MSC Human Resources Management- worth it?

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After 10 years out of the workplace I’m looking to do some study to help kickstart me back into work - I have been doing some casual work in a school for a few years but I need to start thinking about getting a proper job again.

Prior to having kids I worked in tourism management, and I have a tourism management degree, due to family situation and location unfortunately working in tourism is off the cards now and I’ve been thinking about what a new career would look like for me - and HR suits my experience and skills and interests me, so I’m looking for opinions about which is the best way to retrain - is it start with CIPD level 3 and go through that route or just crack right on with a Masters ?

Does a masters look better ?

I need some career guidance at 39 please !

What requirements are companies you want to work for looking for?
Is funding available for the MSc?

I did an MSc to try and get me into the workplace & an HR role - I still don’t work in an HR role

HR jobs are very difficult to get into & you will be competing against people with the qualifications and the experience. I would say to find a Masters that is CIPD recognised and kill two birds.

I’m now in a related field that I enjoy more (got the work experience by going via the recruitment route) but I would now probably have found an Org Psychology degree far more useful.

Experience in HR is massively more likely to get you interviews than the masters alone. I'd maybe opt for the CIPD level 3/5 first anyway as it will give you a good generalist exposure but make sure you get work experience as and when you can too. I'd then try and get your first job in HR admin/assistant and do your masters while in a job related to the field working with HR pro's as that will help you. I've been in HR for 12 years so speaking from experience (& also doing recruitment). The very best of luck!

My husband went from retail management (which he was good at but didn't really enjoy) into a masters in HRM on part-time basis and moved into a role working as a HR Advisor during that time to give him the generalist experience. The masters really helped him to progress his career so definitely worth it as he's now in a role he really enjoys. If you don't have recent relevant qualifications/work experience, you might have difficulty going straight into masters level but as you've said, you can go in at lower CIPD level if needs be and work and study at the same time which is nice about HR. Good luck with your career change!

Thanks for the replies everyone ! That’s really helpful. I’ve been wondering if the lack of actual work experience would hold me back- i haven’t worked in management for 10 years, and I think it does make more sense to ease in at CIPD level 3 and try and get in at entry level (I’m actually contemplating asking local companies if I can do some voluntary HR work with them)

The Open University offer an MSC which is can be used for CIPD membership and there is also loans available which was why I thought that may work. But it does make more sense to get work experience too.