HR or IT/Cybersecurity? Career change

[Shavaa93]

Hello everyone! I’ve been a sahm for 6 years now. Before that I was studying digital photography at university and also working part time in a photography studio.

I am now looking to get back to work. For the past 1.5yr I have been doing a part time admin job that’s wfh and only a few hours a week (really just took the job to add to my cv and get some admin experience).

I am looking for a career change and have really struggled with what I would like to get into. I’ve finally got it down to either HR or Cybersecurity. Now I’m wondering if anyone has any suggestions/advice or work within these sectors that could give me their thoughts?

at the moment I am considering either doing the CIPD Level 3 course and hopefully getting an entry level hr role. OR studying for the Comptia A+ and eventually Security + with hopes to get an entry level helpdesk role. Either way I want a CAREER not just a ‘job’. I want something I can get a qualification/learn a new skill and can have some progression overtime.

I am also weary about how ‘easy’ it is to actually land a role with these certifications? I don’t want to waste time studying and then find it really hard to get a job.

advice please!

If HR make sure you have a career plan and get into the strategic side as eventually operational/admin will be automated. Can you get into AI?

I'm 5 weeks into the CIPD3 course. It's not too bad. After this I will be looking for a move into HR (I'm currently a team manager which has lots of HR components).

Cyber Security has lots of opportunities, I currently work in IT and have had 2 jobs in 2 years lol and I had only a small but of experience and 1 diploma so yeah, if you're interested in Cyber security do that. COMPTIA A+ is a good start and then Security+ and some EC-council courses perhaps. Best of luck.

Thanks this is very helpful! Did you need any certificates to get into IT if you didn’t have much experience?

Well I did a Higher Diploma in Science in Computing but you don't need to do a big 2-3 year thing, just do like a level 7 diploma in computing for 6 months and some CompTIA certs and some LinkedIn Learning courses for your LinkedIn profile. I had my diploma and got an internship and eventually a contract, but getting your foot in the door is the hardest part. But once you do you're fine.