Starting out in HR with CIPD qualification

It's a common problem and therefore a common question, Wendy (welcome to the forums, by the way). So do have a browse to find further suggestions and wisdom.

In my experience, though, it's all about how you frame your experience against the job spec. You're unlikely to find an HR administrator role looking for extensive HR casework experience, for example. These roles are more likely to look for general administration experience and some HR knowledge.

Unfortunately, having an HR qualification can sometimes work against you in such entry-level roles as recruiters can tend to think of you as over-qualified (horrible expression) or assume that you won't stay for long and will want to advance as soon as you have some of that treasured HR experience.

If you are aiming higher, for an HR Advisor role or similar, then yes, some practical experience would be very useful. There are very few companies that will accept volunteers in their HR department in a way that will give them real exposure to HR casework (because this tends to be confidential, so one doesn't tend to want to involve volunteers). Job shadowing - if there are such opportunities - are a great alternative if you're in such a place.

When I got back to HR after a six-year hiatus, I was able to find a temporary role in local government (a lot of third-tier local government bodies run temporary placement schemes that are a terrific way back into the market for those returning from a career break of one for or another) where I went from being a policy/admin person to handling casework within a month or so.

Thanks for the advice Robey - it's always useful to hear someone else's perspective!

Thanks for the advice Robey - it's always useful to hear someone else's perspective!