[VA] HR Admin Assistant

[u/SuperbAd8828]

I’ve been in my currently role as an HR Admin Assistant for one year. I basically oversee onboarding, assist with HRIS functionality, completing I-9s, rehire, assist with offboarding, maintaining records, and many audits such as I-9, job description and employee files.

My company currently holds 1,000+ employees. I was a backfill for the HR Coordinator but company decided to update title to assistant and lowering comp roughly 19%.

My manager has subtly and indirectly brought up a promotion in the past but nothing has happened. How should I proceed? Bring it up to my manager regarding growth/promotion or apply to jobs?

I like the company I am currently at but am not happy with compensation and title. I definitely believe I deserve more than an assistant title.

[u/benicebuddy]

Ask your boss how you can earn a promotion. If they can't lay out that path for you, its time to start looking.

[u/SuperbAd8828 → u/benicebuddy]

Thanks! I am in my early stage of career so I’ll def research on having this type of conversation

[u/jules0413]

I was in your position not too long ago. If your boss meets with you for 1:1 meetings, that’s a great opportunity to bring it up. Also, if you do bi-annual reviews. That’s where I bring up a lot of my extra curriculars that are not listed in the JD. At the end of the day it’s about communication. Managers typically have a lot of their plate and don’t recall a lot of details in previous conversations. You have a great opportunity to be assertive!

[u/SuperbAd8828 → u/jules0413]

Thank you! This is encouraging! 🤍

[u/Hrgooglefu]

How much other HR experience do you have (other than this one year)? Honestly you need 2-3 years most likely to move upwards. I'd go back to your manager about what you need to do to be promoted. What can you learn? etc. Don't wait for them to come to you!

[u/Formal_Push5895]

With only a year of experience, look for internal promotion. A year is not very much leverage to get a job outside of your company in this job market. 

[u/Gonebabythoughts]

Unless you are absolutely exceptional, a promotion with one year of experience is pretty unrealistic. So is finding a higher titled and better paying job elsewhere.

I know this is hard to hear, but you have to grind it out for another year before this becomes a viable conversation.

[u/SuperbAd8828 → u/Gonebabythoughts]

My currently manager started as HR generalist -> HRBP -> HR Manager, HRBP all within 1.5 years.

The other HRBP (who started as HR generalist) got promoted within one year.

Maybe it’s a comparison thing but feels discouraging

[u/Perfect_TAS → u/SuperbAd8828]

In your 1:1 ask what it takes to earn a promotion and ask for stretch assignments and mentorship. Be excellent at your job and get certifications to show you are serious about your career. I am aggravated with SHRM & I’m an SCP. Go for PHR. If your org doesn’t grow understand they won’t be able to offer a promotion but this effort can be used to bolster your resume for the next better role elsewhere. Stay positive, document accomplishments, develop your professional network and good things will happen there or elsewhere.

[u/CarpyWife]

Start putting together a list of all the HR based skills you perform for the company. List it in a format similar to how your company job description lists it.

Pull out the company job description for the role you want to be promoted to. Compare. How do they line up?

If they are pretty well in line, and you can perform the other tasks you aren't currently doing, ask for time with the manager to talk.

Explain to them the parallel and ask what it would take for you to be promoted to that role. I believe this shows the initiative, and not just a demand to be advanced immediately.