Im getting the feeling that I may be truly out numbered here on the forum! Is there anyone here that is in their 20's or just starting their career in HR? x:-/
Right here with you! I am 25 years old and have been in the training/Hr field for about 3 years.. Nice that we have all these older folks to give us such great advice...but I do think we are outnumbered!
When I was in my 20s and starting out in employee benefits (first as a consultant and then on the corporate side), I used to visualize myself in my 50s as a matronly "Personnel Gal", wearing business suits, silk blouses, pearls, carrying a brief case, and dispensing bandaids and comfort to some lucky group of employees.
Well, I'm in my 50s now - matronly, but dressed in jeans, steel toed shoes and golf shirts, no jewelry (prohibited in the plant), and working really screwy hours (i.e., I start at 4:00 am on Fridays so I can hang out for a while with the third shift). When I started here as HR Manager two years ago, I made a promise that I'd make it to the "20 Year Club" even if it meant hobbling around on the plant floor in my walker!
Anyway, best wishes to you 20-somethings - I hope things in HR stay just as exciting over the next 30 years as they have over the past 30!
YEA!!!! I'm so glad you asked this question! I was feeling the same way! I will be 27 in a week & have been in HR for 5 years. We may be outnumbered, but you're definitely NOT alone! :DD
I'll be 27 in a couple of months, and this month will be my 3rd year in HR. I think I've learned just as much from this forum than I have these past 3 years. But nothing compares to the first hand experiences. Unlike my name, I'm far from being and HR Sage, I just hope to be as I get older and wiser. I did only miss 3 questions on the age test however, but I think that's just because I watched A LOT of T.V. as a kid.
Kind of like a walk down memory lane reading your postings. I can remember going into HR at age 27 in 1984. If someone had told me then I'd still be doing it now, I would have told them they were absolutely nuts! x:-)
I'm in my mid 30's. I've been in HR for about 10 years. I have learned a lot from this forum about HR and about myself (thanks Don D). I hope to retire by the time I'm 55. My only dream is that I don't run into a personal liability suit between now and then.
I have to admit that I have a son that is 30. Goodness where have the years gone and how did they pass so quickly? Now that the good Lord has seen to bless me with two more sons, ages 14 and 11, I am doing the most that I can to spend all the time with them that I can. It is good to know that we have such a great crop of "youngsters" to carry the HR banner high for the next several decades. Good luck to all of you, Dutch2
In turn, it is great for us to know that there is a future in this career we have chosen! Im really happy to have fallen upon this forum. If there is one thing I have noticed being in HR is that it is dificult for me to make "friends" at work (and mainly because I don't want it getting in the way of my work), and I visit the forum when I need support or when Im feeling lonely x:-)
I have a son who is 25 and twins that are 22. Can I be an honorary member of the 20 something club? Or, do I have to go back to the old folks home with Don?
Great idea Ray. As I said in my first post I have three sons in their 20s (just barely, the youngest turned 20 May 23) but I'm still with ya!
Incidently, my oldest who will be 27 this July, is single and nowhere near settling down. He will be informed he'll not be allowed to turn 30 without some offspring to sooth the way for old mom.
I just turned 30, can I be in you 20something group??? I've been in HR for 7 years (right out of college) and I am constantly learning so much. That's why I like my job!
I see some of the "older" folks have chimed in. My kids are in their 30's but I was a child bride. x:P I have found that HR does not allow you to age. You are constantly learning and experiencing new employee problems. You are required to be innovative and creative in your day to day routines. Hell, who has time for birthdays?
April...it's too bad that you find it hard to make friends at work. Continue to keep a professional environment and soon your employees will respect you for this. It's true you may have to seperate yourself from others based upon your position. However, there can also be a lot of good that comes out of the relationships that you develop with your staff! On one hand, don't be afraid to shoot from the hip and let people know where you stand. On the other hand, don't be afraid of establishing personable relationships as long as they're maintained on a professional level. Good luck in HR!
>Im getting the feeling that I may be truly out numbered here on the >forum! Is there anyone here that is in their 20's or just starting >their career in HR? x:-/
I have been in HR for three years, got a degree later in life, and I have not had a dull moment since. Every day is a new adventure and only wish I had started my HR career when I was in my 20's but at that point in my life I thought I would become a famous musician, little did I know . . . a great career in HR awaited!
No, you are not alone! I am 25 and have been in HR for a little over a year. But I love this forum...there are some days that it's the only thing that gets me through.
When I was 20 I remember thinking that maybe 33 or 34 was as old as I would possibly live to be. If that had been true, the perpetual care clause in my cemetery contract would have expired long ago.
29 and counting. The best part about the last six years in HR has been that when I thought I knew everything at 23 and went into HR, I found out quickly that I didn't. I continue to learn something new everyday. And, there is never a dull moment in HR!
Have been in HR for 7+ years now and daily have to remind myself that I DO actually know things, just not what I apparently need to know on that particular day. (Ever hear of the common esteem syndrome "I hope they never figure out I'm a fraud"?)
I'm glad to see all the 20's chiming in. It lets me know that on the Forum and in my classes as well, that there is a good crop of HR people to take over when the rest of us go on to what we want to do next. Incidentally, those of you that have kids in the 20's who are responding to this thread aren't very far along - my oldest turned 40 last month.
Comments
Nice that we have all these older folks to give us such great advice...but I do think we are outnumbered!
x:'(
Well, I'm in my 50s now - matronly, but dressed in jeans, steel toed shoes and golf shirts, no jewelry (prohibited in the plant), and working really screwy hours (i.e., I start at 4:00 am on Fridays so I can hang out for a while with the third shift). When I started here as HR Manager two years ago, I made a promise that I'd make it to the "20 Year Club" even if it meant hobbling around on the plant floor in my walker!
Anyway, best wishes to you 20-somethings - I hope things in HR stay just as exciting over the next 30 years as they have over the past 30!
It is good to know that we have such a great crop of "youngsters" to carry the HR banner high for the next several decades.
Good luck to all of you,
Dutch2
Good to hear from everybody!
April
Come on, How about a Group Hug!
xhugs
A 14 and 11 yr old and you are in your 50's? You go boy! I am in my 20's and don't think I'll have energy for one!
Incidently, my oldest who will be 27 this July, is single and nowhere near settling down. He will be informed he'll not be allowed to turn 30 without some offspring to sooth the way for old mom.
>forum! Is there anyone here that is in their 20's or just starting
>their career in HR? x:-/
I have been in HR for three years, got a degree later in life, and I have not had a dull moment since. Every day is a new adventure and only wish I had started my HR career when I was in my 20's but at that point in my life I thought I would become a famous musician, little did I know . . . a great career in HR awaited!
Bob Hope