So you’re considering a career in the wonderful world of human resources? A great choice! Working in HR is challenging, but also incredibly rewarding. And with digital innovation changing the profession as we know it, it’s an exciting time to get involved.
If you’re looking for a fast-paced, fulfilling career where you get to be hands-on with people every day, read on to find out how you can secure your first job.
WHAT SKILLS DO I NEED?
HR professionals need to be versatile to manage the diverse nature of the role. Having several tasks on the go at the same time isn’t unusual, so being able to juggle priorities to meet deadlines is essential. You will need to be comfortable handling technology too. HR are often unfairly considered ‘Luddites’, but forward-thinking organisations have in place an online HR system to streamline processes and to automate laborious admin tasks, so you’ll need to be open to using sophisticated tech.
The skills you need will also depend on the area of HR you pursue. Smaller companies usually have one or two HR people (known as HR Generalists), who tend to do a bit of everything. This role involves a lot of face-to-face interactions, so difficult conversations with employees aren’t uncommon. Whether it’s a tricky performance appraisal, a disciplinary or an employee disclosing personal information, it’s vital that Generalists have the emotional intelligence to deal with sensitive situations.
Larger companies may have more specialised HR roles, which require their own specific skills. To be an HR analyst, you unsurprisingly need to be data-driven with strong analytical skills; and to work in talent management, you’ll need to be able to think tactically and be good at planning. If you don’t know which area you want to go into just yet, don’t worry. Many people professionals find their specialism later in their career, often starting out as a Generalist to get a more overarching experience of HR.
The CIPD has a useful page on different career options in the people profession which you can check out here.
WHAT SHOULD I STUDY?
So where to start? Most professionals will have an undergraduate degree, and employers tend to favour subjects that are human or statistics focused. Popular degrees held by practitioners include psychology, sociology, business, economics and finance, but your options aren’t limited. The more you speak to people in HR, the more you’ll see that practitioners come from all different walks of life.
Undergraduate degrees in HR also exist and will offer a thorough grounding in industry best practice. It’s fairly unusual however for someone to pursue HR so early on in life, as an interest in the career tends to develop later on. Master’s courses therefore tend to be a popular choice amongst budding HR professionals, and there’s a pool of quality courses to pick from.
Top tip: If you’re considering a degree in HR, check which courses are approved by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). These courses include CIPD accreditation or approved equivalency as part of the undergraduate or postgraduate program.
BUT DO I REALLY NEED A DEGREE?
When applying for jobs, you will likely come up against candidates with similar experience andat least a bachelor’s degree. But that’s not to say it’s impossible to have a successful career without one. Plenty of professionals have made it without a degree under their belt. Here are a few alternative options you could consider:
Foundation degrees
Foundation courses are the equivalent of two-thirds of a degree and can be studied either part-time or full-time. They’re usually supplied by either universities or colleges and provide aspiring practitioners with a detailed understanding of the profession. The CIPD Level 3 Foundation Diploma is a good one to start with, or you could explore the option of a Higher National Diploma (HND), which offers a similar education.
Apprenticeships
Want to learn about HR whilst working and getting paid? Maybe the apprenticeship route is the one for you. Usually lasting at least 12 months, this program offers a structured training regime which allows you to get stuck in to the day-to-day activities of an HR professional. You can learn more about different levels of HR apprenticeships here.
Traineeships
These training schemes operate like an extended work experience program, usually lasting around six months. Unfortunately, they’re usually unpaid (although you might get your expenses covered) but even so, it’s a great way of getting your foot in the door and making contacts. Find out more about HR traineeships here.
HOW DO I FIND A JOB?
Like most professions, you can look for vacancies on online job sites like Indeed, Reed, Monster, or Linkedin. You’ll also find specialist HR publications, like Personnel Today and People Management, a useful resource. While their job ads generally target candidates with some experience in HR, you’ll learn a lot about what skills are in most demand, and future career prospects. If you’re already working, it can’t hurt to ask your current HR person/team about any possibilities within the company you’re already at. The worst that can happen is they say no, but at least they’ll be aware of your aspirations and can advise on next steps. You never know, an opportunity may crop up further down the line. Signing up to specific recruitment companies can’t hurt either. They can put you in contact with some organisations based on your education and experience.
A final thought – many HR profs enrol onto courses whilst simultaneously working in an HR role. If you’re lucky, your employer may even be willing to pay your course fees.
So good luck breaking into the people profession! Practitioners start their HR career at completely different stages in their lives, so it’s never too late to consider HR as a career for you. If you want to find out more, the CIPD has some useful information on different routes into HR, and there are plenty of online forums and other resources to read through.
