Every generation of HR professionals enters the workforce with questions — but Gen Z and early-career HRs are asking better ones than ever.

They’re not just trying to figure out “how to close payroll” or “run a townhall.”
They want to know:

• How to lead without authority
  
  
• How to build inclusion without being tokenized
  
  
• How to say no without losing credibility
  
  
• And how to stand for people — while protecting themselves
  
  

At HRsays, we listened. And we’re inviting every experienced HR to do the same.

🔍 Top Things Young HRs Want to Learn (But Don’t Know Where to Ask)

1. “How do I give feedback to a manager… who doesn’t want it?”
   Navigating hierarchy as a junior HR is one of the most confusing soft skills — and rarely taught.
   
   
2. “How do I create policies people actually follow?”
   Writing a handbook is one thing. Creating behavioral adoption is another.
   
   
3. “How do I deal with emotional fatigue when I’m the one supporting others?”
   Mental health isn’t just for employees — it’s an HR survival skill too.
   
   
4. “How do I build my credibility without being ‘too soft’ or ‘too strict’?”
   They’re looking for balance — not burnout.
   
   
5. “How do I grow beyond admin work without jumping jobs?”
   Young HRs want growth within the system, not just through exits.
   
   

💬 From the Community

We asked early-career HRs in our LinkedIn DMs and WhatsApp groups:

“What’s one thing you’re hoping to figure out this year?”

Here’s what came back:

“How to say ‘I don’t know yet’ without sounding unprepared.”
“Whether I can specialize early — or if I should try everything first.”
“How to get my ideas taken seriously when I don’t have a title.”
“If HR is still a long-term career, or just a stepping stone.”

These aren’t just technical questions — they’re identity questions. And we all asked them once.

🧩 Engagement Call: Share + Support

This month, we’re launching #HRThingsINeedToLearn — a community campaign to:

• Let young HRs share their questions
  
  
• Let experienced HRs answer with generosity
  
  
• Build a bridge between generations through stories and reflection
  
  

• Are you a young HR professional?
  Post your question with #HRThingsINeedToLearn and tag @HRsays
  
  
• Are you an HR leader or manager?
  Share a short post answering one of these questions or reflecting on your own learning curve. Use the same hashtag to be featured.
  
  

💡 Bonus Prompt for Posts

“One thing I thought HR was… and what I’ve now realized it really is.”
OR
“What I wish someone had told me in my first year in HR.”

HRsays will feature selected answers across LinkedIn and our website — and turn them into learning moments for others just starting out.

✨ Final Thought: Everyone Was New Once

HR doesn’t need more silence — it needs more sharing.
So if you’re an early HR professional wondering what to learn next — ask out loud.
And if you’re experienced — answer out loud, too.

Coming soon on HRsays: Beyond Payroll — Building an HR Brand That Attracts Talent

📢 Want to share your question, insight, or a moment when you learned the hard way? Post it with #HRThingsINeedToLearn or message HRsays to be part of our next feature.