Perhaps I am! I’ve been applying for HR jobs left, right and centre and nothing, not even an interview. It’s really demotivating as I worked extremely hard to get my CIPD qualification, so much so that I am about to start my level 7. Now I may not have worked in a solely HR role but I do have experience and many transferable skills that I feel would benefit many organisations. I would have thought that being CIPD qualified would mean something? And it’s not like I am applying for BP roles. I know I need to take a pay cut and work my way up but there’s just been no interest in what I have to offer
Hi Andrew, I’m sorry to read that you’re not having much luck in the job market at the moment. I just thought I would share my experience of it, hopefully it will help. I completed my CIPD 3 this year, I didn’t work in HR at this time but sought lots of experience with my employer at the time, taking a pay cut and doing a lot of admin and training and development. I also looked into HR volunteering, though I was unsuccessful with this. I was fortunate to get a HR admin role and, after gaining some experience over a couple of months, moving companies to a HR officer role, which I am in now. I recently went for an advisor role, came 2nd in the interview, beaten by someone who has more experience, I only have 6 week’s worth, if that. The feedback I’ve received about all my applications is how tailored I have made them to the person spec and using examples, where possible, to elaborate on them. I also sign off my supporting statement with reiterating how I meet a company’s values. After receiving advice, I’m looking at starting my CIPD L7 next year, I was told that the way to handle this is in interview is to show why you’ve invested in this rather than to think it’s a way in to get experience in HR in the first place. I asked this question of a HR manager recently as I was concerned that investing in this may not be an advantage to future roles, if I needed to move jobs. Good luck on the job front, I’m sure once you’ll get your foot in the door it will all be worth it.
Hi Andrew, I’m sorry to read that you’re not having much luck in the job market at the moment. I just thought I would share my experience of it, hopefully it will help. I completed my CIPD 3 this year, I didn’t work in HR at this time but sought lots of experience with my employer at the time, taking a pay cut and doing a lot of admin and training and development. I also looked into HR volunteering, though I was unsuccessful with this. I was fortunate to get a HR admin role and, after gaining some experience over a couple of months, moving companies to a HR officer role, which I am in now. I recently went for an advisor role, came 2nd in the interview, beaten by someone who has more experience, I only have 6 week’s worth, if that. The feedback I’ve received about all my applications is how tailored I have made them to the person spec and using examples, where possible, to elaborate on them. I also sign off my supporting statement with reiterating how I meet a company’s values. After receiving advice, I’m looking at starting my CIPD L7 next year, I was told that the way to handle this is in interview is to show why you’ve invested in this rather than to think it’s a way in to get experience in HR in the first place. I asked this question of a HR manager recently as I was concerned that investing in this may not be an advantage to future roles, if I needed to move jobs. Good luck on the job front, I’m sure once you’ll get your foot in the door it will all be worth it.
