retraining to do HR - advice needed please

[dairofthehog]

I need to retrain as I've quit my job - it got privatised and it became awful. I ended up suing them and winning. I also no longer want to work in that field and want something with more opportunities.
Am I mad to consider HR?
As I've no previous hr experience I was thinking of doing a cipd course but unsure of what level. Is 5 sufficient? I'd have to fund it myself. But clueless about the best route in. Advice welcome thank you mn'ers!

[DragonMamma]

I work in HR and I love it - no two days are ever the same but it can be a bit of a thankless job sometimes, if your organisation doesn't buy in to the effectiveness of a decent, collaborative HR department.

Why do you want to get in to HR? What do you think you'd be doing on a day to day basis?

I am from the school of people who fell in to HR, years ago. I did my CPP back in the day but nothing further.

If you're entry level, I think it's recommended that you start with the Level 3 but a junior member of our department is doing it and I think you would need to be working in a role to be able to do it properly. I know her recent assignment has been related to your organisation's values and beliefs etc.

[dairofthehog]

Thanks for your reply . I found it interesting going through the tribunal process and reading up on the law. I feel that my last employer could have avoided this by taking into account discrimination issues. Having got 2 vocational degrees already that are now useless I'm looking at careers with more opportunities than my last.
I was thinking that if I do a course myself can I avoid starting from scratch job wise? What with childcare etc I'm not sure I'd be able to start out on the bottom rung of the ladder yet again. I know I'd need to be near the bottom but anything I can do to get a leg up I guess.

[Iflyaway]

I worked in HRM - loved it cos I love people. That's the bottom line in working in it, you are basically there for them. It did wonders for my shyness/social awkwardness too cos you have to put yourself out there.

Not always easy to draw that fine line between management and the employees during disputes. Cos at the end of the day you are actually working for the boss!!

Just as well I'm not a gossip cos you get to know everything almost...

[Iflyaway]

Oh, and I worked in a co. that had myriad nationalities too. Some interesting cultural hiccups.

[DragonMamma]

I'm not sure the course would prevent you from having to start out at the bottom, if I'm honest.

AFAIK, the course is theory based and HR interviews tend to be competency based e.g. how have you managed organisational change, most difficult ER case you managed etc.

You'll be pleased to know though, ET's are usually few and far between for most organisations but quite often you'll have situations that will challenge your moral stance - having to dismiss somebody for a legitimate business reason, knowing the personal issues it'll cause.

If I were you, I'd try and get a HR Admin job in a smallish team, to see if you like the type of work first. Although I appreciate you may not be able to take that kind of salary drop.