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Career change to HR

11 replies

pifflepaffle13 · 31/01/2021 18:32

Has anyone changed career to HR in their late 30s? Where did you start, did you take an entry level position and work up, or did you do a qualification first? Has anyone got any advice on where to start?

Background is in the arts so would be a brand new thing. Have good admin skills and love working with people, and I think HR would be a good fit.

Thanks!

OP posts:
Trisolaris · 31/01/2021 18:47

Hi, I changed from the arts to HR but in my mid twenties.

I got an entry level job in L&D - arts background is a good link if drama/performance based as it makes you a confident presenter/trainer so that was my way in.

I’m now a L&D consultant and have just finished my Level 7 qualifications in HR Development. Planning to upgrade my CIPD membership to chartered shortly.

I’d think about how you can use your experience to help you get that entry role and make it clear that you are committed to completing CIPD qualifications. (If you have a degree I wouldn’t bother with level 3 but go straight to level 5)

pifflepaffle13 · 31/01/2021 19:13

Hi @Trisolaris , thanks so much for your reply. My background is music but lots of presenting to big groups so am fairly confident in that.

I am educated to masters level, and have a degree. Do I need any specific qualifications for entry level jobs or can I apply straight away?

Thanks!

OP posts:
Trisolaris · 31/01/2021 19:45

The qualifications you will need for a HR career will be CIPD but you don’t necessarily need them to gain an entry level role although they will give an edge. Ideally, your employer might pay for them if you make it clear you are dedicated to pursuing a hr career. That way they get a talented employee who they can almost guarantee will stay for at least two years as you would have to sign a training contract and you get a course for free and hr experience.

Trisolaris · 31/01/2021 19:49

By your employer I mean a new employer, sorry am typing quickly whilst preparing dinner!

If you write a strong CV and cover letter around how your experience translates to HR and your intentions to pursue CIPD qualifications you may get an entry level role. However, if you are able to self fund a level 5 CIPD qualifications (some places you can pay for a module at a time) then that’s another option.

pifflepaffle13 · 01/02/2021 09:52

@Trisolaris thank you so much, I will have a look into the different options Smile

OP posts:
maxelly · 01/02/2021 10:23

You've had some good advice already on this thread, as others have said CIPD is the nationally recognized HR professional qualification, most people do up to level 5 and/or 7 (many would do a masters degree also so 7+ I guess?). The thing I'd say is that CIPD is a vocational qualification not a purely academic one, and IMO to get the most from the course you ought to be working 'in the field' so that you have real life personal examples, projects and case studies to use for your assignments etc. - it is possible to do the course working outside the profession and fulfil the practice requirements to get your membership by shadowing, volunteering or work placements but in my opinion I much prefer to see proper, real-life work experience in the profession on a CV, even if it's at an entry level, above someone that has higher academic qualifications but less on the job experience, unless it's specifically for a graduate scheme or similar (but in that case we usually put them through their CIPD as part of the scheme anyway).

So overall if you are able to financially cope with an entry level salary (usually a living wage but not much higher) I'd look into HR Assistant, HR Administrator type roles and look at getting your CIPD from there in order to progress (you may get lucky and find an employer willing to fund or part-fund you as well which is nice as the qualifications aren't cheap!). You could also look into apprenticeships in HR (there aren't just for school leavers anymore), or as you have a degree, graduate schemes (again you usually aren't required to be a recent graduate for these)?

Entry level jobs in HR can be competitive (depending on where in the country you are and the salary/T&Cs and opportunities for progression and to do your CIPD) and often you get a field of candidates with qualifications well above the minimum which for our roles is GCSE level qualifications, a good standard of written and spoken English, ability to use all the normal MS Office programmes plus our staff records/payroll database system (which we train people on) and a general good level of understanding of HR and what we do. Because we are known as a good employer and we offer the opportunity to do CIPD and also general development and progression to our assistants, we do normally get a lot of graduates applying for the roles, even sometimes people who already have their level 5 CIPD but lack work experience, but as I say I prefer to shortlist someone who can already show the skills and experience we need in the workplace where possible, so a CV which showed a strong background in admin and a cover letter or supporting statement which had really taken the care to understand our requirements and the skills and competencies we are looking for, and related their own experience to that would stand out for me!

One small piece of advice, and I know it's just a turn of phrase so not a criticism at all, but if/when you are asked about why you want to work in HR in an application or interview, I'd be a touch wary of saying something along the lines of 'I want to work with people'. Only because it's a bit of a red rag to some, it's a common misconception some people have of HR that what we do is essentially sit around talking to people all day, offering tea or sympathy or whatever - and it really really winds some people up/pushes their buttons that people think that! The reality of the profession is obviously more complex than that, of course 'people skills' of various kinds are valuable as they are in most professions, but the level of 'people contact' really varies, some roles in HR e.g. those working on HR systems and software, workforce data and planning, reward are highly analytical and don't have much more contact with the wider workforce on a daily basis than any other office worker (obviously you still need team working skills etc to do these roles). Whereas other roles may have much more contact, e.g. coaching or OD type roles, or HR Manager/HRBP roles do need very good people skills but this can be more for managing difficult situations like redundancies, workplace conflict or ER type situations rather than the 'go for a lovely chat with HR' situation of some people's imaginings! L&D roles do still do presentations to large groups on occasion but esp with covid the move is more and more to online and elearning so although those skills are still valued there are very few (if any?) roles which purely are about delivering training these days so its a balance with more technical/analytical/administrative skills alongside the people ones. I'm not in anyway criticising you for saying you like working with people, that is still a good thing Smile, just a note to think through a nuanced answer to that question at interview and don't undersell yourself by implying your main skill is dealing with people, it sounds like you have a lot more than that to offer!

pifflepaffle13 · 01/02/2021 12:11

@maxelly thank you so much for your reply, so much helpful information!! It has given me a lot to think about and will help me to really get to the nitty gritty of why I want to work in HR. I want a new challenge where I can use the skills gained in my current career but also to learn new ones, and I will do some work on identifying exactly what is drawing me to the profession. I also really like the (what seems like from the outside) very clear job progression and will really help me focus on where I want to get to. There are a few entry level jobs being advertised in my area at the moment and I'm going to have a look and see if there are any apprenticeships/graduate schemes. Financially I can supplement my income by continuing to do what I do but in the evenings/weekends, so not too worried financially.

Thank you so much again, so helpful! Smile

OP posts:
Trisolaris · 01/02/2021 12:21

Excellent advice @maxelly!

pifflepaffle13 · 06/02/2021 11:21

Thank you so much again for your advice @Trisolaris and @maxelly. First few applications are in (all entry level HR) so I'm keeping everything crossed that someone might go out on a limb and give me a chance. It's so competitive but I'm trying to really put across my transferable skills so we'll see. Thanks again!

OP posts:
MilkshakeandChips5 · 08/02/2021 13:17

@maxelly it's so funny that you highlight the "I like working with people" response. I always advise that HR is not the place to be in this case but I may be too cynical (highly likely)

maxelly · 08/02/2021 15:06

Ha! Misanthropes aplenty in HR, not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing for the profession Grin. A bit like how every vet or vet nurse I know sighs wearily when people imagine their job is basically lots of cuddling cute puppies and not the reality which involves a lot more jabbing, gassing, poking and being bitten or shat on by said cute puppies (and cows, and rabbits and horses and cats!)... hardly the animal lover's dream either!

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