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Making the correct first steps into HR

Elliot

Hi everyone.

I've been reading my way through the community posts here about peoples first steps into HR and it's given me some good ideas/expectations about what to expect. It's also quite nice (although daunting) to see so many people have struggled with similar aspects to myself.

I was hoping to get some tailored advice from you successful HR specialists, and I think the best way to do this is to outline a little bit about me and you could give me some advice for my first steps, because I am worried about making wrong moves.

I graduated in 2018 with a non-HR degree, and since then I worked for a time as an English teacher abroad, and since returning to the UK have worked in a customer services call centre. That job was really demoralising and quite horrible, I ended up leaving and have been unemployed since then (living on my savings from teaching abroad).

Before University I also worked full time in customer services and I feel like there are so many transferable skills from communications and people management etc.

Right now I have been applying for all entry level HR roles to try and get my foot in the door, and the majority I don't hear back from. I believe this to be because I have no direct HR experience, even though I have tried to tailor my CV with all the transferable skills I do have that are similar. 

I am currently not in a position where I can self fund the level 3 CIPD qualification, so I was wondering what my options were? Do I keep going for the entry level HR jobs and hope someone will give me a chance? Or would I be better off going for admin/office based roles to get some income before looking at CIPD qualifications and then moving into HR? 

I am living in London which I thought would be the land of opportunity with how many businesses are here, but I guess I also have far more competition. I'm not in a financial position where I can carry out unpaid voluntary work either. But I would definitely be open to something temporary or part time to just get some income coming back in if it would help boost my CV.

My long term goals are to get CIPD qualified and hopefully develop into diversity and inclusion further into my career, but getting stuck at the first hurdle is a bit demoralising! 

Any tips or advice you might have for me would be amazing, thank you for reading!

Elliot 

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  • I agree with others - get what office admin experience you can. I, like many others, started by temping, first general office admin, then recruitment and finally into HR.
    In my sector (corporate law), CIPD qualifications aren't particularly sought after. Sure, it helps demonstrate an interest and commitment but hiring managers will be much more interested in what experience you have and general office administration (or HR or related areas like recruitment, payroll etc if you can get it) will get you further. Familiarity with the environment and the types of internal clients also helps, so get temp work in a few different industries if you can and see where you feel at home. Appreciate it isn't the same in all industries.
  • in reply to Claire
    I am also finding it very difficult to break into the HR Profession, I have completed my CIPD Level 5 now. I wanted ideally a part-time position initially due to childcare reasons but I am finding that these are either dealt with in-house due to advertising costs or go extremely quickly. I agree that you CV has to be marketed really well. From experience I believe it is better applying directly with companies than recruitment companies as you do not get the constructive feedback that is necessary to support your learning journey. I am currently sending my CV to different employers within my target radius and I am happy to work voluntary for a short-term period until I get that necessary experience of the HR function.

    My background is PA/Company Secretary within higher education and management consultancy. I have had a little exposure to the HR department in a charity sector for approximately 1 week but then was seconded into the Finance department due to their upcoming financial audit.

    Trying to break into HR is extremely difficult....I keep trying and will be applying for full-time position's as well.

    Any further comments and suggests would be most useful and appreciated.
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  • in reply to Claire
    I am also finding it very difficult to break into the HR Profession, I have completed my CIPD Level 5 now. I wanted ideally a part-time position initially due to childcare reasons but I am finding that these are either dealt with in-house due to advertising costs or go extremely quickly. I agree that you CV has to be marketed really well. From experience I believe it is better applying directly with companies than recruitment companies as you do not get the constructive feedback that is necessary to support your learning journey. I am currently sending my CV to different employers within my target radius and I am happy to work voluntary for a short-term period until I get that necessary experience of the HR function.

    My background is PA/Company Secretary within higher education and management consultancy. I have had a little exposure to the HR department in a charity sector for approximately 1 week but then was seconded into the Finance department due to their upcoming financial audit.

    Trying to break into HR is extremely difficult....I keep trying and will be applying for full-time position's as well.

    Any further comments and suggests would be most useful and appreciated.
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