How to get into HR

[Gem8701]

Hi all

So I recently lost my job, that's another story. But I'm looking to move into HR as a career, I did do thy CIPD level 3 a few years ago so I would be looking to do the level 5.
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Does this qualification open more doors up job wise?

What is HR like as a job?

Gemma

I am sorry to hear you have lost your job. I have worked in HR and have my CIPD. I suggest you get an entry HR role with an employer who will pay for you to continue your CIPD studies.

HR is certainly an interesting function. I feel like you have to be quite tough skinned to survive in HR. However there are many opportunities and you can of course work across multiple industries.

are you on LinkedIn? If you haven’t already connect with your local CIPD group and make sure you promote amongst this community that you are looking for new opportunities to work. Best of luck.

@DarlingCoffee I am looking for a job now but because I've no experience in finding it harder. I don't know if I want to wait to get a job before starting the course as that could be months?

I work in HR and bloody love it. It can be a really tough gig though, particularly at the moment - you do need resilience and a calm demeanour as well as HR skills. It can be difficult to get into if you have a qualification but no actual HR experience. Look at entry level roles, HR admin can be a route too, it depends on the skills and the experience you have from previous roles that you could use in an HR capacity. Agree, building your network through CIPD, LinkedIn, etc.

I do have a lot of admin experience so I could definitely use that angle, why is it tough@Purplecatshopaholic ?

Lots of competition for HR roles @Gem8701. HR seems to be a popular choice these days and lots of people want to get into it. If you have admin experience as well as your Level 3, you have a good grounding to build on - admin roles in HR teams, or similar (payroll? systems?) where you could make a side ways move.

I also work in HR, I started as a HR Assistant and had lots of admin experience which will definitely help you. As a HRA you will likely be issuing contracts, setting up new employees, entering pay details etc so I always look for a keen eye for detail when recruiting, so emphasise this in any cover letters and proof read your CV & cover letter to ensure there are no errors. Nothing worse than something saying they have great attention to detail whilst their application being littered with errors.

I’ve completed L3 & L5 since getting into HR but already having L3 should give you an advantage over others as it shows your passion for the sector.

As PP mentioned, it can be extremely tough, especially if you’re a HR generalist as I am. This means I’m often involved in restructures, redundancies etc and HR often gets the brunt of any ill feeling, very few employees outside of HR understand that such decisions are made by HR in collaboration with other senior leaders. If you’re going to be involved in ER then this can also be very draining especially if needing to deal with issues such as assault or absence as a result of mental health struggles etc. Having to support a manager dismissing someone due to absence levels as a result of poor mental health is not comfortable for anyone, so really have a think about whether these sorts of scenarios are what you envision for yourself otherwise HR may not be for you.

Of course, there are other fields within the wider HR umbrella you could explore, such as employee experience, recruitment, L&D, payroll, D&I…the list goes on.

Good luck!

Oh, sorry @Gem8701, you mean my comment about it being a tough gig? It’s a tough environment just now, eg recruitment is hard across many industries and roles, many organisations are short staffed, organisations are under pressure to pay more and many can’t/won’t so employee relations are strained, lots of the work can involve very difficult situations and decisions (as evidenced by Pepsi upthread)… I could go on…. HR professionals cover so many areas of a business, solving problems and finding solutions (or they should be, and the good ones are..) and frequently there are not enough of us so we are spread very thin. As I have said though, I love what I do, just making the point it’s not for everyone.

In the nicest possible way, I think if you don't know why it's tough, you might want to try and get some work experience or an admin role in HR before committing to it.

I'm not in HR but know people who are and I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole. They get a lot of abuse and have to deal with really awkward and difficult employee situations and a load of grievances. You really do need excellent people skills but also a calm, clear head in emotive situations. Sometimes, people will not like you or what you are doing, you won't always be appreciated, and that's something you have to deal with because it's part and parcel of the role.

So you do need a tough skin and definitely inform yourself before you decide on it! But for the right personality it can be a good gig and you can certainly earn good money in it.

I'm in HR. Started in Transactional HR & Pay while doing my Level 3. Moved to an HR Adviser role and completed my Level 5.

I specialise in ER and as others have said, it's a tough gig. People never fail to amaze me.

That being said, I absolutely love my job, but it's not for everyone.

Where are you?

I know a provider in south wales that offers fully funded L3 and L5 CIPD. I have linked to it below.

I have worked in HR for 25 years. Like others have said, it can be tough. However, it’s also very rewarding and satisfying.

https://www.uwtsd.ac.uk/people-management/

@MsFrost yes I'm trying to get a HR Administrator or assistant role, I feel I do have a calm demeanor so I think I would do well.

@CleanQueen123 it's nice to hear is so rewarding, are you a HR advisor?..

@Temporaryanonymity I'm in West Yorkshire

I have a background as a PA and started picking up HR work during covid as nobody needed travel, in person meetings, events etc. I’ve carried it on over the last couple of years and despite not having a CIPD I’ve progressed a bit and am now pretty much acting as an advisor in my current role.

I’d try and get some work experience before starting the level 5 if I were you. I’ve seen loads of people with a level 5 but no real experience and they’re expecting to walk into advisor roles but struggling.

@Gem8701 yes I am but probably looking to progress soon or move sideways but into something more generalist.

I'd second the advice to get more experience before doing your Level 5. It's a good qualification to have but without the experience to back it up I think you'd struggle. I was lucky that my employer paid for mine via the apprenticeship route.

The CIPD Level 5 sounds like a solid move; from what I've heard, it can indeed open up more doors job-wise and provide a deeper understanding of HR practices.

As for what HR is like as a job, it's a dynamic field where you get to wear many hats – from employee relations to recruitment and beyond. It's all about people, policies, and making the workplace thrive!

If you're looking for some insights or maybe even job opportunities, you might want to check out www.apacheassociates.com. They could have some valuable resources to guide you on your HR journey.

I recently got a job in HR with zero experience but I came from a strong Admin background. Its transactional (admin) but they will pay my way for a cipd level 3 as a starting point. I love it so far, am learning so much, and I think starting from the ground will ensure I have a solid understanding of recruitment processes, legislation, etc etc before delving deeper.

I work in HR and would say there is no point doing level 5 if you don't already work in the sector, for one thing it would be difficult as you use a lot of scenarios from your day job in your assignments. Plus, although CIPD is great for knowledge....HR is really a job where experience counts and ability to demonstrate you can handle certain situations.

I love it, it's extremely varied and you never know what's going to come through the door but it can be draining.....as a PP said people never cease to surprise you.

I was an Exec PA and then moved into an HR Admin role and worked my way up from there, studying as I went. If you're struggling with lack of HR experience I'd look for things like Office Management or payroll admin where you can demonstrate an excellent eye for detail and working with lots of different people.

Ask yourself why HR? Like others have said its not an easy role and you can get the brunt of abuse and ill feeling. That said, no two days are the same so it's hard to get bored. Do you like people, customer service, have emotional intelligence? Do you care about helping people grow and thrive via the work they do? Are you assertive, conscientious and able to build trust through your actions? If so then consider it. Get into a HR admin role for a good, values based company and move on from there. Experience will count for more than a course.