result in greater success for the team.

*It is essential to develop a strategic plan for our lives.  What do we want to achieve in 30 days? 3 years? Long term? (We must know where we’re going before we can map out a route to get there.)

*Find two people with whom to develop “lifeline relationships.”  Lifeline Relationships incorporate peers who we care for and respect. These relationships should be mutually beneficial and include the core values of honesty, transparency, and accountability. (Note the concept of “mutual relationship” – people are not a commodity to be used and tossed aside.)

*Ask for help: “What do you see me doing that holds me back?” (Friends can help someone recognize and move beyond negative behaviors and subliminal patterns.)

*Remember feedback is a gift. It is information to be processed just like all other experience.  Take it or leave it, but always say “Thank you”. 

We often hear the saying – “It’s not what you know, but who you know.” There is some truth in this statement; we are who we are because of our relationships with others. The relationships we develop at work, chapter meetings, conferences, and volunteering in the community help us to grow personally and professionally.  In Human Resources, as in life, “what you know” is critical, but it is in relationships with others that we are able to leverage that knowledge to make a difference.