If you’re an HR Department of One, that means that you are generally doing a little bit of everything. You are the CHRO and the administrative assistant…usually all at the same time. You have to have in-depth knowledge in all areas of the employee lifecycle, from recruiting to termination and all compliance situations in between. Add that to the skill set required to be a trusted advisor to leadership, and without a doubt, the HR Department of One is quite a position!

From Accounting to HR Department of One: Karen’s Story

With years of management experience behind her, Karen Ludovice decided she wanted to make a move into Human Resources. She had a solid background in accounting, but to move into the HR field she knew she’d need to supplement her on-the-job experience with education. She enrolled in classes at the local community college. She signed up for courses that included compliance, recruiting processes, and performance management. These classes would give her the information she could couple with her existing knowledge and that she believed could ensure successful Human Resources practices. With her new found knowledge in hand, Karen took the plunge and accepted an HR role at a manufacturing firm of about 150 employees.

Karen was the first Human Resources person her new company ever had. She reported directly to the CFO, who had been handling HR to this point. Karen came in with business experience, but as the organization knew, she had never run an HR department, especially an HR Department of One. Although her manager was incredibly supportive, Karen knew she’d need to show leadership she “knew her stuff” to be trusted with decisions.

HR Certification As the Foundation for Success

I came to know Karen through the community college courses I taught. Karen liked my style and felt that she would learn well from me. When Karen received an announcement that I was offering an HR test prep class online, she signed up. She hadn’t previously considered HR certification but realized it might be the exact solution she needed to show leaders that she was, in fact, the HR leader their organization needed.  

Karen completed my 6-week course and, after investing some time on her own for some additional self-study, passed the PHR on her first try!  Today, Karen continues to run the HR Department at Hansen Plastics and is a respected member of the leadership team. She now has access to additional resources including reception and accounting to assist her Department of One.

HR certification supports Karen’s position as a credible Human Resources professional. The ongoing continuing education required to maintain the certification continues to build upon Karen’s knowledge base and allows her to demonstrate her expertise in new ways. Karen stays involved and learns as an active member of the HR Topics Essentials program and past member of our mastermind group.

For many of you running an HR Department of One, the ability to advance will lie in your determination to bring more to the table. It will require an investment on your part, much like the one Karen made. And, as it did with Karen, if done correctly it will pay off for you as well!

If you’re considering HR Certification to help boost your career, we can help! Our next LIVE Test Prep class starts on October 29th. Seats are running out… so sign up today!

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