Retraining in HR?

[Strawberrysorbet]

I'm considering applying for HR jobs, as this is something I've always had an interest in. I have a fair amount of employment law experience (as a paralegal and trainee lawyer), do you think this is sufficient for getting a role which would require part CIPD qualification (all roles seem to require at least part qualification, what exactly does that mean? Having started a course or having just taken a basic certificate/diploma?) I'm not looking at managerial roles but assistant roles. How necessary is a CIPD qualification? I'm looking at taking a course but would like to get a job first if possible.

Also, which CIPD qualification would you recommend? I looked on the CIPD website and they have so many of them, I'm not sure which one would be best, as ideally I'd like to specialise in employee relations but I already have a bit of experience in this area, so would something more general be better?

Finally, do employers normally pay for CIPD qualifications? I've worked in a couple of places where this was the case, but I'm not sure whether it's usual or not).

Sorry about all the questions and the poorly drafted post, I am on my phone.

will come back to this later strawberry

Thanks Flowery!

Blimey it's all changed since I did it several gazillion years ago. Ok. When I did it there was one main qualification, so when people talk about being qualified, that's what they mean. From reading their website now, I think the equivalent is the Advanced Diploma stuff, because that's the postgrad level one. What you need to be an Associate and then Chartered Member or Chartered Fellow.

When I did mine it was a two year course, and when you'd done the first just-over-half, you could call yourself 'part qualified', so that's what people mean there. You need to be doing it, basically.

Do that, it's a good grounding in everything, and then think about specialising once you've got that under your belt imo. In terms of whether it's usual to pay for it, well my employer did but I imagine it's an area employers have been cutting costs tbh. Bigger organisations are more likely to, but the trouble is it's an employer's market out there so they can (as you are finding) ask for people who are already doing it rather than sponsoring existing junior staff or new staff.

What kind of organisation do you want to work for?

Its something I have thought about before as well -both going into HR and CIPD course - you can often do CIPD course relatively cheaply at local FE colleges - normally one evening - and course work - its inspired me to have have a look into it! Good time as they normally start in september

Thank you both. Flowery, the job was in FE. I haven't heard back, so I guess some knowledge of employment law is just not enough, which I understand. I'm going back to work after mat leave, so I can't commit to a course as I work long hours and can't predict what time I would finish - I wouldn't want to tell work about this plan (at least for now). All the part time courses seem to say that you need to be working in hr to do the course part time, so it seems to be a bit of a catch 22. MovingandScared, what's your background if you don't mind me asking? I looked at my local College and you are right it is a lot cheaper but unfortunately contact time is one day a week, which I can't do. Distance learning would be better, but they are really expensive!
I really want to do this so I'll need to find a way :-).