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HR Advisor needing to gain more exposure to case management

Hayley

I am a HR Advisor who is currently struggling to obtain a role despite having experience at this level as the feedback I get from interviews is that I do not have enough case management experience. I am currently in between looking for new opportunities so can't speak to a current employer.

In short, how do I gain case management experience when this is one of the main things that is overlooked at the application process (I have stated the exposure and experience I have however, I am interviewed) or the feedback that I am given after the interview.

I know I don’t have the exposure but that doesn’t stop me from applying for these roles in the hope that someone will see my potential and that this is an area for development which shouldn’t be overlooked or make the lack of case management unemployable. Needless to say this has an impact with my confidence and latterly I have been looking at HR Assistant/ Admin/ Coordinator roles to see if I need to take a step back in order to gain some case management experience which is tricky when I can’t seem to prove this to employers as I am also declined for these roles for fear that I will get bored so either way, I can’t seem to cut a break.

Help ! What else can I do to enable me to gain more case management experience? I would love to hear your thoughts or suggestions and am happy to offer further information if needed.

I am in the process of applying for my Level 5 Diploma in HRM which I know will help, I am signed up to regular newsletters to keep abreast of employment and case law but I need hands on experience. I have looked at work experience options and have contacted my local CIPD branch also.

Many thanks in advance for reading this post.

Hayley

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  • Hi Hayley

    It is one of those really annoying aspects of HR where the advice / feedback is 'you need more experience' but then they don't give the opportunity to get the experience!

    Firstly, I would contact your local Employment Tribunals service and request a list of cases for the month. Explain that you wish to sit in on a case as an observer. Employment Tribunals are public and so observing one is always beneficial to understand the level of detail. A good judge sometimes allows you to review the bundle too (although the GDPR may stop that!). You could do with finding a misconduct / dismissal type case, or a disability one, that you can listen to both sides of the situation from the lawyers. I did this in my early career and it helped me really understand the implications of getting things wrong during the process leading up to dismissal.

    Secondly, make contact with a HR Consultancy company, a local one, even a one-person band. They will no doubt be busy and you could offer up voluntary admin / assistant support to them in exchange for sitting in on things they get involved in. The HR consultants I know (and I was one myself) would probably bend over backwards to have some 'free' assistance support, sometimes just typing up hand written notes from grievances which are 30 pages long), or drafting letters for the HR consultant to take over, will help you gain a better understanding of what is involved in case management from start to finish.

    Finally, do not let the feedback dent your confidence. Clearly you have managed to work your way up to HR Advisor and that is by no means easy. Tell me your 10 best skills that you possess? How did you obtain those skills? How do you use those skills? How do you develop them? Writing these answers down will help you articulate what you are actually good at. Don't underestimate that you have transferable skills that will be beneficial to any organisation.

    Criticism is never easy to take but sometimes, you have to take it on the chin. Remember the people giving you feedback are doing so to make you self analyse and reflect on your development areas. You recognise them now, that's good, move on. Don't let them get you down. Ultimately, you also need to remember, they've met you for all of 60 minutes in a fake setting, exerting some control and power - not necessarily going to be shining bright in these situations (I hate interviews for this very reason and make it my mission to relax people in them, because they aren't performing monkeys who must answer a question the right way!). Dust yourself down and pick yourself back up. You know yourself better than anyone else, including those interviewers.

    I wish you all the best
    Lynsey
  • in reply to Lynsey
    Hi Hayley

    I can endorse Lynseys advice to contact consultants.
    It is hit and miss whether or not you will be successful securing voluntary work but it can also be a way of networking too and who knows where that will lead to :-)
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