Corrections Officer Seeks Escape From Monotony

When Elana Jackson refers to her workplace as a “prison,” she’s not exaggerating. She works at the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood as a corrections officer. And she’s thinking seriously about flying the coop.

The swing-shift hours of Jackson’s job with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department make it hard for the single mother to spend time with her 3-year-old son or to finish her college studies. Jackson worries about exposure to diseases, including AIDS, hepatitis and tuberculosis. In addition, her guard duties have become monotonous, she said.

“Basically, all I do is open and close doors and keep track of keys and radios,” she said.

Jackson knows she wants more fulfillment from a career. But she doesn’t know what vocation could provide this. The 33-year-old Los Angeles resident has fantasized about becoming a fashion buyer who would “fly to Paris and New York to attend the shows.”

But she realizes that even breaking into the fashion industry could take years. She has also thought about becoming a nurse anesthetist. But this idea, too, she abandoned, because she realized that the sight of blood made her queasy.

However, one vocation remains compelling to Jackson: human resources.

“But I don’t know how to go about getting into it,” Jackson said.

For help, Jackson consulted Susan Miller, a Los Angeles-based career consultant. Jackson told Miller the only aspect of her job she truly enjoys is being able occasionally to inspire inmates “so that they might turn their lives around.” She added that what she liked least about her job was performing routine tasks day after day.

Miller cautioned Jackson not to rush into HR without thoroughly evaluating its own daily demands.

“You’ll need to investigate it carefully,” Miller said, citing the occupation’s heavy record-keeping responsibilities, paperwork and other repetitious duties. “Because you don’t want to find yourself in the same situation you’re in now.”

Human resources work is considered by some to be today’s toughest corporate job. That’s because HR personnel must juggle many roles during their workweek: They act as psychologists, administrators, trouble-shooters, consultants and accountants, to name a few.

They must perform well under pressure, because crisis management is an important part of their job. They must be flexible, even-tempered, open-minded and fair.

And they must present a polished, professional image to the general public and potential employees, since they represent an employer to the outside world.

After some consideration, Jackson told Miller she thought she wouldn’t mind the work, for it seemed to suit her personality and would give her the chance to use her office skills--something she’s missed since assuming her corrections officer post.

Miller then suggested that Jackson first look for HR employment opportunities with her current employer, Los Angeles County. That way, Jackson might be able to maintain her benefits and possibly avoid a cut in pay from the $36,000 a year she’s now making.

Miller and others offered the following additional advice:

* Explore HR specialties. In recent years, HR has become extremely specialized. Each practice area requires a different set of competencies. For example, compensation and benefits specialists must have strong mathematical skills. Training and development professionals need excellent teaching and motivational abilities. And those choosing to work in the area of compliance with U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission regulations must have broad knowledge of employment law.

Before Jackson commits herself to any HR discipline, she should be sure it’s a good match for her personality, interests and skills. She also should find out whether entry-level jobs in the desired specialty are readily available.

In the public sector, entry-level recruiting jobs are now somewhat easier to secure than jobs in other specialties, experts say. This is because companies facing the current labor crunch need staffers who can help them attract and retain quality employees, said Robert Kenzer, chairman of Kenzer Corp., an HR consulting firm in New York City.

Entry-level jobs in recruiting, training and development tend to be more accessible to applicants than, say, jobs in compensation and benefits, because they require less technical knowledge, said Ed Rankin, chief executive of People Solutions Inc., an HR management firm in Irving, Texas.

* Get an appropriate HR education. Educational credentials are becoming increasingly important for aspiring HR professionals, if they hope to have long, lucrative careers in the field. Those who want to land fast-track jobs with Fortune 500 corporations are expected to get an MBA, a master’s in organizational development, a law degree (for certain specialties) or even a PhD.

But to get even a foothold in the HR world, Jackson will need to acquire some basic training in HR--perhaps a bachelor’s degree in human resources management or a certificate in the discipline.

UCLA Extension offers a 10-course certificate program in human resources management that would not only give Jackson education but also enable her to gain practical experience through its workplace-oriented assignments. If Jackson could adjust her work schedule, she could attend the classes, which meet one evening a week.

This would allow her also to network with experienced HR professionals, since nearly 75% of the program’s enrolled students already are in HR-related jobs, said Dick Kaumeyer, advisory council chairman for the program.

Should Jackson aspire to a senior HR management position, she should consider getting a master’s degree in business administration, human resources/labor relations or organizational psychology, experts say. The MBA course work would allow Jackson to build her financial, marketing and analytical skills and gain a better understanding of how businesses function.

If Jackson is unable to enroll in a full-time graduate program, she still can explore other advanced-degree options. For example, Kansas State University offers a 30-hour distance learning program for students who would like to obtain a master’s degree in industrial psychology, said Clive Fullagar, the program’s director.

As a Sheriff’s Department employee, Jackson may be able to receive full tuition reimbursement for any courses she takes while employed with the department, said Lt. Randy Olson, manager of the Sheriff’s Department’s career resource unit in Monterey Park.

* Get on-the-job experience. Miller and other HR experts advised Jackson to introduce herself to Sheriff’s Department HR personnel. She also should contact the Sheriff’s Department career resource center personnel specialist, Sara Cooper, to let Cooper know that she’s interested in transferring into an HR spot, Olson said. That way, Cooper could help Jackson plan her career path and advise her when relevant positions open up.

* Join professional organizations. Miller encouraged Jackson to join HR-related professional organizations such as the Society of Human Resource Management in Alexandria, Va. Membership would allow her to attend conventions, meet established HR professionals and keep up-to-date with field developments through the society’s many trade journals, which include HR Magazine, Workplace Visions and Mosaic.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Unlocking the Door to Change

Name: Elana Jackson

Occupation: Corrections officer

Desired occupation: Human resources specialist

Quote: “I’m feeling bored and unfulfilled. I’d like to be happy going to work each day.”

Counselor’s Recommendation

Explore HR opportunities

Get quality schooling

Meet the Coach

SUSAN MILLER is a national certified career counselor and certified vocational evaluator who’s been conducting private counseling in Los Angeles for more than 20 years.