For those working in HR

[OnTheGoAlways]

Just looking for your perspectives/advice please!

I work in HR in higher Education in an entry level post. I have a CIPD level 7 (masters) qualification. I worked in a previous Entry role in higher education for 2 years...left to go into Nursing for 1.5 years, now back in entry role.

I hate all the incessant, pernickety, and unnecessarily confusing admin
The tallying of budget codes etc. Its just very uninteresting!

I don't think my skills lay in HR admin...I like people, mediation, I'd really like to get involved in case work..does it become more interesting as you move through the ranks? How long does it take to become more senior ? Do you enjoy it?

I don't know if this is a more HE thing, but it just seems to be middle class than move up more quickly. I'm a single parent, and think I may lie about this in the next place I work!

Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

I'm in a mid-level role so not very senior but a step up from HR Admin where I started. I did 2 years in my organisation and took on more work/leading on some things like staff surveys, data analysis etc to prove I was capable of more. My company then promoted me to HR Advisor and put me through CIPD. I'd say it's great you have CIPD Level 7 although unusual if you're entry level. Did you do that under your own steam? CIPD is obviously great but I think practical experience is obviously more beneficial. Can you take on any extra pieces of work? Is there someone more senior that you can shadow or assist on projects? I was basically very vocal (still am) that I want to learn and progress and luckily my company have been great and given me space to do that.

I'm a HR admin doing my level 3 CIPD. You should really be doing the more interesting stuff with a level 7.

In my organisation HR admin level have level 3 CIPD and 7 is for the experienced HR business partner who do case work, employee relations etc. Then there are some middle roles at level 5 ( roughly, not everyone has the CIPD qualifications). Is there scope to progress where you are? I have moved out of HR.

Thank you for your replies!

I did the Masters on my own back...I wanted an autonomous role, advice and case work. I wanted to go into social work but I couldn't afford it.

So I've got this qualification, which doesn't mean much. I'm bored and frustrated, but I haven't got the experience to back it up.

I'm in a great team now and have asked to be put through a mediation course, to which they have agreed, but I can't do it, I can't afford to stay in this role at 23k much longer, especially as prices will raise again in Autumn and it'll mean if I leave before 2 years I'll have to pay course back.

I'm in a senior HR role, it does get more interesting as you move up (well initially but eventually you'll get used to the same disagreements / cases over and over again) but the neverending admin doesn't tend to leave you somehow.

In my experience I had to job hop a bit to move up the chain, then moved into a solo HR role in an SME to really progress both in terms of experience and seniority.

I'm a HRBP, no CIPD. We have junior folk to do admin. I do the strategic stuff. Get to a manager level role and you'll enjoy things more. Perhaps request a mini project to do sude of desk in current role?

I'd happily take on other projects, but there is very limited time after payroll/admin. I'm working more than my hours currently. But I am doing the HESA return.

I know the admin side tends to follow you around, just looking for it to be less. Because I find it boring, I'm not great at it !

Sorry, but I think you've overqualified yourself a bit. Going to master's level on HR before you had any hands on HR experience left you... well, where you are now, thinking you should be doing strategic stuff because of your education without the job experience to back it up. HR always means working your way up, and there is always admin, although it reduces and changes form as you get more senior. But more senior and you also won't really be doing casework or mediation; that's more of a mid level business partner role and it's generally still a minority of the job alongside a healthy pile of admin.

I think you either have to make peace with the reality of an HR career and keep putting in the time and looking for opportunities to get involved in slightly more senior work, or look for opportunities to train properly in another mediation/coaching-type career. Or a) with the aim of eventually b).

Social workers also have a shit ton of admin, btw.

don't know if this is a more HE thing, but it just seems to be middle class than move up more quickly. I'm a single parent, and think I may lie about this in the next place I work!

This is confusing - what's middle class? And what will you lie about?

As for getting a more generalist HR role as previous posters said, volunteer for anything where you can observe & learn, offer to take notes in meeting or disciplinary or grievance hearings and ask if you can shadow HR Business partners. Generally make yourself useful and get yourself noticed as someone with enthusiasm, ability and potential, whilst being really really good at your admin job (this is important - show you can handle the workload cheerfully, be accurate, meet deadlines and be responsive). The right attitude counts for a lot.

Next career step is probably HR Advisor/Asst BP roles where you get to take on your own casework like sickness absences, grievances or lower lever disciplinary type situations. HE, local authorities, Civil Servoce and many not for profit organisations are probably your best bet, as are organisations with large blue collar workforces which need HR people out there on the ground supporting managers with ER issues.

The CIPD qualification does count as shows you know the theory, now you have to relate it to real life workforce issues.

This career path is entirely possible but you have to work at it as it won't jsut come to you. Along the way don't be sniffy about entry level 'admin' work, many senior people started out that way and will be rubbed up the wrong way if you imply it's beneath you (not uncommon with graduates I've found).

Thank you, I've got to remember not to complain about the admin...we have terrible process for Casual staff and around the time of payroll so much to process which is incorrect/incomplete/all over the place/duplicated. Had an awful last two days ferreting about with paperwork.

But you're right, I can't be seen to be complaining.

The middle class thing...I dont know what I mean really...all the people I work with are married and live in lovely houses and shop at Anthropology ! I don't quite know where I fit in but I get along well with everybody.

I second the suggestion of looking at LA roles. That's where I am as a HR Adviser.

I have plenty of admin related to my caseload but all of the transactional and payroll stuff is handled by another team.

I self funded my level 3 and I'm half way through my level 5, which is funded by the organisation. It's been useful to give insight into areas of HR that I don't see in my role but I'd say the hands on experience has been more valuable.

I've got my eye on the level 7 but only once I've had a few promotions. At the moment I'm sticking with being quite vocal about my ambitions and trying to get as much exposure as possible. I'm lucky that my managers are happy to support with that.

Id get out of HE if you can, pay is rubbish and progression seems to be based more on tenure than competence. Its also an admin heavy environment. Most don't even link RPD to promotion. If you can get into a large commercial organisation in any sector even if at entry level again you will move up faster get paid more and have more variety within the HR function as well which you will have opportunities to move into. Sounds like HR business partner would be a role you would enjoy but the org needs to large enough to have businesses within it to partner to.