Any HR professionals out there who could help me with a query on an application form?

[abovetheclouds]

I'm applying for a job as an HR administrator and the application form is asking what are my main achievements in my last role - what are they really looking for me to say

[flowerybeanbag]

Well they genuinely want to know what you consider your biggest achievements, but if you look at the job description, you can work out which to emphasise.

For example, depending on the exact job content of the job you're applying for, anything you've done before that you'll have to do again would be a start.

If I think of some of the major things my last HR Admin did, it would be stuff like managing a huge spreadsheet for salary review for the organisation and doing a big mail merge for all the different letters everyone got. She also did things like trawl through all the personnel records and updated them and did a spreadsheet on what was missing/needing updating. Stuff like that.

Have you done the job before?

[abovetheclouds]

Hi Floweybeanbag - no I haven't done the job before but I have 10 years experience as a recruiter (mainly operations and administration) and have a lot of knowledge on current law and legislation, excellent admin/IT skills. I am looking to make the move into HR, but whilst I am REC trained I'm not CIPD qualified so I thought if I applied as an HR admin with a view to gaining my CIPD I could move up the ladder that way?

[flowerybeanbag]

That sounds like a good plan.

Obviously I don't know how senior you are at the moment but something to think about is whether they might be a bit concerned that with 10 years experience in a different field you might be frustrated/bored at the bottom of the tree in HR, so make sure you emphasise the administrative aspects of your current job.

A good working familiarity with employment law is obviously useful, although not essential for an HR admin. The kind of thing they an HR Admin is likely to be advising people on ime is usually things like maternity entitlements, sick pay and other basic bread and butter stuff, nothing technical or open to interpretation.

Excellent admin and IT skills all fab, anything that demonstrates how marvellously well-organised you are, and anything that shows your ability to cope with demanding people throwing things at you from all sides, multi-tasking, customer service, all that kind of thing.

[flowerybeanbag]

Ooh, and you will have good knowledge/experience of working with personal data and the importance of confidentiality/security, emphasise that as well.

[abovetheclouds]

thanks for that - will let you know if I get the job!