How did you get into HR??

Hi all

I got lucky I guess!  My first job when I left school at the tender age of 16 (too many years ago!), was as office junior in an employment agency (what we now know to be a recruitment consultancy).  I stayed there for about 18 months, having learnt the basics of intervewing and CV writing.  For the years following, I held various posts in an office environment as well as 13 exciting years at Heathrow airport, where I gained a qualification as an L&D trainer and headed their L&D department; designing and delivering training programmes relating to the work they did.  I joined my current organisation in 2004 as a Project Co-ordinator within Learning and Development.  In 2005 the organisation re-structured and I was offered a post as an HR Assistant for the HR Director of a newly created division.  Unfortunately that HR Director was only in post for a short space of time before going on long term sick leave and never returning.  In the meantime I literally had to 'fly by the seat of my pants' and learnt a lot along the way!  When a new HR Director was appointed (and it took 18 months before that happened!) he encouraged me to study the CIPD qualification, however I had promised myself I would never again study like I had in the past at my age!   Anyway with a little more encouragement, I undertook the CIPD CPP qualification, and passed that with flying colours!  Spurred on by my thirst to learn more and encouraged by my CPP tutor, I then went on to do the CIPD Post Graduate Diploma.  I have just completed that and will graduate this October!  I am now a Senior HR Adviser for my division.  I feel I've been on such a long journey, not just professionally but personally too, but it has all been worth it.

I feel lucky to work in an organisation that has recognised my potential and has sponsored all my studies to date.  I absolutely enjoy coming to work every day, it's not without it's challenges but that's what makes it all the more interesting!

Ann

Hi all

I got lucky I guess!  My first job when I left school at the tender age of 16 (too many years ago!), was as office junior in an employment agency (what we now know to be a recruitment consultancy).  I stayed there for about 18 months, having learnt the basics of intervewing and CV writing.  For the years following, I held various posts in an office environment as well as 13 exciting years at Heathrow airport, where I gained a qualification as an L&D trainer and headed their L&D department; designing and delivering training programmes relating to the work they did.  I joined my current organisation in 2004 as a Project Co-ordinator within Learning and Development.  In 2005 the organisation re-structured and I was offered a post as an HR Assistant for the HR Director of a newly created division.  Unfortunately that HR Director was only in post for a short space of time before going on long term sick leave and never returning.  In the meantime I literally had to 'fly by the seat of my pants' and learnt a lot along the way!  When a new HR Director was appointed (and it took 18 months before that happened!) he encouraged me to study the CIPD qualification, however I had promised myself I would never again study like I had in the past at my age!   Anyway with a little more encouragement, I undertook the CIPD CPP qualification, and passed that with flying colours!  Spurred on by my thirst to learn more and encouraged by my CPP tutor, I then went on to do the CIPD Post Graduate Diploma.  I have just completed that and will graduate this October!  I am now a Senior HR Adviser for my division.  I feel I've been on such a long journey, not just professionally but personally too, but it has all been worth it.

I feel lucky to work in an organisation that has recognised my potential and has sponsored all my studies to date.  I absolutely enjoy coming to work every day, it's not without it's challenges but that's what makes it all the more interesting!

Ann