Hi, I’m currently an accountant major at a community college (First Year, first semester student) that would like to be a human resource manager for a major corporation one day (hopefully).
Here’s what I’d like to do, major in Accounting and minor in Spanish. Then get my CPA so I could be a certified accountant, and then go to graduate school and get my masters in human resources.
My question is would it be a good choice to get a masters in Human Resources? Or should I just get a certificate? I would like my main career when I get older to be human resources and accounting I would just do on the side.
How is the HR field and would me having an accounting background be an asset for me on my resume?
Thanks
If you really want to become a HR manager why do all the accountant work and get a masters in HR the most you need to be a HR manager is a bachelors in Human Resources. Also for minors a language would help but so would communications. Accounting does not have anything to do with being an HR manager they are two unrelated careers.
I wouldn’t say they are completely unrelated careers, but it does seem odd to spend so much time and effort pursuing an accounting degree and CPA if you plan to switch to HR. When you say “when I get older,” how much older are you thinking? Do you plan to have an accounting career for several years, then do HR in your 30’s or 40’s? Why do you think you’d like to do that? It’s really too soon to plan that kind of career change, but if you think you want to work in HR and accounting is just a side gig, then I suggest you focus more on HR now.
HR is a growing field. There are a lot of options - HR generalist, HR manager, HR specialist (benefits, compensation, recruiting, employee relations, training and development, etc.). However, it can be tough to break into the field. You will want to gain experience through internships and entry-level jobs so you can work you way up into a good position. You will want to study employment law and other topics relevant to the specialty (or generalist) position you’re interested in. But that hands-on experience is invaluable.
It is certainly possible to make lateral moves from accounting, or many other fields, into HR. But keep in mind that without prior experience, you may have to take a few steps down and go from a solid career in accounting, to a very entry-level HR position. Or, you might get lucky and be able to make a move within your current company from accounting to HR, but you’d need to demonstrate the right skills. These skills can be very different than what is expected in accounting.
I would suggest taking some business/HR courses in addition to your accounting coursework and see what you like. Maybe try getting an internship or part-time job as an HR assistant, recruiter, etc. and see what feels right to you.
As for the masters degree…it’s not required to work in HR (unless you have an unrelated undergraduate degree and no relevant work experience, in which case it would help you land your first HR job), but it can be helpful in moving up into senior HR positions. If you plan to do HR shortly after graduating, I would focus on that in undergrad and only get the masters degree later on if you feel it will substantially boost your career.
From my side, I think you’re aiming for an advantageous education. 
I’d recommend you to get a certification to have a better hold on things.