Ask the HR Capitalist - Is a M.A. or PHR Better for My Career?

From the mailbag:
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KD -

Thanks for your recent article in Workforce Week, "What Are HR Certifications Worth?"  It answered a question that's been rolling around in my brain for a while, and prompted me to look more closely at the possibility of certification.

I was hoping you'd be kind enough to tell me what you think of programs offering a Master of Arts in Human Resources.  I am currently "doing" Human Resources in a large public setting (200+ employees), but have no business degree or other credentials for the job; I have a Masters in a non-HR Field.  I am extremely happy in the job and have no intention of leaving, but realize that conditions could always take a turn for the worst when our director retires, and I don't want to be stuck if I should suddenly be miserable in my job.  So I'm kind of looking for an employability safety net, but I have no interest in going back for nearly four years of full-time schooling in order to obtain a bachelor's level business degree.

Is the MA in HR worth anything?  Or would you recommend going the certification route?  Or something else entirely?

Shirley
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Shirley -

Thanks for the question.  I've seen the same situation with others, and first up, you're smart for looking forward and trying to figure out the best way to maximize your career.  In answering your question, I'm making the assumption, since you are willing to chase a Masters in HR, that you enjoy and are motivated by the HR side of your job.  Is that correct?  Good...

Now, assuming you are looking to maximize your positioning as a HR Pro, I have some pretty specific advice for you since you're not currently in a HR title.  Here's my rundown of what I would have you do...

--First up, I would meet with your director and explore the possibility of moving you into a pure HR title, such as HR Generalist, HR Representative, etc.  Although you didn't say this, it sounded like you might be in another type of role.  The biggest thing that is going to help you land in an HR spot, from where you are, is ensuring you have a HR title that people like me would recognize.

--On the education front, you already have a Masters, but it's in a field that won't get a lot of play from HR hiring types.  With this in mind, if you choose to go back to school, I would diversify yourself by pursuing a MBA instead of a Masters in HR.  The MBA will still hold value to HR hiring types, and combined with a solid HR title in your current job, it's the best combo that would get you hired in your next position.  The MBA also gives you options other than HR if you burn out.  You've already got one very specific MA, no need to go for another narrowly defined degree.

--Finally, if you have a gap before you start the MBA program, I would pursue the certification.  As you saw in my article, there aren't hard numbers regarding ROI, but at the very least it is a resume' sorter that will help you get in the "yes" stack.  With your academic background, you'll work on it and more than likely pass the exam the first time.

Good luck and let me know if I can do anything to help you...

KD

Comments

[Frank Giancola]

Shirley,

I would disagree with Kris on this one and I guess there are two ways of looking at the situation. I would go for your MA in HR if that is your chosen field. An MBA is good if you want to work in business. I got my MBA first, when I was working in HR and it didn't help much with my HR job, so I then pursued an MA in HR which was more beneficial to my career. An MBA also will requires good quantitative ability, which must be considered, and may require you to take undergraduate courses in accounting and economics.

If you are looking for a quicker route to an accepted credential and knowledge base in HR, get a certification which shouldn't take that long and then go for the MA in HR. The MA will give you much more knowledge of HR than the certification, which I also have.

Frank

[Ann Bares]

I'm going to jump in with a hybrid suggestion. I would concur with Frank that starting with HR certification to establish an initial knowledge base in HR and get a foothold in the field is a good beginning, but after that I would vote (with Kris) for an M.B.A. - preferably from an institution that would allow you to major in HR or Organizational Behavior. If we in the field of HR are ever to have a hope of contributing at a strategic level in the organizations where we serve, we MUST have a fundamental understanding of how those organizations compete and create value in the marketplace. And, yes, this means coursework in finance/accounting, marketing, strategy, and operations management - ideally in combination with a concentration in HR/IR/OB/OD.

My two cents worth. I will look forward to what others have to say.

[Ed Harris]

Shirley,

Agree and disagree with above.

Go for the certification first. Then go for the MA in HR. The MBA does not give you enough HR course work and ultimately knowledge of HR will determine how far you go. It's good to know something about accounting, marketing, etc, but people expect you to be an expert on HR. So if they ask you a question about, for example, organization development and don't have the answer, that is unexpected and will make you look bad. If you indicate a lack of knowledge about accounting, for example, that is expected and will do no harm.

In your HR MA studies, take some business electives to round your self out and stay up on your firm's business by studying its business operations, reading industry publications and the Wall Street Journal.

Ed Harris

[Jim Price, SPHR]

Shirley,

I agree with Ann's advice.

For HR to make recommendations to our business partners without thoroughly understanding all of the components of their business broaches on malpractice.

Get your certification, then enter into a reputable MBA program - one that will allow you to concentrate on HR, Organizational Behavior, etc. This will give you additional insight into HR while also growing your capabilities as a business leader.

If there isn't such a program in your area, then by all means go for the MA in HR, but be sure to augment your degree with a set of solid foundational classes in things like marketing, accounting, strategic business management and the like.

What's good to note from the comments is that there isn't one singular road to a successful HR career. With your commitment to learning, I'm sure you're going to be fine no matter what path you take.

Good luck!

[Ed Harris]

Go for the MA in HR rather than the MBA with an HR concentration. You are supposed to be an expert in HR,and an MBA won't impart enough knowledge of HR to achieve that goal.

Also, the point above regarding attending a repected school is valid. For example, degrees form the University of Phoenix are increasingly being called into question for their value. Intel has refused to allow tuition reinbursement for UofP business degrees because they weren't of value to employees in getting ahead and the school lacks the accredidation of the national business school accredidation body.

See this NY Times article for more information:

http://www.chariot.com/csgvuop/articles/nytimes.html

[A.J. Figliolini]

Sorry to be late to this entry, but why not have it both ways and get an MBA/Master's in HR dual degree? I am in the MBA/MILR program at Cornell, and it is great, providing a mix of business management breadth with depth in HR. For more information:

http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/gradDegreePrograms/degrees/MILRMBA/

http://www.johnson.cornell.edu/currentstudents/handbook/milr.html

[Nikki Harper]

Hello All.....I'm new to this site and would like to THANK YOU!!! all for the thread above. I have been tosing and turning about what to do with my career. I am an HR Pro who sort of grew into the field. Don't get me wrong I aspired to be an HR Professsional but I wasn't focused enough in my earlier years. Despite my flakiness....I
managed to land a position as HR Director of a Major Hotel chain and Sports and Entertainment Company. At this point life has changed with a new baby that caused a litle sabbatical and now I'm trying to figure out which way to turn to make myself valuable in this tough market. Again....you have answered my questions and I will definitely be back to this page.