I want to work in HR. Should I get an MBA or a second bachelor’s degree?

A reader asks: I have an undergraduate degree in political science and would like to work in human resources. Although I have a four year degree it has never helped me get a job beyond attesting to the fact that I was able to finish school. I know that I need to get another degree but I am not certain which path to head down. I have no experience in HR so would it be better to pursue an undergraduate degree or a graduate level one?

My advice may surprise you. I’d say “neither”. There’s really no reason why you’d need a MBA or a second bachelor’s degree to break into HR. Liberal arts degrees, like your political science degree, aren’t going to train you for a specific career, but they do teach you how to think analytically. Plus, earning your undergraduate degree—any degree—proves to employers that you can follow through on long-term goals.

The trick is going to be finding an entry-level HR job and convincing the employer that you want to “start over” in the field. This won’t be easy, but with persistence, it can be done. If you’re willing to pay to go back to school, would you be willing to work at an unpaid internship for six months? This, in my opinion, would be far preferable to spending big bucks to go back to school.

Good luck!