Human resource professionals mind seven habits for career growth

Be proactive. Begin with the end in mind. Think win-win. Seek first to understand, then to be understood. Synergize. These are five of management guru Stephen Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.

Sharpen the saw, the seventh habit, is what Covey says when he means that the most effective among us make a habit of engaging in personal renewal.

But wait, let's go back — we missed habit number three: First things first.

The first thing for jobseekers with a passion for managing people in this "age of the knowledge worker" is to obtain the certification that will springboard them to the next level in their career.

Continuing education is a highly effective way to sharpen the saw while waiting for the hiring wave to come after the downturn. The University of Washington Tacoma KeyBank Professional Development Center is offering a certificate program in Human Resources Management, beginning Sept. 30, for professionals seeking promotion in the field.

The program is targeted to experienced human resources professionals who want to broaden their knowledge of the major areas of HR management: employee relations, training, staff development, benefits, compensation and performance management.

After being admitted to the program, students must successfully complete a series of six courses over nine months. Classes meet Monday and Wednesday evenings, 7-9:30 p.m., on the University of Washington Tacoma campus.

Lead instructors for fall classes are Cynthia Shaffer and Janice Tuman. Shaffer is human resources director at The News Tribune and member of the board for United Way Pierce County. Tuman is a human resources specialist with Franciscan Health System in Lakewood and a member of the city of Tacoma Citizen Review Panel.

For more information and to apply, visit the University of Washington Tacoma KeyBank Professional Development Center's website, or call 253-692-4618.