Hogge 1

Adam Hogge
Phil Nelsen
BUS 1010-407
22 July 2016
ePortfolio Term Project Paper
I have always been fascinated with the idea of teaching. Ever since I can
remember, I have wanted to be like my dad and being a teacher, I fell in love with the
idea. I like the idea of leading a group and helping them accomplish goals. I also
appreciate the sense of self and believe that people should be treated with respect and
with giving people that respect towards them, I feel that one holds the keys to success.
As I developed and grew in experiences I understood that I would want to better
provide for my family and also at the same time find a better way to appease my
analytical side. I decided to take a business route and in doing so came to understand
that I could still fulfill my desire to teach and analyze and knew Human Resource could
help me.
I proposed to become a Human Resource Officer but as I came to study more I
recognized that I might to rise to a leadership role and become a Human Resource
Manager and not just a HR Officer. The path to become both HR Officer and an HR
Manager requires first entry level positions regardless of schooling and experience
although you need both to some degree to be considered. I was able to find a generic

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career path to become an HR Manager. Typically, the career path starts with becoming
an HR Administrator. An Administrator helps process any information an Officer or
higher need to fulfill their obligations. Next is becoming an Assistant which allows a
more hands-on experience because you are working alongside an Officer or Advisor.
Being an Assistant to an Officer or Advisor will help determine what branch would be
best to follow as there are different branches off. From Assistant a promotion leads to
anyone of the following four roles HR Employee Relations, HR Payroll, HR Health and
HR Safety.
HR Employee Relations helps in the recruiting process and understands the needs
and roles of the company and familiarizes with new and existing employees in order to
best fill any roles and positions. HR Payroll approves, processes and adjusts anything
payroll which could include but are not limited to insurance coordination, budgeting to
match needed staffing and forecasting payroll expenses. HR Health and HR Safety
coordinates with insurance companies, ensures requirements are met for building and
work environment of employees, etc. Finally, HR Officer and HR Advisor are
respectively responsible for handling meetings with executives and counseling and
meeting with issues employees or employers face related to each other. From these two
positions, when the opportunity opens, HR Manager is available to lead and guide
those in the HR department and coordinates with the HR Director for meeting needs as

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the Director answers to the executives of the company and any issues they might
address (Monster.com 2016).
In general Heathfield describes that the Human Resource Department is . . .
devoted to providing effective policies, procedures, and people-friendly guidelines and
support within companies. Additionally, the human resource function serves to make
sure that the company mission, vision, values or guiding principles, the company
metrics, and the factors that keep the company guided toward success are optimized
(Heathfield 2016). This is key to determine the direction of the company and ensure
every expectation is met by recording and investigating any policy and procedure that
might occur.
Sam Lennartson gave great insight into what it means to be an HR Officer
although there for a short period of time. Sam never got her degree and was able to
move up internally, showing her qualities and excellent skills in any human resource
type of situation. Sam gave a great example of the skill it takes to handles difficult
situation when she first started in her HR Officer position. She described that an
employee was offended by something a lateral supervisor said during a break playing
foosball. She had to deal justly but was also able to be merciful as she questioned all
involved for the full story from both sides before she made up her mind in the name of
the company (Lennartson 2016). Many situations as described can be stressful and many
eyes will see how you handle the situation which will help them trust you as an HR

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representative or despise you. Being able to handle these situations encourages me to
pursue HR further because I am able to empathize to help them trust I have their best
interest at heart.
Although each position varies in pay, HR Manager average around $96,000
salary. This is different depending on location and experience with length of time in the
position or related. HR Managers are considered on the higher end of the pay scale with
only HR Directors as higher paying. HR Managers on average do not make more than
$123,000 (salary.com 2016). With this type of salary, I believe it would be good
compensation for the tasks required. This is also very reasonable as, although it helps
remove doubt, a degree is not necessary in order to work as an HR Manager as
Nicholson says. He challenges the degree when he says What abilities and knowledge
must they possess? What are the most important skills? Then ask yourself if those
requirements are attainable without a degree.
The pros of working in Human Resource in general is to be able to connect with
so many people and help fulfill their needs as they are discovering and developing
themselves. Also to be able to set and maintain policies and procedures. Cons would be
to have to keep up with some of the drama that occurs and helping remove emotion
from a situation while still accommodating to certain pressures and needs.
After being able to research and evaluate Human Resources in general and HR
Manager/Advisor I believe I would be a good fit because I am patient and require for

Hogge 5
myself the same that would be needed for the situations at hand. A reason it would be
difficult for me to fulfill the role is handling high pressure situations face-to-face
because I usually shut down or find it harder to resolve any issues. All in all I can see
myself working in Human Resources and know that with the difficulties come the
rewards of helping others resolve their dreams or expectations of a company. I would
primarily work with the people directly instead of indirectly through Safety and Health.

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Works Cited
Heathfield, S. M. (2016, June 16). Retrieved July 20, 2016, from
http://humanresources.about.com/od/glossaryh/f/hr_department.htm
What are the common HR career paths? (n.d.). Retrieved July 20, 2016, from
http://www.monster.co.uk/career-advice/article/what-are-the-common-hrcareer-paths
Nicholson, N. (Ed.). (2012, November 29). Educational Background vs. Experience:
What is Most Important? Retrieved July 20, 2016, from
http://hr.sparkhire.com/human-resources-news/educational-background-vsexperience-what-is-most-important/
Human Resources Manager Salaries. (2016, July). Retrieved July 20, 2016, from
http://www1.salary.com/Human-Resources-Manager-Salaries.html
Lennarston, S. Retrieved July 1, 2016. Interview as Human Resource Officer. Progressive
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