Bethany Miller went from helping people cope with life’s challenges to helping them acclimate to new jobs. The career pivot was a natural one – from counselor to HR professional, as many of the necessary skills overlapped.
Thanks to an online human resources management certificate at USF, Miller easily made the switch from a drained school counselor to an HR professional in higher education.
“I knew for a long time that I was being pulled in a different direction, I just didn’t know where,” she said. “So, it was frustrating being in a field that I knew wasn’t right for me anymore.”
For Miller, helping others had always been at the core of her work. But, after nearly a decade of navigating the emotional demands of school counseling and teaching, Miller realized that she needed a change.
After paying attention to her clicking habits when looking at job postings online, Miller noticed that many of the roles she gravitated toward were in HR. She started talking to HR professionals online to pick their brains and hear their advice.
That’s when Miller realized that the field offered her the chance to use her counseling skills in a new way. After completing the USF Human Resources Management Certificate, she didn’t just find a new career – she found a new passion.
One benefit of transferring to an HR career was that she wouldn’t have to earn additional degrees to enter the field. Instead, she could pursue an online certification such as USF’s HR Management Certificate and be well-equipped for HR roles.
“My counseling background gave me an unexpected advantage in HR. The skills I developed in empathy, communication, and problem-solving were extremely helpful,” she said. “I decided that would be the best fit for me.”
After exploring several options, she chose USF’s HR Management Certificate. She liked that it was online and, as a Floridian, felt that having instructors who had professional networks within the state would be a major advantage.
CHANGING HER PATH
To earn her HR Management Certificate, Miller completed nine diverse courses, including SHRM Essentials, HR Law, and Business Acumen for HR Professionals. These topics ranged from practical HR law to advanced subjects like HR data-based decision-making and talent acquisition.
Immediately after completing the certificate, Miller secured an entry-level role as an HR representative at Florida State University.
“I knew that to take a step forward, I was probably going to have to take a step back at first,” she said. “It’s just part of the process when you’re switching careers. This role taught me so much about labor relations and business acumen. Most importantly, I learned that I made the correct career choice.”
A year later, Miller was promoted to an upper-level position as a senior HR specialist at FSU Libraries. She now wears many hats and is gaining experience in a range of HR functions.
“I’m helping with onboarding, I’m on several interview committees and assisting with those processes,” she said. “I’m also assisting with recruiting, but in a different way because I’m the department representative. It’s almost like I’m a generalist because I switch gears between many different things.”
MORE THAN A SERIES OF COURSES
USF’s program wasn’t just a series of courses – it was a lifeline. The flexibility of the online format allowed Miller to balance work and learning, while the instructors, with deep professional networks in Florida, offered invaluable insights and connections.
Miller never felt like she was going through this career change alone. Most of the courses were provided in a live, online format to allow participants to get to know their classmates and make connections with one another.
“No matter who the instructor was, there would be breakout sessions where we would be placed in groups to discuss certain scenarios and then come back and discuss them as a class,” she said. “Everyone had varying professional backgrounds, so it was helpful to see how skills from so many fields can be transferred into HR.”
APPLYING KNOWLEDGE
Classes like SHRM Essentials of HR, Talent Acquisition, and HR Law 1 and 2 were crucial, teaching her skills ranging from best practices for candidate assessment during the interview process to compliance, ethics, and interpreting Florida laws and regulations.
Miller is excited to continue growing in her HR career and expanding her skillset in the field.
“I don’t want to box myself in,” she said. “You can set a goal, but life is going to happen anyways, too, and doors are going to open that you can’t even see around the corner.”
To fellow professionals who are looking to pivot their careers into human resources, she offers sage advice.
“Focusing on transferable skills is going to be really important,” she said. “Join any organization that you can be a part of, too. Those things can show that you’re serious about the career change, and it’s not just the flavor of the moment.”
Miller’s journey demonstrates the power of reinvention. With the right skills and support, she has found a fulfilling career in a completely new field – one that aligns with her core values. “I never imagined HR would be my future, but it’s been one of the most rewarding moves I’ve ever made,” she said. “If you feel stuck, take that leap – you might just find the career you were always meant for.”
For those looking to make a similar career move, explore the opportunities available through USF’s HR Management Certificate.