Welcome!
Hello and welcome to the Iowa SHRM (IASHRM) Emerging Professionals & College Relations site! As we seek to improve our Emerging Professionals & College Relations and develop our SHRM Student Chapters, we hope that you will join us on this journey in making sure that we provide our future leaders with the available resources and tools, as well as mentoring them as they develop into our future HR Professionals.
Emerging Professionals &
College Relations
Student Chapters
Currently, Iowa has four active student chapters. Additional information about these student chapters can be found here.
The Iowa Society for Human Resource Management (IASHRM) Emerging Professionals & College Relations team supports the various student chapters throughout the state. The college relations committee assists higher education institutions with Human Resources programs to develop their student led professional chapters. These student chapters expose their members to educational, career, and professional opportunities to explore human resources as an area of study and future career choice.
If you are interested in the Emerging Professionals & College Relations Committee or volunteering with one of our universities, please contact Darla Gabrielson.
Benefits of Student Membership
Often times, there are questions about the differences between student and professional membership. Registering for student membership enables you, while you are working toward your degree at a reduced rate, opportunities to: access information about current trends and topics in human resources, networking opportunities, and acquire experience by serving in a leadership role. For more information about student membership please click here.
Information on Internship and Job Opportunities
Internships
In today's global and rapidly changing economy, a great way to get a head start on your career in human resources is to pursue an experiential educational opportunity in the form of an internship, co-op or volunteer experience. To assist you in finding these opportunities SHRM has partnered with Internships.com that allows you to check out to find the latest internship opportunities across the United States. Coming soon, this page will also host information about Internship Opportunities throughout Iowa.
Jobs
While there many different ways to obtain jobs in human resources one place where you can look is on the SHRM job board. We also list Job Opportunities throughout Iowa here.
FAQs
Frequent Asked Questions Concerning College Relations and SHRM Student Chapters
Where do I find information on forming a SHRM Student Chapter and other information on SHRM Student Chapters?
The SHRM Student Resource Center is an excellent place to start. Within this resource there are Student Chapter Resources, Student Chapter Brochures and Printable Resources, Advisor and Emerging Professionals & College Relation Resources, Resources for HR Educators, and SHRM Chapter Directories for both Professional and Student Chapters.
What is my role as a Student Chapter Advisor?
The success of a student chapter is determined by your dedication in providing the continuity as well as developing a strong leader for the student chapter. As the person closest to the students, you play an integral role in advising and assisting the students in running their own chapter. Future leaders for local chapters are often are student leaders, before they become professional leaders. In essence, you hold the key to the future of your local chapter. Carrying out your responsibilities is critical to the success of the chapter. So what are those responsibilities?
Specific information and guidance can be found in the SHRM Student Chapter Resource Center
What can I do to engage today’s students?
What can I do to engage more students in the local SHRM Student Chapter?
Engaging today’s students and making them aware of the resource and opportunities offered through local chapters, as well as thru SHRM is critical, if you are to have a successful student chapter. Here are some ideas for engagement.
What can I do to engage more students in the local SHRM Student Chapter?
What are some best practices for SHRM Student Chapters?
How do I go about developing an internship program?
One of the great benefits that you can provide to future Human Resource Professionals or any student majoring in business is to provide them internship opportunities. By focusing on business majors many have not determined their future profession or might not have a Human Resource major at their college. This is a wonderful opportunity to help them in determining that Human Resources could be a viable profession for them by providing real world experience during their college years. Here are some tips to follow to ensure the success of your program:
1. Gain Support of the Local Chapter and Management at the companies where internships will take place. Gaining a commitment up front will help ensure that the time, energy, supervisory and financial resources (if applicable) are available for developing a strong internship program.
2. Define specific eligibility requirements. Determining eligibility requirements for all internships helps to set the foundation and criteria used in the selection process, i.e. currently enrolled college students, GPA, preferred/required major(s), specific skills and experience.
3. Maintain a strong working relationship with the college by developing a relationship with the career counselors. This will help promote your internship program as well as help to find which students are seeking an internship.
4. Define internship benefits, i.e. housing, transportation, food stipends. You will also need to determine if the internship will be paid (recommended), but based on entry level positions in the field. Some organizations offer unpaid internships but require do the internship for credit.
5. Ensure the organization hosting the internship has an orientation program for new interns. Remember this may be their first experience in a working environment. By helping to orient them to the work environment, you are ensuring that they are going to be much more successful.
6. Ensure students will receive the proper training, supervision and mentoring. Just having them copy and file does not an internship make. By ensuring creative quality and meaningful work assignments, you are helping the student learn and gain knowledge in the field.
7. Develop detailed job descriptions or ensure they are available outlining task and responsibilities of the internship.
8. Students should receive consistent and detailed feedback during the internship on a regular basis. Especially, if the organization is considering extending a full-time job offer to the student after graduation.
Keep in mind that companies often look at an internship as a try before you buy and the same for the student as well. In order to make it a “Win – Win” for both the employer and student, it is imperative that a solid program be in place.
What ideas are there available to support SHRM Student Chapters?
The recently updated Iowa SHRM website is an excellent tool for finding ideas for enhancing your local student chapter program. The Iowa SHRM Emerging Professionals & College Relations Director is available to answer questions and provide guidance. The University or College Career Centers are another tool for providing guidance on subjects related to the students and local employers, as well as providing career development resources locally.
- Where do I find information on forming a SHRM Student Chapter and other information on SHRM Student Chapters?
- What is my role as a Student Chapter Advisor?
- What can I do to engage today’s students?
- What can I do to engage more students in the local SHRM Student Chapter?
- What are some best practices for SHRM Student Chapters?
- How do I go about developing an internship program?
- What ideas are there available to support SHRM Student Chapters?
