How did you get into HR??

Hi,

I planned it as well, when I graduated with my undergraduate degree in Economics, I went back and did a 1 year postgraduate MSc in HR and L&D, with my CIPD thrown in for good measure. Then worked my way up in HR ever since.

I know what you mean though, my prior HR Director (in retail) was a trained pharmacist, then a flagship store manager who slowly took on some HR responsibilities before taking a sideways step into HR.

It takes all sorts!!!

I went to uni as a mature student (26) to retrain as a probation officer after being a navy deck officer. I did 4 work-placements during the 2 year course, 2 in probation, one in psychiatric social work, and a 2 week taster in a factory personnel department. Going into Personnel (HR) was the most attractive proposition for me as it seemed to offer the greatest prospect of job satisfaction and tangible outcomes. I've never regretted that decision.

Did I fall into HR? Sort of.....but I knew what my skill set is, and all these options were viable. But it demonstrated the value of work experience opportunities!

I planned it.

I studied BA(Hons) HRM at University. I undertook a sandwich course and took a role as a Recruitment Consultant (I was drawn to the large commission package that came with the role!) However, after the year I decided that after Uni I wanted a general HR career and it just so happened that the Rec2Rec agency my placement company used wanted to hire me for such role.

So it worked out that I fell into the company but planned the role.

I fell into HR, via the secretarial route.  I had been the secretary to the accounts manager in a foreign investment bank, was bored silly after the first few months and was contemplating leaving.  My disillusionment with my job was obvioiusly noticed, and I was offered the opportunity to transfer to another department, to become the secretary of the operations manager who also had responsibility for personnel (as it was in those days).  My duties took on more and more of an admin slant and I became a personnel assistant.  The personnel officer resigned, I asked for her job and got it.......and so it went on.  Studies and qualifications came much later.

I fell into HR.... I went to Uni and did a Business Studies degree without any clue of where I wanted to go or what I wanted to do...

As part of the course i had to do a placement and that placement happened to be in HR... I was told I was good at it and ended up going back to Uni and specialising in HR for my final year. 

My then employer wasn't overly concerned about CIPD membership etc.. then so I merrily worked my way upwards and onwards.  It was only when I came to look outside that business that I appreciated how important it was to get a foot in the door with potential employers.  So i pulled my finger out and completed my CIPD.

So yes, definitely fell into HR but over ten years later and I am still here... so I must have found my calling; either that or my employers haven't realised that I am still just that university student looking for the next pint and wondering what tomorrow will bring...

I also planned a career in HR...

When I was 16 I spent 2½ years selling knickers at M&S.  Most of my colleagues had worked there longer than I'd be alive (then) and I was intrigued by what motivated them to stay... I now know it was the non-contributory final salary pension scheme!  At the same time, I also happened to be studying Chemistry A-Level, and it became very quickly apparent that it was definitely not my strong point, so I switched to Business Studies.

I also did a Business Studies degree, with an industrial placement in HR, which confirmed that it was a career that I was interested in pursuing.

Hi Victoria 

I fell into HR, but glad i did. I completed a degree in Tourism and Regional Studies (wanted to do Marketing for NI Tourist Board) After Uni i took a job in a hotel as a receptionist and over the next few years worked my way up to Asst Manager of a large 4 star hotel. Along the way got very involved in  Health and Safety and HR side of management and completed my CPP.

In 2005 i broke my elbow which meant i was off work for 6 months and i decided then to look for an HR position full time. Started out as HR Admin Assistant, completed NVQ in Personnel Management and am presently HR Officer for the NI Branch of a global company responsible for 165 employees and love every minute of it.

Also plan to continue with my studies next year when my little boy starts playgroup.

Tracey

I fell into HR.  I left school after "A" levels and joined a bank.  Had thought about teaching but thought if I spent 3 or 4 years training and didn't like it it was a waste of money, whereas at least the bank were paying me.  Did the Banking diploma, not sure that it is still going though.  Ended in a managerial role but didn't like the way bamking was heading - money shops etc.  Then moved to a Mortgage Admin company after 10 years and had an operational management role - managing a satellite centre of 40 staff gave me some exposure to "people management" issues!  Then moved to a sister company which were taking over a competitor and was asked to undertake the HR manager role as I had an interest in HR issues, agreed to do so on the proviso that they supported me getting my CIPD qualification (well, half day off and 50% funding - so not bad).

Now do a bit of everything being a consultant - suppose training is a little like teaching but hopefully the people attending want to learn and develop, not sure about school students in the main!  Have been in HR for about 14 years now and love it - as all roles has it's frustrations of course.  Don't regret at all having had an operational background and think it does add to my credibility when I say that I can understand operational concerns - have been there and done that!  HR can sometimes been seen as remote from reality and living in an ivory tower.

Peter

What an interesting bunch we are!

I fell into HR as well - I did a degree in Sports Sciences as a mature student having left school to become a Police Officer and then leaving the Police to raise a family (pre flexible working days!) Knew I needed a degree to enter the job market properly so chose one where I thought there would be more running around then writing (wrong!). As I finished my degree a 8 week temp role came up in the HR dept of a railway company, stayed there 18 months and was hooked on the variety of working in HR. Moved to a permanent role and got my CIPD where it was onwards and upwards from there.

I have worked in the UK and Europe and had global roles which has given me a really interesting and varied career. I now work as an interim out of choice so that I keep the variety and continue to learn  - and have lots of time off in between contracts :-)

Joanne

I "fell into" HR, but am glad I did, but also glad I'd done non-HR roles first.

Post Uni with no clue what career to follow I did various retail management roles (basically "fell into" that too!), then a stint as a recruitment consultant. A couple more non-HR roles followed, then I ended up (after redundancy) utilising my recruitment experience in a graduate recruitment role for a national retailer. I transferred from that to a generalist HR role with the same firm and started my CIPD qualification. Since then I've done several more HR roles. (Yes, I have changed jobs a fair few times in my career so far!)  

On a more general note, I tend to think it's to the advantage of the profession to have a variety of backgrounds and experience amongst HR practitioners

Kate