Hello everyone,I’m currently studying for a master’s in Human Resource Management in the UK, coming from a non-HR background with a few years of work experience in another field.
I’ve been actively applying for part-time roles to gain practical HR experience alongside my studies, but I’ve found that many roles require at least 1–2 years of UK HR experience which I don’t have yet. Plus, I live in a smaller city, which makes it even more difficult to find remote opportunities.
At this point, I’m wondering if I should shift my focus to unpaid internships just to build some experience or if there might be better ways to approach this job search.
I’d really appreciate any advice on where to look or how to position myself better in applications. Thank you so much in advance!
From my experience working in staffing this is a situation I see quite often with students transitioning into HR. Before opting for unpaid internships, I’d recommend looking at roles adjacent to HR such as recruitment support, HR admin, payroll assistance, or operations roles with strong people coordination. These positions still give you practical UK experience and help build credibility, even if the job title isn’t purely HR.
When applying, focus on clearly linking your past experience to HR skills like communication, data handling, compliance, and stakeholder support. In smaller cities, contract or project-based roles are often more accessible than permanent part-time ones. Unpaid internships can help in some cases, but a targeted approach using transferable skills usually leads to better long-term opportunities.
From my experience working in staffing this is a situation I see quite often with students transitioning into HR. Before opting for unpaid internships, I’d recommend looking at roles adjacent to HR such as recruitment support, HR admin, payroll assistance, or operations roles with strong people coordination. These positions still give you practical UK experience and help build credibility, even if the job title isn’t purely HR.
When applying, focus on clearly linking your past experience to HR skills like communication, data handling, compliance, and stakeholder support. In smaller cities, contract or project-based roles are often more accessible than permanent part-time ones. Unpaid internships can help in some cases, but a targeted approach using transferable skills usually leads to better long-term opportunities.
I completely agree with this. Adjacent roles can be a brilliant way to build that early UK experience without feeling forced into unpaid work.
And you’re spot on about highlighting transferable skills. Often, students underestimate just how relevant their previous experience is once it’s framed through an HR lens. Great advice.
