In a few months I will have my MBA with a specialization in HR; however, I have no current HR experience. What is the best way to get started in the HR field?

Michelle, We wish you the best of luck! Your MBA will be very valuable as you progress in your HR Career. It gives you a solid business foundation and business perspective to bring to HR. Here are a few recommendations: * Target industries in which you have some work experience. For example, if you have experience in telecommunications, target the HR positions in that industry. You could provide better insight to what the culture is and where the needs are than someone without the industry experience. * Identify 2-3 people who are experienced in the position/field you are considering. Ask for information interviews. Seek candid answers from them to questions: * What about this positions/field is most rewarding to you? * How long have you been in the field? * What is you average day like? * How may hours a week to you work? * What kind of education do you have and what would you recommend to me starting out now? * If you had it to do again - would you chose this career path and why or why not? It is important to get a picture of what real people do and the up and downside of their roles. Explore HR by speaking with real people in the roles you are considering! * Explore taking university extension programs to fill in HR knowledge gaps, for example, in compensation or labor law. These courses are opportunities to learn from HR practitioners, HR instructors, and add to one's network. * Find an HR mentor at a fairly senior HR practitioner level. This person can give advice about how to start in an HR department. * Read job postings for HR positions for their job content as well as the knowledge, skills and aptitudes required. In this way you build an understanding of what a benefits administrator does, what a recruiter does, what an HRIS specialist does on the job. * Ask to observe an HR department to see how the functions interface and how employees interact with their HR department. * Apply for as many HR jobs as fit your skills and knowledge to increase chances of getting hired, and to learn more about how different companies view and design their HR functions. * Be willing to take an entry level, probably administrative position to get started. * Start networking! Attend networking events in your area. Please refer to our website under career resources for a list of associations. We wish you good luck, and congratulations on earning your MBA!