How did you get into HR??

I fell into it. Left school at 16 and started temping for the MOD just doing data inputting for a Unit's training department. Was made permenant when they realised I was the only one with indepth knowledge of their database! A couple of years and the threat of redundancy later, my mum sugested I look on the website of our local university where she worked, and there was a generalist personnel admin role. It's been upward from there, am now working at another university with responsibility for all operational HR & development activities for a Faculty of approx 360 staff.

Ten year career so far, no quals on leaving school, but did an advanced modern apprenticeship while that the MOD, and then CPP, the L&M modules of the diploma before embarking on an MSc in HRM course through my organisation. I too was very lucky in having excellent supportive bosses who were more than happy to let me have a go at pretty much anything. I love working in HR, really can't see myself doing anything else.

Andrea

I left school totally clueless about what i wanted to do, initially was going to be a nanny/nursery nurse or work in a carehome.  Fell into floristry (it was the only thing the youth op scheme had at the time)  and when I was getting married a couple of years later got sacked and went to work as Tesco checkout girl.  For the next 10 years I took on several short term temp cleaning and retail jobs and then went back to college to take a secretarial course.   During the course I did work experience in a HR Department and liked it but was an unemployed mother studying business courses for another 5 years until my youngest went to nursery. 

Getting my first real job in my mid-thirties working for a retailer at Heathrow Airport and not getting recognition from my managment team (funny, a lot of people seemed to think I was the shop manager but the company would not promote me beyond supervisor) I was invited to interview by another company and given a hr role.  I enjoyed it so much.  The responsibility for obtaining security passes, creating Personnel Files from scratch and carrying out recruitment.  Last year the company lost the contract with BAA and I was TUPE'd, back to square one, standing on a shop floor bored out of my mind and very depressed. 

My friend asked me to join their team working for a well known grocers which was fun because of the people I worked with but not what I wanted in the long run, as soon as I started I was offered a HR administrator role which I began 4 months ago.  It is very demanding and stimulating. 

I fell into HR and have progressed such a long way in such a short time, I hope to take a course to gain some qualification.

 

• What do you think HR should be doing to encourage the 'brightest and best' to choose or plan a career in HR?

I think that employers should value  HR graduates more, it is admirable that people choose this profession rather than stumble in as I and some others seem to have done.  Being passionate about making a difference and improving working environments needs to be rewarded more, this is not a job for everybody, you need to be prepared to put the groundwork in and not just in it for the money.  I salute those young adults who know what they want to do because I still have no clue what I want to be when I grow up. LOL

    

• Some people suggest it's good to have experience outside HR, while others have worked within HR from the start - are there key skills that you need to be successful in the profession?

In my case; empathy and the ability to learn on the job quickly.

• What do you wish you'd known about HR before you joined the profession?

I wish I knew what I was letting myself in for, I am not well renumerated (I earn the least in my company!) I also wish I knew how rewarding it is and how varied my duties are.

 

 

For me, HR was always something that 'someone else' did and I didn't really know how to go about getting into it though I would have liked to.

I left Uni with a business studies BA but ended up being a recruitment consultant for 2-3 years. Unlike most recruitment firms, mine had separate teams for sales and resourcing. After hating sales I managed to get moved on to the resourcing team and loved it. I still wasn't thinking about HR though, when I left to move away. Upon moving, I was looking for any business type job as I fancied a change from recruitment, and went for an entry level operations interview - but with my resourcing experience came out with an offer of being their new HR administrator which they had yet to advertise!

I was thrilled and once I got started I loved it. Now I am in a stand alone generalist role at another company and (as you can see) have got around to doing some academic study which I should have done sooner really! After all the years of college and Uni I just didn't fancy going back in the classroom for a while but it hasn't been bad at all.

I hope to progress further in the coming years - I can't see myself getting tired of HR work anytime soon and hope for a solid career on this path.

So to cut that long story short yes I did fall into HR but I am very glad I did!

Hi

I've almost finished my CIPD Level 5 course, but I have over 35 years practicing - but alas I still seen as not having enough experience. Any tips from anyone on practical things I can do, when applying for that first role.... or convincing the employer.... I dread the "chicken and the egg" scenario.

Frustrated HR Professional "in the making"