Where do I find information on forming a SHRM Student Chapter and other information on SHRM Student Chapters?
The SHRM Student Resource Center is an excellent place to start. Within this resource there are Student Chapter Resources, Student Chapter Brochures and Printable Resources, Advisor and Emerging Professionals & College Relation Resources, Resources for HR Educators, and SHRM Chapter Directories for both Professional and Student Chapters.
What is my role as a Student Chapter Advisor?
The success of a student chapter is determined by your dedication in providing the continuity as well as developing a strong leader for the student chapter. As the person closest to the students, you play an integral role in advising and assisting the students in running their own chapter. Future leaders for local chapters are often are student leaders, before they become professional leaders. In essence, you hold the key to the future of your local chapter. Carrying out your responsibilities is critical to the success of the chapter. So what are those responsibilities?
- Act as official point of contact for the student chapter.
- Ensure chapter continuity
- Work with student chapter liaison to foster leadership and organizational skills
- Screen and sign off on student membership applications
- Submit a yearly Student Chapter Information Form by June 1st
- Ensure that the chapter has at least eight national members by November 30
- Act as advocate for the student chapter in school affairs as needed
- Assist students in completing and submitting the Merit Award Packet by March 31
- Maintain your SHRM membership
Specific information and guidance can be found in the SHRM Student Chapter Resource Center
What can I do to engage today’s students?
- Emphasize the most critical concepts to them in order to be effective.
- Provide a visual for them and real world examples.
- Help students link what they are doing with real world outcomes.
- Treat students with respect.
- Hold them to a higher standard and be prepared to follow up on what you expect.
- Don’t assume the worst, help them in budgeting their time to achieve the goals of the student chapter, as well as their own academic and personal goals.
- Be enthusiastic and passionate about what you’re doing. Remember the students will emulate your behavior.
What can I do to engage more students in the local SHRM Student Chapter?
Engaging today’s students and making them aware of the resource and opportunities offered through local chapters, as well as thru SHRM is critical, if you are to have a successful student chapter. Here are some ideas for engagement.
- Meet with the student chapter president as soon as possible to establish goals for the year, as well as opportunities where you can assist the student leaders in their roles.
- Solicit members from your local chapter to act as committee members.
- Solicit members to act as mentors and coaches for the college students.
- Provide information workshops for the students on career development, such as Developing a resume, Interview skills, How to give an elevator speech, How to work a career fair, Networking, Dining Etiquette, Financial literacy, Professional dress, How to establish a professional profile on a social media site, such as LinkedIn
What can I do to engage more students in the local SHRM Student Chapter?
- Work with employers to provide internships and externships (a full or half-day experience with a company to experience the work environment in human resources).
- Host a networking event for the students or include them in your local chapter networking events.
- Work with the college or university to develop a resume booklet for the students.
- Plan or work with the college or university to host a career conference.
- Sponsor a student or students to attend the IASHRM State Conference.
- Help them to attend and participate in the SHRM Regional Student Conference and Case Competition
- Use social media to stay connected with the students.
What are some best practices for SHRM Student Chapters?
- Strong Student Chapters have clear guidelines and goals
- Dedicated leadership by the student chapter president
- Strong support by the student faculty advisor
- Have programs available for student involvement
- Met guidelines as outlined for Student Chapters by SHRM
- Submit timely required paperwork to SHRM
- Actively recruit members from different majors
- Have informative meetings that provide value to the student membership
- Participate in the SHRM merit program
- Attend regional Student Conferences, State Conferences, and local chapter meetings
How do I go about developing an internship program?
One of the great benefits that you can provide to future Human Resource Professionals or any student majoring in business is to provide them internship opportunities. By focusing on business majors many have not determined their future profession or might not have a Human Resource major at their college. This is a wonderful opportunity to help them in determining that Human Resources could be a viable profession for them by providing real world experience during their college years. Here are some tips to follow to ensure the success of your program:
1. Gain Support of the Local Chapter and Management at the companies where internships will take place. Gaining a commitment up front will help ensure that the time, energy, supervisory and financial resources (if applicable) are available for developing a strong internship program.
2. Define specific eligibility requirements. Determining eligibility requirements for all internships helps to set the foundation and criteria used in the selection process, i.e. currently enrolled college students, GPA, preferred/required major(s), specific skills and experience.
3. Maintain a strong working relationship with the college by developing a relationship with the career counselors. This will help promote your internship program as well as help to find which students are seeking an internship.
4. Define internship benefits, i.e. housing, transportation, food stipends. You will also need to determine if the internship will be paid (recommended), but based on entry level positions in the field. Some organizations offer unpaid internships but require do the internship for credit.
5. Ensure the organization hosting the internship has an orientation program for new interns. Remember this may be their first experience in a working environment. By helping to orient them to the work environment, you are ensuring that they are going to be much more successful.
6. Ensure students will receive the proper training, supervision and mentoring. Just having them copy and file does not an internship make. By ensuring creative quality and meaningful work assignments, you are helping the student learn and gain knowledge in the field.
7. Develop detailed job descriptions or ensure they are available outlining task and responsibilities of the internship.
8. Students should receive consistent and detailed feedback during the internship on a regular basis. Especially, if the organization is considering extending a full-time job offer to the student after graduation.
Keep in mind that companies often look at an internship as a try before you buy and the same for the student as well. In order to make it a “Win – Win” for both the employer and student, it is imperative that a solid program be in place.
What ideas are there available to support SHRM Student Chapters?
The recently updated Iowa SHRM website is an excellent tool for finding ideas for enhancing your local student chapter program. The Iowa SHRM Emerging Professionals & College Relations Director is available to answer questions and provide guidance. The University or College Career Centers are another tool for providing guidance on subjects related to the students and local employers, as well as providing career development resources locally.