Build Your HR Career

Build Your HR Career

Paths, Skills, Credentials, Pay, Networks, and a Plan for the Years Ahead

By Trade Stevens, M.S., SHRM-SCP, PHR

Maybe you fell into HR, like I did. Maybe you're trying to get in, or trying to move up, or wondering which credential is worth your money and which direction is next.

Sound familiar?

I wrote Build Your HR Career as the conversation I wish I could have had at the beginning of mine, honest about what works and what doesn't.

This practical, conversational guide covers the paths into HR, the roles and specialties, the skills that matter, education and certifications, your first jobs, business acumen, generalist versus specialist, getting promoted, pay and negotiation, networks, mentors and sponsors, ethics, burnout, leading HR, and planning the years ahead.

What's included?

·      78-page digital PDF ebook you can read on your computer, tablet, or other PDF-compatible device.

·      14 chapters organized in four parts.

·      Practical toolkit with 16 appendices, including: self-assessment, skills gap worksheet, career map, yearly learning plan, story and resume worksheet, interview preparation sheet, informational interview guide, mentor meeting preparation, pay research and negotiation worksheet, first ninety days in a new role, promotion case worksheet, networking tracker, wellbeing check, and a twelve-month and ten-year career plan.

This book is written for someone entering HR, an early-career professional deciding what's next, a career changer, or a mid-career professional ready to lead, and it gives you a practical starting point.

There is no single front door into HR. There is a path that fits you, and a plan to follow it.

I'm Trade Stevens, a senior HR executive with more than 18 years of CHRO-level experience across multiple sectors. I created this guide to share practical approaches to the challenges HR professionals and the people who work with them face every day.

Start building the HR career you actually want.

Please note: This ebook is an educational resource, not legal advice. Employment laws vary by location and change over time. Verify current requirements and consult qualified professionals when appropriate. Career, pay, and credential information changes often. Verify current details with the schools, certifying bodies, and sources named in the book.